Arthur Blank Family Foundation

By LAURA RAINES/For the Journal-Constitution

Imagine making your first film in high school and showing it at the famous Sundance Film Festival. It's a dream come true for young Atlanta filmmakers Dymon Godbey, Nandi Murphy and Nubia Rahim.

The students are part of Image Film & Video Center's Media Education Initiative to introduce underserved and disadvantaged young students to the behind-the-scenes world of media production. "Very few African-American, Latino and Asian men and women are represented in this industry. One of our goals with this initiative was to make more minority young people aware of media careers," said Executive Director Brian Newman.

Each quarter, 15 to 20 Atlanta high school students take classes twice a week at the Centennial YMCA. They learn cinematography, videography, screening, sound, lighting and editing techniques from Atlanta working professionals so that they can create their own short films.

Image's youth program was one of only 13 selected across the country to participate in the Sundance Film Festival's 2003 Reel Studio: Young Filmmakers Program, Jan. 17-23.

"This is a huge honor, as Sundance is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the U.S., and we're excited for our students. The difficulty was choosing three students from all the talented ones we've seen," said Newman.

The three students, plus former student and chaperone Jay Williams and instructor Sylvia Jackson, will be attending screenings, classes and workshops with the best in the industry. They'll also be showing their own work.

"I'm going to be like a sponge when I get to the festival," said Jay Williams, a Georgia State University student. "I'm going to try and see everything and talk to everyone I can. I can't wait to hear what other filmmakers have to say."

Williams was an artist in high school, but his father encouraged him to try the media education program. "Lots of people dream of being an actor, but for me, finding out how movies work was a lot more interesting. My art helps me visualize what I want to see on-screen, and the class taught me how to make it happen," said Williams.

He took the class twice and assisted other students a third quarter before becoming a film major at Georgia State. Working on a film career, he's already made four shorts: a romantic comedy, a satire on talk shows, a philosophical piece about existence and a political film.

"I'm trying out different genres to see what I like and don't. The thought of showing my films at Sundance makes me nervous, but in a good way," he said.

Dymon Godbey's drama teacher told him about the film class. The Redan High School sophomore had always been interested in writing and was surprised to learn how different a story could become through editing.

"Making films is a lot of work, but it's worth it. Films free your imagination. You not only think about your story, but how you're going to show it on screen," he said. Godbey's first film is about a racist murder in the 1950s. He played the young victim, and imagined what his last day would have been like.

"I really enjoy the creative process, and our instructors are all great," he added.

Supporting filmmakers

For 27 years, the nonprofit Image Film & Video Center has been supporting local filmmakers and building film audiences, especially through the annual Atlanta Film Festival.

With support from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc., VSA arts of Georgia, the Metro Atlanta YMCA and Turner Broadcasting System Inc., Image began the MEDIA Project in 2001.

"Film gives the students an alternative way to tell their stories and look at their lives," Newman said. The students have addressed such major issues as racism, violence and teen pregnancy using traditional and experimental film techniques. One student made a documentary about her trip to Ghana. In the process, many have found their own voices and more confidence in all areas of their lives.

Opening horizons

The course opened new horizons for Nandi Murphy, a junior in the performing arts magnet program at North Atlanta High School. "I was always interested in TV, but seeing what it's like behind the camera has been a real learning experience," she said.

In the screenwriting classes she learned how to develop a story with conflict and a turning point so that it would interest an audience. Her film, "Daddy's Girl," is about a young girl who dreams of being an artist, but is in conflict with her father, who wants her to follow in his footsteps to become a doctor.

"I'm excited about going to Sundance, and it comes at a critical time for me. I'm trying to decide on colleges and whether to pursue a career in media or, maybe, psychology," said Murphy.

Students interested in the program can request an application from Mark Smith at mark@imagefv.org.

©2002 The AtlantaJournal-Constitution. Reprinted with permission from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Further reproduction, retransmission or distribution of these materials without the prior written consent of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and any copyright holder identified in the material's copyright notice, is prohibited.