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Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Okanagan Film Commission
August 13, 2022 – 6:02 PM
A weekend of film crew bootcamp in Westbank will help those with dreams of working in show business figure out where they might fit into the industry.
The course, Okanagan Film Fundamentals Take 2, will be led by instructors who work in various departments within the industry. It offers aspiring film crew professionals the chance to network, learn about the production process, and then spend a day shooting and editing a short film as a group.
“If getting into the film industry is a staircase to the second floor, consider this putting your foot on the first step,” said Debra Sawarin, a makeup artist and spokesperson for the film commission.
“For some people it’s a long staircase, if they want to pursue a more technical job. For others it might only be three steps.”
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Anyone who still loves the idea of working in film and television after surviving bootcamp will have a clearer idea as to which roles they want to serve on set, and how to make it happen, Sawarin said.
“It’s also an opportunity to introduce you to people who may become your mentor.”
Beyond the technical aspects of the work, she said it’s important for aspiring crew members to understand how their lifestyle will have to adapt – largely because of long days and sporadic opportunities.
“You work on a show, then the show is over and then you don’t have a job,” she said. “One week we might be screaming for people, the next week we have enough. It depends how many shows are going at one time.”
In the beginning, those committed to working in the industry have to treat any opportunities like part-time gigs.
“You’ll need a flexible way of having a base income in the beginning til your name gets out there.”
Sawarin, who has been working as a makeup artist for more than 30 years, says Kelowna’s film industry has been growing steadily for years and is not showing any signs of slowing down – and that this bootcamp is a good opportunity to find a way into it.
“Hollywood magic starts in this department. Camera department careers are the fun ones, as they are in the centre of everything in film making,” Jon Summerland, Okanagan Film Commissioner, said in a press release.
“If you want to work in film and TV, want to know what the job opportunities are, and based on your current skills what you would be suitable for, Take 2, Okanagan Film Fundamentals is for you.”
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The cost for the weekend-long bootcamp is between $100 and $275 depending how many days you want to attend.
Take 2 will be instructed by people with experience working on the sets of popular shows and movies.
“Just like on a real set, film catering trucks (will) serve you up some lunch,” reads the schedule.
The course is happening Sept. 23 to 25 in Westbank at 1979 Old Okanagan Highway. It’s meant for entry level workers who want to make their way into the industry, as well as experienced workers who want to find out if they can transfer their skillset into film and television.
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