It will be lights, camera, and action over the next 6 weeks as a short film will be shot on location in Belize. But don't expect a Hollywood blockbuster or any big name stars.
The movie will be shot by fifteen high school graduates from Los Angeles as part of a cultural exchange with 11 youths from Youth for the Future's Governance Unit. The Grover Cleveland High graduates arrived in Belize today and shooting begins tomorrow. Over the next 6 weeks the groups will jointly write, direct, and produce a short film on Belize. But filmmaking will only be half the fun as coordinators say the focus will be on cultural exchange.
Evelyn Seubert, Grover Cleveland High School
"The film is very important for students because if we are going to teach kids to work with each other cross culturally they have to be motivated and we found in the last 15 years that I have been working with teenagers and nothing motivates them as much as making their own movie. We're still working on finalizing the script but the script will be about Belize so people in America will learn more about Belize which is one of our objectives as well."
Joseph Card, Youth Governance Coordinator - YFF
"This is just not a film exchange where young people will learn how to make films. The whole concept of this exchange came about because we realize that we might be able to change the world one person at a time. If they learn to tolerate other cultures. And they can learn to tolerate other cultures by being around them. The whole thing is to ensure that there is an exchange, there is collaboration, so definitely there will be a large amount of Belize input in this project."
Tanya Ezrol, Grover Cleveland High Participant
"I think everybody's interested to see how everything's going to work out. After all the preparations its finally happening. We're here and we're doing it so we're looking forward to making a product that will involve our efforts."
Keith Swift,
What can expect from this movie?
Zoe Shelton, Grover Cleveland High Participant
"Oh God I have no clue at this point. I think you can expect good things because from what I've heard from the people here in Belize and from what we've been talking about, I think we're going to put something together really creative and worthwhile. But specifically I don't know."
Keith Swift,
Are you guys going to be in front of behind the camera?
Zoe Shelton,
"I hope to be behind. I am not a big fan of being in front."
Tanya Ezrol,
"A little of both I think. I'm ready to do some acting."
Keith Swift,
Linda as a Belizean participant what will you get from this?
Linda Blease, Youth for the Future Participant
"Basically I hope to gain some experience from them as well as them gaining experience from me for the film making business. I see myself being behind the camera but if push comes to shove and I find a character in the film that I am similar to, maybe I might take a try to go in front of the camera. But basically I'll be behind the camera."
Linda Blease and the other 10 Belizean participants underwent scuba diving training last weekend to prepare them for a course in underwater cinematography in July. The film will be shot on location throughout Belize City and on the cayes. 7NEWS will track the progress of the film until shooting wraps up in August. The movie will be edited in Los Angeles.
