Students from Viking Video Productions took second place in the Maine Outdoor Youth Film Challenge, shown at the governor’s conference on children and youth in Augusta this month.
Contributed photo
Instructor Brenda Jepson helps PIHS junior, Chaz Holmes, left, set up the camera while CHS junior, James Ransier, prepares to interview students about the importance of outdoor fun. This shoot took place at the site of the former Stan’s Store on Madawaska Lake.
With a very tight deadline, the students at Caribou Tech Center had to complete a video 10 minutes or less that would inspire Maine’s youth to be more active outdoors.
Being based not far from Madawaska Lake provided the perfect opportunity to capture scenes of swimming, canoeing, cycling, hiking, and fishing, but the students were concerned about getting the video completed by the deadline.
“When I first heard about this competition, I was nervous. We had under a week to plan our shots, film, and edit everything into a presentable video. I knew we could do it, but the crunch time had me worried,” said Bekah Smith, a Presque Isle High School junior.
Careful planning and help from several Madawaska Lake residents helped to make the DVD a reality and so did considerable participation by Caribou Tech Center’s welding students who served as actors in the film.
“I liked the chance to participate in a contest so early in the year,” said Jeff Johnson, a PIHS junior. “I enjoyed the whole experience of going out into the field and doing a professional shoot.”
The shoot began at the boat landing at the site of the old Stan’s Store where swimming scenes were shot, then moved on to the Jepson camp where canoeing and hiking scenes were recorded. The cycling scene was shot along Eel Point and fishing sequence was filmed at the Thoroughfare.
“I was extremely excited about making this film and I thought it would be a good challenge,” said James Ransier, a Caribou High School sophomore. “Getting to be outside in fine weather rather then being stuck in a classroom was very enjoyable.”
In addition to being shown in Augusta, Viking Video’s “Why Outdoor Activities Matter” is available for viewing and downloading at the class website www.vikingvideoprogram.com.
“My whole family loved our video – even my little brother,” said Chaz Holmes, a PIHS junior. “I was excited to make it and so was my dad.”
Students working on this challenge were at the beginning of their first year in the video production program, which made this contest an even greater challenge given the lack of experience the novice filmmakers had.
“We didn’t know what other excellent filmmakers we were competing against. We were all so nervous. I didn’t even think we would get recognized, so it was definitely a shock to get second place,” said Smith.
For more information contact Viking Video instructor Brenda Jepson at 493-4270 or e-mail her at bjepson@nci3.net.
Contributed photo
Rebekah Smith and Jeff Johnson, juniors at Presque Isle High School and members of the Viking Video class at the Caribou Tech Center, film swimmers at Madawaska Lake for a 10-minute promotional video.
Contributed photo
Caribou Tech Center students, from left, Mallory Thompson, Joel Gurrette and Zach Tardie enjoy a swim while being filmed by Viking Video Productions filmmaking students.
Contributed photo
Alan Jepson, left, assists Rebekah Smith and Jeff Johnson, juniors at Presque Isle High School and members of the Viking Video class at the Caribou Tech Center, set up a fishing shoot at the Thoroughfare at Madawaska Lake.
