Developing the 'movie eye'

Young filmmakers get hands-on experience in a course at the Boys and Girls Club.The first-ever class of film students at the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach is working its way through the lengthy process of making a movie, learning to develop their artistic "movie eyes" as well as the technical aspects of filmmaking.

Movie Tech Night offers a hands-on introduction to the world of moviemaking. The course runs from September to May.

Film viewing, group discussions and practice in moviemaking keep the students busy in the club's new Teen Center.

Class supervisor Tina Hird said all of the work rests on the kids. The idea of the class is for the students to learn by doing.

"The kids do everything, I'm basically here to make sure they don't break things," Hird said.

Kids are given an opportunity to collaborate on a movie, which serves as the class's main project. The movie project for the inaugural class is a virtual tour of the club's new facilities.

With a script already in hand, the next effort of the class will be filming.

According to club director Pamela Estes, the course is designed to introduce students ages 11 to 18 to the principles and practice of filmmaking, from script writing through production.

Addressing a room of 12 teens Monday, instructor Paul Tetreault laid out the basics of making friends with the camera.

"The most important part of shooting correctly is knowing your equipment," Tetreault said.

While exploring the components of hand-held video cameras, the students were taught the significant functions of their new tools.

"If you don't position the microphone right, your Ss will sound like Zs," Tetreault explained.

Each member is responsible for providing a script to describe one part of the facility, though the content is entirely up to the individual.

"Making the script is quite easy because we take it one room at a time," said David Fenner, 12.

Ben Kahn, 11, who wrote the game room scene, said he is more interested in making personal movies, and not into the "fame" thing.

Savannah Horan, 11, who wrote gym scene, said she would some day like to make her own action movie like "Charlie's Angels."

Further stages of instruction will involve shooting and editing.

An additional movie class will be added next year as a sequel to Movie Tech Night. It will focus on the creation of individual film projects, Hird said.20060127itobtdncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Ben Kahn, Andrew Congleton and Adam Genesta examine a video camera before putting it into action.