MLK Center inspires youths with film camp during winter break
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A mini-film camp at the MLK Center has wrapped up.
The goal: help inspire a new round of filmmakers.
Many kids have already developed a love for film through popular social media apps. The camp was a way to show there’s even more out there.
The three-day winter-break camp was the first step in a plan to create a filmmaking course at the MLK Center. Organizers say as Black filmmakers and films grow in popularity, now is the time to show kids that it’s possible to do this kind of work.
It takes a lot of work to bring an idea to film. A group of kids spent their winter break learning how it’s done.
“While they are at home sleeping I am learning,” said Ali Taziyah, 14.
It’s the first act of what could be a career in making movies. Taziyah is one of about a half a dozen taking action to learn a few things, starting with the basic of scriptwriting, storyboard creation, audio, and film.
“We had this thing where he showed us a script to the ‘Dark Knight’ movie, and then he pulled up a clip of it and it matched up exactly,” Taziyah said.
The cam ended with a student produced short film, “Lunch Break.”
“I think it’s important to expose the youth to something that’s out of their world, out of their everyday,” said Ira Mallory.
Mallory is helping them put it together as an instructor while giving some personal insight. He started where they are by watching films by Black directors including Spike Lee and John Singleton.
“That workshop changed my life because I got to see a man who I admired and looked up to. You as a youth, as a young person watching all of his films. I got to see him and see that it’s real.”
He says this camp is about more than what they create on camera. It’s building on a growing awareness around Black films and Black filmmakers, making room for creators to tell authentic stories.
“One of the things in Hollywood has fallen short with in the many decades of it’s existence is humanizing Black Americans, humanizing the Black experience.”