Interest in entertainment goads future film, filmmaking program

By Katrina Barnett, Tim Chapparo and Millicent Failano

VCNC reporters

Ventura College students may be able to study film and filmmaking in the near future. A team of Ventura College professors gathered last summer to discuss the possibility of a film program on campus. With the enrollment increase of the past two semesters and the increase in popularity in many of the departments, many have brought back the ideas of a film department.

“Our desire is that we would like to have a fully comprehensive film school at Ventura College,” Simon Waltzer, chair of Language Arts and Library Committee Chair of Ventura College, said.

Ventura College currently offers film courses including the History of Motion Pictures, Screenwriting, Acting for the Screen, and Aesthetics of Film. Bob Moskowitz, chair of the Art Department, is on sabbatical trying to put together a substantial film school.

The possibility of a film school being assembled on campus has been a long-time dream of many faculty members, especially Waltzer, who said that action has been taken on this proposal beginning at the start of last summer.

The program will integrate other departments, such as music, which will also present students with the opportunity to study and learn about scoring for film. “We are so adamant about offering a film school at Ventura College one day. It would be such an excellent opportunity,” Waltzer said.

Ventura College is not unprepared for a film program. The basement of the Learning Resource Center houses an unused studio with light grid and a new soundboard. Waltzer said the studio is currently “the most expensive storage cupboard on campus.” The production room is not available to students. Though a film program has been attempted at Ventura College, it was cancelled due to restrictive state budgets and funding.

William Hendricks, photography professor at Ventura College, confirmed that the film department should be off the ground within three years. Hendricks said students interested in ensuring the new department gets top priority attention should write to Alex Miranda, dean of Social Science and Humanities.

In the meantime, Waltzer is offering an opportunity for students of his Aesthetics of Film class to pursue their dedication to film. In lieu of a final paper the students of this course may create their own short student film, a project, which must include a complete script, shoot dates, a storyboard, and the finished film to be screened in class. “There are 27 students in my film class, and half of them want to be in the industry,” Waltzer said.

A least four students have taken on the challenge of creating a short film. “While I don’t think I’m going to pursue film as a career, I’m really excited about the chance to put a short together because it lets me explore ideas in an unusual way,” student Maureen Dillon, 19, said, “Making a movie instead of writing a paper? That’s not commonplace,”

Waltzer said, “In the past, I’ve seen wonderful films by brilliant 19-, 20-year-olds.” He said he hopes to continue revealing to students that there is a difference between “trash” and “great art.”

“I am determined we will have a film school on this campus,” Waltzer said, “If we don’t offer it, it’s not going to happen.”