Motivating the Next Generation of FILMMAKERS On the air with BEN-TV By Diana Schwaeble
O
n a recent afternoon, I observed an advanced Student Film class led by James Pondillo, head of the Media Department at Bayonne High School. Created three years ago, the course is composed mostly of juniors and seniors. The students, many of whom are planning to continue studying film in college, were brainstorming on how to capture certain shots. Pondillo explained the technical aspect of shooting a scene with a green screen, but emphasized that when you’re layering it into another scene, the lighting has to match, or it will look fake. Four programs include three that are production based. Some schools don’t offer film production as an elective, let alone quality equipment, says senior Daniele Yohannan. When Pondillo took over the department five years ago, he applied for grants to update the equipment. Computers are loaded with Adobe Premiere Pro, the cameras are high definition, and the school has a television production studio. “We have the ability to use editing software, microphones, and other equipment to build skills,” Yohannan says. “In all three years that I have been taking film production classes, I have done nothing but reach higher, and the results have surprised me.”
Mr. James Pondilla
FESTIVAL FEATS Yohannan has won a number of festival awards. Pondillo says, “My directive was, why don’t we start entering these festivals to see how we’re doing, you know? We started that about three years ago, and we’ve won many awards.” Each film is under 10 minutes. The films are narrative or experimental. BHS students have won in the Ramapo College Film Festival, School Award 2019; Kent Place Film Festival, Best Cinematography 2018 and Best Film 2017; and Black Maria Film Festival, Third Place and Honorable Mention 2018, among others. “The most advanced kids, the seniors, have to plan, cast, and shoot all their senior films, which takes substantial time to do,” Pondillo says. “They’re working on films for a couple of months at a time.” Recently, Yohannan put in a long day shooting footage for Alvin Ailey. “She got on a bus with the dancers at 8 a.m.,” Pondillo says. “The show isn’t until 7 p.m. She’s going to do a 1415-hour day just to get it recorded. Then she’ll edit it and give to me to put on TV.”
16 • BLP ~ SPRING 2020
Katie Harrigan
