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Connect Canyons
Learning is about making connections, and we invite you to learn and connect with us. Connect Canyons is a show about what we teach in Canyons District, how we teach, and why. We get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great: students, teachers, principals, parents, and more. We meet national experts, too. And we spotlight the “connection makers” — personalities, programs and prospects — we find compelling and inspiring.
Connect Canyons
Voices of Tomorrow: First Entrada Student Documentary Wins at CSDtv Film Festival
For 15 years, students of all ages across Canyons School District have competed in the annual CSDtv Film Festival. Each festival entry is directed, acted, and produced by a student or teacher, from documentaries and shorts to podcasts and stop-motion creations. One winner comes out on top in each age bracket and category.
This year was the first year students at Entrada High School chose to compete in the film festival, which drew 242 entries from 610 contestants. Not only did they excel, they won the category of High School Documentary.
“I didn’t think we were going to win. It’s so cool that we won, especially with the whole process we went through,” says Michelle Nolaca, one of the student directors of, “Students of Entrada – Voices of Tomorrow.”
Production for the film began long before students even picked up a camera and shouted, “action!” At the beginning of the school year, Entrada teacher Baylee Riley applied for an Innovation Grant through the Canyons Education Foundation.
Welcome to Connect Canyons, a podcast sponsored by Canyon School District. This is a show about what we teach, how we teach and why we get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great Students, teachers, principals, parents and more. We meet national experts too. Learning is about making connections, so connect with us.
Speaker 2:For 15 years, students of all ages from across Canyon school districts have competed in the annual CSDTV Film Festival. From documentaries to short films, podcasts and stop-motion creations, students write film, act and direct their films, which are then pitted against other films in the same age bracket, with one winner coming out on top in each category. Welcome to Connect Canyons. I'm your host, frances Cook. This year. It was the first year that students at Entrada High School chose to compete in the film festival. But not only did they compete, they won their category of high school documentary. So I'm joined today by Entrada teacher Bailey Riley, as well as some of the students who worked on the film Isi Lau, jackson Stevens and Michelle Nolasco. Thank you all for joining us. Bailey, I'd like to start with you. This goes farther back than just entering the film festival. You recently received a grant from the Canyons Education Foundation. Can you walk us through? You know how you applied for the grant what it was like receiving that.
Speaker 3:Just lay out that whole story for us Back in September is when I started typing out and meticulously planning out what I wanted to do with this project, before we even applied for it. Before even the class began, mark and I actually had the conversation about what we wanted this class to be about and what we wanted to do, and we had this vision of what we could possibly submit for the film festival and ideally, we needed equipment to produce the best film that we could possibly produce. So I typed out and I had the honor of online shopping on Canon and other websites as well to try to find anything that I felt like the best items to produce the film that we needed to produce. So I decided on cameras. So I applied for full grant of $6,000 so we could receive three camera setups so we could have three rigs for our teams to initially have enough coverage to record our documentary.
Speaker 3:I applied didn't hear back for about a month or so for the Canyons Education Foundation to go through all of the applications and decide on who they wanted to grant the money to. So actually I was here at Entrata teaching my graphic design class for the first time ever, and Mark suspiciously emailed me the day of asking if I was going to be on campus and I said of course, I'm going to be teaching my class today. I was teaching my class and he came, knocked on my door and all of a sudden, the Board of Education members Canyon's Education Foundation started rushing into my classroom. And then we came out as well and all of the students were outside clapping for us and we were awarded with a check a big, big check of $6,000, our full grant that we wanted to receive to get everything that we wish for. So it was our dream all of the equipment that we wanted to accomplish what we needed to, and without this we wouldn't be able to do so.
Speaker 2:That was a really great moment too, getting all the students involved and having them in the hallways and cheering for you. You could kind of see the excitement on everybody's faces. Let's go to the decision to making a film for the film festival. Was it a class project? Did you guys decide to do it? Walk me through how it all went down.
Speaker 4:We were more just trying to depict the stories and the impacts of the obstacles people have had to hop over to get through to get here to this high school and to be motivated enough to learn and for their life. And some of these people's stories here are really touching and yeah, I mean, that's what we were trying to depict in our film was just everyone's stories, how they overcame everything.
Speaker 5:Our teacher, bailey, did give us, like other options. At first she showed us different like types of films of what we could possibly want to do and we've seen this documentary and I think the whole class liked this. We found like, oh okay, maybe it'd be interesting if we were to like like he said, you know, go around the school and hear about other people's stories and stuff like that.
Speaker 3:It was really fun, I enjoyed it, I think the first day I asked them what is one thing that you all have in common, what is similar story that you have? And it is adult education. How did you get here? And they all had different stories of how they ended up at Entrada, but they all pursued their education and all pushing on, which is super honorable. And when you hear their backgrounds and you hear their stories when I heard their stories I was brought to tears. Honestly, they're utterly amazing students and what they produce you can see it in their film, you can see their passion and you can see what they've gone through the triumphs as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think you're right. I feel like you know you get that emotion from. You know you have documentaries that you're watching it and you're like, okay, this is boring, you know, and okay, I'm learning facts, but to watch your documentary, which is entitled Entrata Students' Voices of Tomorrow, you can see the passion in it. It takes a lot of work, too, to put something like that together. I'd like to know, you know, what kind of expectations did you have going into making this film? And then, was the work that you put into it the same as you expected? Isi, would you like to leave us all it?
Speaker 6:honestly came out way better than I thought it would. I don't know. I just I wasn't thinking this videography class was going to be too crazy. And then I saw the equipment that we're using and when I saw the video I was like surprised. It was great, but yeah, I wasn't really expecting anything from it. Still crazy.
Speaker 4:I think our expectations were. So we have to have the video under five minutes, right, that's the expectations. We did get the five-minute mark. It was really a struggle because there's so many people who you like to interview, but we had to pick out what we felt. These kids are people who have overcome even harder obstacles. We had to choose some stories over others, try to make some fit. I mean, it would have been nicer to have an hour-long documentary and have all the people's stories in here, but you can't do that all the time. But that's upcoming, that's for the future. We're working on it. So don't worry guys, it's coming out, it's a full documentary movie.
Speaker 5:Nice. I also thought it would be pretty easy, but With our five-minute time limit it was hard because, like he said, a lot of these students' stories they were interesting and they were definitely longer than five minutes, so it was a challenge, but I don't know. I enjoyed it with the cameras too and learning everything about the cameras. That was really fun.
Speaker 2:It's hard to kind of trim those stories down. You think five minutes, oh, that's plenty of time. But when you want to tell everyone's story and you know, do it justice.
Speaker 4:Yeah, then you have to trim it down and then you miss like one part of their story and then like everyone's lost. Like what did that happen like five years ago? How are they here now? Like, yeah, If you guys have the full film, we'll let you know. It's coming out soon.
Speaker 2:Nice teaser. I like it. What was your favorite part? Were there parts that were more difficult than others? Were there parts that you'll just take with you?
Speaker 3:My favorite part is easy. We work so hard getting those shots Because those were the first days of production when the kids I don't want to call them kids, let's just have it those were the first days of students learning the cameras. And if you didn't see in the other shots when we the cuts before that, the students are underneath the desks and hiding with the lights and with the mics, just hiding behind them, and it's just take Jackson and screaming behind the desk okay, take, roll. It was so fun to see them just thrive in production and take on these roles so naturally just using the environment around and everything you see.
Speaker 2:you were kind of the model walking through the school sitting down in the classroom. That was a lot of pressure.
Speaker 6:It was nothing. I like being the main attention.
Speaker 4:I think EC did perfect. He was like it was perfect and yeah, he fit the end show really well and I feel like, yeah, I mean I don't know it's easy for you guys. There you go.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I just do what I can.
Speaker 3:You fit the vibe of the school. I think that was a common theme that you guys wanted to portray is you wanted to portray Entrada as it truly, truly is, that it's not like any other high school in Canyons district. It's not like Corner Canyon, where I teach at full time. It's a completely, completely different school. Now, when you walk in, I mean they're walking in in the dark and it's rough music and it's vibing and they're walking in and they're kind of swaying and having their time and yeah, it's just them. And then when they come in, it's just a whole switch and they're happy and engaging and positive and just it's amazing. That's what Entrada is and they captured it perfectly.
Speaker 4:Well said, Baylor.
Speaker 5:I think my favorite part was just filming. I'm really nosy, so I like knowing people's life, you know. So I found it fun when we were able to pull out students. It was actually surprising how many students actually wanted to talk and say their stories.
Speaker 4:We did get denied a lot, but yeah, we got denied by probably like well, like we probably got maybe one person out of each classroom and we go into another classroom and try to get more people. Everyone else was like no, just all doing their work.
Speaker 5:But the stories we got. I don't know. That was my favorite part, just knowing how similar but different we all are. You know, like all of our stories, I feel like I just found it so cool and you got the honor of doing interviewing Stephanie. Mainly correct, yes yeah, their stories were. I think their stories was one of my favorites because they really got deep yeah, it is really cool to hear.
Speaker 2:You see these people in the hallways every day and you don't expect what they've been through. Yeah, exactly, you say hi and you think you know them. But to get at that deeper level, that's a treat. Yes, so let's jump to the night of the film festival. Y'all showed up with literal bells and whistles, like you were ready to celebrate, no matter what Talk about what it was like being there. How did you feel? Were you nervous? Were you excited?
Speaker 4:I mean I was a little nervous. I didn't really expect us to win. I mean I saw how great all the other films were. They were amazing. I mean I got some contact information from some people there and follow them on Instagram and I'm watching their films. Like their animations are amazing. Like I want to strive to be like that one day. I want to learn animation, but like I don't think I ever will because I don't have the patience for it. They were great films, like the elementary films. They were so funny and I I feel like we needed those hands and whistles because we needed to show our support for them and I didn't feel like that's the win. But then we did and I walked, we walked up there and I was like, okay, we're winning, guys, and this is happening.
Speaker 2:How did you feel after they announced that you won?
Speaker 6:that was. That was surreal. When they announced us, I was like because I'm not sure if I remember correctly, but I think we got put up against the autism awareness video. I was like, oh yeah, that's like. Oh, we gotta give it to them. That's what I was thinking. And then they called us up and I was like shaking, like I don't even remember walking up to the stage, I just remember I was standing there on stage. I was like, snap, it's my video for that. How about you? Michelle?
Speaker 5:I actually just found out today that we went. I didn't know that. Did you that? It's actually so cool.
Speaker 2:I gotta too, for those of you who were able to go. We were so impressed so we were backstage handing out the awards and things and we could hear your whole group cheering for every award winner, every category. It didn't matter if it was elementary, if it was animation. You guys were there for everyone and just such great supports. And they had these like noisemakers and whistles and you could just hear them going off all night.
Speaker 3:you're nervous, I was so nervous because I I did the application, so I submitted for you guys, for all of you, you're varying. I made sure like I was on time. I made sure it went through. I was like gotta make sure it went through. But I also knew I have a lot of students that submitted for the film festival at my school and I knew how competitive that that category was and I knew that when we actually got in, how big of an honor that was. And already I texted Mark right away or emailed him. I was, we got into the film festival. He's like, okay, should we get a bus? Should we, like I should do this? Are we going to like, make a field trip of it? And then, yes, we're going to do that. And we figured out we're going to do that the day of, or a couple days before that. And then he showed up with the bells and whistles and you guys really just, of course, supported every single person that was there in every single film even the.
Speaker 2:So tell me what was your biggest takeaway from Bailey's class, from doing this project?
Speaker 5:Probably just having the opportunity to work with the equipment we did Definitely shout out to Mark Helped a lot. Make this happen, make this happen. And then also, I feel like more comfortable not comfortable, but more, I guess, not so alone knowing that other people are also here with struggles, you know, and I'm not the only one. So I think that's my biggest takeaway. I really enjoyed the class and thank you, bailey, for teaching. It was a really fun class.
Speaker 2:I loved it you need for a lunch.
Speaker 5:You can cry if she wants to when we were all talking about our stories actually in class, I actually was crying. I'm like, oh my god, like the cries, it's okay to cry. Yeah, I love it yeah, probably.
Speaker 6:Um, getting back into a recording, because I used to have a little YouTube channel in elementary because I thought it was pretty cool people got rich off of just uh being themselves what would you guys say to any other students who maybe they've maybe like EC?
Speaker 2:they had something going on when they were in elementary school, but they're not quite sure and they're thinking, well, maybe I'll, I'll get into the film festival.
Speaker 5:Just go for it. You never know what you're gonna expect. Like Willie, I never expected. I say, just go for it just do it.
Speaker 4:Exactly what EC said just do. I mean, if you're starting to want to get into film in elementary school and, like you want to pursue it, like you say, you have some challenges along the way and you fall out of like film or whatever career path, you want to go about it like you. This is your life and you're growing right now. Whoever's listening, and I mean, if this is what you want to pursue, film, do it dude, do it girl like, do it man, like I don't. All of you guys like do it. Just pursue it, live it. And, I don't know, dream it. I'm trying to be inspirational but I'm not inspirational. So I hope you guys can take these words and learn something from it you just never know what you're gonna get out of it.
Speaker 5:You know word and there's technically nothing you could lose if you, you know, decide to go for it. And I feel like at the end, kind of like what he was saying you probably are gonna go through some struggles, but I feel like it's all worth it. It's all worth it.
Speaker 4:Battle scars.
Speaker 5:Yes.
Speaker 3:I was a little apprehensive of okay, what am I? I'm just handing over this equipment to these students. What are they going to produce? But after just a little bit of guidance, what do you guys want to do? Okay, who's doing what? How are we attacking it? Who's doing the writing? Who's doing the filming? It just all produced itself. And I think my biggest takeaway is just have faith in the process and have faith in my students and have faith in their ideas, because they do know what they want and they do know what is a good idea and what is great on the big screen as well.
Speaker 2:That's beautiful. I think you guys, you know, hit the nail on the head. You are the voices of tomorrow and you know you got to speak up and be you. Just do it. Get your voices heard. Thank you for joining us and for sharing your stories and being an inspiration to other future filmmakers out there.
Speaker 4:Thank you for being an inspiration for us. Thank you, I thought you saw opportunity.
Speaker 2:Happy to. No, I'm happy to be here, me too. If you do want to watch any of the winning films from the film festival, you can go to csdtvorg and click watch and they'll be under film festival. And thank you for listening. If there's a topic you'd like to hear discussed on the podcast, send us an email to communications at canyons district dot org thanks for listening to this episode.
Speaker 1:Website canyonsdistrictorg.
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