College Students Learn Filmmaking at Palm Springs International Film Society

College of the Desert (COD) film students received a first-class lab experience learning real filmmaking in a joint project between the College and the Palm Springs International Film Society. The PSIFS presents the annual Palm Springs International Film Festival, and much more.

The program is the brainchild of independent filmmaker, producer, and COD adjunct film instructor, Vincent Sassone, and the head of Membership and Educational Programs for Palm Springs International Film Society (PSIFS), Nikki Gordon. The PSIFS wanted a mini-documentary film about their educational programs and contacted Sassone for his filmmaking expertise. What better solution than to make the exercise itself an educational opportunity?

Sassone recruited three talented and motivated students from his film class at the College. After their orientation and planning meeting on December 23, the students and Sassone started on their project filming, interviewing, and editing on December 26. They completed their filming by January 12. Two of the students have their own DSLR cameras and the third used her smart phone, which works remarkably well. Sassone provided his own camera, lighting and editing equipment, and coached the students. Their final product will be a 10-minute video highlighting the educational programs provided by the PSIFS.

College of the Desert student, Yalonnda Lee, had this to say about her involvement, “I have always been in love with film. With this experience, I am able to reconnect with my passion.” Another student, Ivan Valenzuela, said, “Through film, I’ve learned that there’s a lot of value in working with a team and that there’s structure and detail in every aspect of the industry.”

Paola Fernandez, who will complete her Associate of Arts degree in Journalism at College of the Desert in May 2015, plans to transfer to a four-year university and double-major in Journalism and Cinema Arts. She said, “I’m learning everything from scheduling and setting up video shoots, to learning how to develop my interviewing skills. I think the best part of this experience is working with such a renowned organization like the Palm Springs International Film Festival. It really is an honor, and I know this opportunity has the potential to open many doors for my career in the future.”

As an additional perk during this experience, the students were able to attend Film Festival events including:

§ Talking Pictures screening of Whiplash followed by a conversation with actor J.K. Simmons moderated by Deadline’s Pete Hammond;

§ Screening of the feature film adaptation Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha produced collaboratively between the USC School of Cinematic Arts and James Franco’s Rabbit Bandini Productions. Students also participated in private breakout sessions with PSIFS Educational Partners and the visiting USC graduate student filmmakers, professional cast and producing team;

§ PSIFF signature educational event Student Screening Day in which over 1,000 high school students from across the Coachella Valley see two films from the PSIFF lineup and then engage with the filmmakers, talent, and subjects from the films. This year the program included the narrative feature film Natural Sciences from Argentina with lead actress Paula Hertzog Skyping in for a video chat Q&A moderated by Festival Programmer Hebe Tabachnik and with the documentary Keep on Keepin’ On, filmmaker Alan Hicks and subject of the film Justin Kauflin were in attendance for a Q&A and live piano performance by Kauflin.

Dr. Jim Berg, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at College of the Desert, described the college’s interest in this collaboration saying, “The College and the Film Society have been cooperating for a long time and have sought ways for students to participate and learn from the Society’s activities. We’re all very happy for the students to have this experience.”

When it is completed and approved, the final video project will be posted on the Education Programs’ page of the Palm Springs International Film Society’s website: www.psfilmfest.org.

All three students are continuing their studies at College of the Desert this coming Spring semester which begins January 26. Seats are still available in courses such as Contemporary World Film, Basic Motion Picture/TV Production, as well as over 400 other classes. The class schedule is available on the college’s website. Use this link to see the Spring 2015 priority registration dates. For more information about enrolling in college classes, visit collegeofthedesert.edu, or call the COD Counseling Center at 760.773.2520.

About College of the Desert

Established in 1958, College of the Desert (COD) is an accredited community college serving eastern Riverside County, California. COD offers over 100 degree and certificate programs and leads the region in providing quality, higher education, technical training and lifelong learning opportunities, in response to the dynamic needs of our diverse community. The college serves more than 10,000 credit students and 1,000 non‐credit students each year and is the number one source of transfer students to California State University, San Bernardino Palm Desert Campus. For more information, visit www.collegeofthedesert.edu.

--Information and image courtesy College of the Desert

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