Hawaii January 2008
Big Island Bootcamp
by Nicole Pugh
The Big Island of Hawaii is known for its volcanoes, waterfalls, dramatic surf and lush, tropical scenery. But what about the arts? Actually, this largest of the Hawaiian Islands is home to numerous artistic projects of all kinds, including film. One artist who is contributing to the growth of art on the Big Island is author/editor/filmmaker/consultant Cristina Salat. From deep within the lush rainforest near Volcano National Park, Salat is training a new batch of independent filmmakers on how to make movies using ingenuity, skill and their own inner resources.
“This is not ‘independent filmmaking’ Hollywood-style, where ‘no-budget’ actually means a budget of millions,” says Salat, who is originally from New York. “This is guerilla, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, share skills, learn-as-you-go filmmaking in the best tradition of independent moviemakers who come out of nowhere and use whatever is at their disposal to create something from nothing.”
Participants in the Film Bootcamp come for one to several months and can join in at any time there is a camp in session. Together with Salat, individuals collaborate on various steps of the filmmaking process including script writing, camera operating, acting, musical score composition, set-building, and post-production work. Some participants live on island and many who come from afar stay at Salat’s artistic retreat, Kulana. The retreat is home base for Film Bootcamp and also houses visiting artists of other mediums who wish to spend some focused time immersed in their creative passions.
“As the director [of the Bootcamp], I aim for a fun, comfortable…yet highly prolific environment that the bootcampers help co-create,” says Salat. The majority of the equipment, materials and duplication costs are provided by Salat, with Bootcampers sharing what they can, how they can in terms of equipment and expertise. Donations to the project also keep it going.
“When you really make films that are no-budget, you learn to be super creative,” says Salat. According to her, “enthusiastic stick-to-it-iveness, creative problem-solving abilities, a good attitude, and the ability to accurately follow directions” are more important than technical knowledge and skill. All Bootcamp participants who work on a project receive credit for the project as well as a copy of the DVD to add to their “reel (filmmaker’s portfolio).”
Evidence of Bootcamper’s creativity and talent is obvious
in their short film, Dragon. This urban fairy tale chronicles the experiences
of an African-American girl growing up with a white mother and the racial
confusions, stereotypes and injustices she is exposed to. In response,
her anger and frustration at herself and others rear up inside of her with
dragon-like feriousity. Dragon ambitiously explores issues of race, class
and gender in a way that is realistic yet deeply symbolic and insightful.
“Most recently we test-screened Dragon [and] enjoyed amazing discussions
about race relations and [the] inner dragons that this film’s themes evoke…and
[we] began submitting [it] to film festivals and such,” explains Salat.
“Meanwhile...I was also contracted by a New York travel film company to
do a Big Island short. The creative souls here [at Bootcamp] now have gotten
to participate in the birthing of that. At the same time, we’ve also begun
initial logging of footage towards editing a documentary dialogue between
intergenerational African-American women.”
Could the Big Island herself have something to do with the outpouring of creativity that comes from participants of the Film Bootcamp and it’s director?
“We are located in one of the most photogenic places on earth where the forest echoes in torrential rain, sun lights the ocean, and live molten lava flows…so that helps create magic!” Salat says. With Pele’s energy behind them, an island playground to discover, and a seasoned filmmaker and teacher guiding the way, it seems like there is nothing these filmmakers can’t do.
Cristina Salat’s Film Bootcamp and the Kulana Retreat are alcohol and drug free experiences. To purchase a DVD or to find out more about Film Bootcamp, visit www.sharkproductions.biz . For more information about Kulana Artist Retreat, visit www.discoverkulana.com. Cristina Salat is a former New York editor, published author, writing consultant and filmmaker. Visit www.cristinasalat.com for more information.