School Kids Go Behind the Scenes at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A morning bus ride from their classrooms brought hundreds of kids to the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara for “Mike’s Field Trip to the Movies.”
It is an educational outreach program for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival that takes place in two parts . Trip one is today, trip two is next Thursday.
The children saw the movie “Zootopia 2” and then heard a talk from the filmmakers.
Between the two dates it will bring in about 3-4,000 students.
Some of them are from school districts that do not usually have these types of field trips or educational programs. The children are coming from throughout Santa Barbara County.
Many children have never been to a movie theatre, or have never been inside of an iconic movie landmark like the Arlington Theatre, which has been in Santa Barbara since 1931.
The program is part of their classroom instruction to learn about movies and the arts prior to coming to the event.
The program is named after the late filmmaker Mike DeGruy, who passed away in 2012 while on an assignment for a James Cameron film.
One of the producers was Yvett Merino, a UC Santa Barbara graduate and an Academy Award winner.
She talked about the four year timeline to finish the film. “We try things and they don’t always work and sometimes we fail and we start over again. It helps us get to where we need to be.”
Another message to the kids was about collaboration.
Byron Howard, the film director said, “it is amazing that we all get together, there are about 800 people that work with us on these films. Some of the best stories that we find in these films comes from real issues in our world and movies help to talk about them”
They also explained the far reaching range of these films. Merino said, “we translate this into 47 different languages.”
The trip is designed to expose students to careers in the film industry and spark creativity, with some attendees expressing interest in writing, sound, animation and editing.
“As the school started to depart, the students and teachers told us coming here to the Arlington Theater and hearing from experts in the film business inspired them to consider a career either on or off the screen.”
Quinn Friggione
Vieja Valley Student
“… I am a dancer. so maybe some part that has to do with dancing.”
Finley McGinness
Vieja Valley Student
“Uhhhh………. the lead ….the lead role probably”
Stella Roy
Cold Springs Student
I would like to help make the movie. But I’m not sure about being in the movie”
track five
. Questions submitted in advance from the students …were answered as part of the program.
Byron Howard
Director
“…..It’s a great business. super fun it’s a really great way uh to make a living”
Nathan Evans
Vieja Valley Student
“…I think in giving the kids a chance to ask direct questions of these directors and these community members what a powerful opportunity for our Vieja Valley students. we are so grateful for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival”
Nathan Evans
Vieja Valley Student
“…..we’ve got some actors we’ve got directors. we’ve got some magical kids in room 11 at Vieja Valley.”
track six
. The goal was to educate and inspire the kids in all aspects of the arts.
Finley McGinness
Vieja Valley Student
” I thought it was just a really great movie to watch. It was, it was like an an inspiring movie. “
In Santa Barbara I’m Newschannel reporter John Palminteri
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