Traverse City Film Festival
TRAVERSE CITY — Amanda Sondy is a filmmaker.
This week, she sketched dozens of drawings to turn into the end credits for an animated movie. She can explain what inspired her and why she drew things a certain way. She knows it will take patience to complete the project: Thirty drawings are needed to create one second of animation, she said.
Amanda is 9 years old.
A four-day workshop put on during the Traverse City Film Festival gives children a chance to try animation. Movie-making is "a lot of hard work," Amanda said.
"When you are older, you can look back at it and say 'It was fun,'" she said.
The workshop is put on in part by The Art Place, a nonprofit Suttons Bay animation studio for students. From workshops to free, nightly movies at the Open Space to student film discussions, this year's festival offers several opportunities for young people to get involved.
"Every year the educational opportunities have expanded," said Katie Tibaldi, the festival's education panel and Q-&-A manager.
Youth access to filmmaking also has grown because of online sites such as YouTube, student film contests and camera rentals from libraries.
"It's really accessible, so I think that's why kids get so excited about it, because it's a form of expression that they connect with at any age," Tibaldi said.
Children at the Get Animated Workshops crafted an animated story based on their favorite things about summertime in Traverse City. Megan Morrissey, 18, of Suttons Bay helped out. She said animation is "great for kids" because it's an avenue for imagination. She also plans to see at least one film during the festival, the Open Space showing of "Singin' in the Rain."
"I've always been a film buff," she said.
The Open Space is the place for young people to watch movies and soak up festival ambiance. The nightly flicks allow kids and teens to hang out and take part in the festival.
Luke Bumann, 15, of Traverse City relaxed Tuesday with a group of friends at the park. They waited for "Ghost Busters," but the movie was later postponed because of stormy weather. There are two reasons Luke keeps coming back to the outdoor venue.
"The movies. The babes," he said.
Several in his group said they didn't plan to pay $9 to see any of the movies shown elsewhere during the festival. Amelia Jandreski, also 15 and from Traverse City, plans to see as many free movies at the Open Space as she can.
"I usually come down for my friends," she said. "It's something to do in Traverse City."
There's one more benefit to the big, public location.
"Out here, you can talk. You can't really get kicked out," Amelia said.
For some young people, the film festival is a chance to squeeze a lot of movie viewing into a short span of time. Charlie Venditto, 18, has a list of about 10 movies to watch.
"By far, the coolest thing that is going to be at the film festival this year is Anvil," said Venditto, a recent Traverse City Central High School graduate.
The documentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" tracks the Canadian metal band, which is scheduled to perform live following the film screenings.
Last year, Venditto volunteered to videograph much of the film festival and "was on call for the whole week." Another year, he worked as an usher. He also painted and hauled trash during the State Theatre renovations.
"My whole outlook on the film world, if that's what I can call it, is that I always want to keep film as a hobby, and I always want to keep film as a source of entertainment," he said.
Parents should take their children to movies and then discuss the films, said Chris Allen-Wickler, co-director of The Art Place.
"We are so lucky to have this film festival here, because there's so much for kids to do," she said. "The Open Space, that has a feeling of old-fashionedness from my kid-hood that is so cool."
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