Belfast Filmmaking Group

This Just in ! We will have a Winter Break Film Shootout! Teams will have from December 23rd - January 5 to complete a movie! All entries will be required to include a prompt which will be divulged on December 23rd. All entries must be submitted by January 5th. A screening will occur shortly thereafter.

We will host our own Student FIlm Festival in June 2009 - the winners will get their films submitted to the 31st Maine Student Film and Video Festival. BFG will bay the registration fee. Other entries can most certainly submit their films to the MSFVF as well, at their own cost. More to come on this...

BELFAST (Sep 16): Jason Bannister hopes the Belfast Filmmaking Group's recently completed project will show viewers that a big budget isn't necessary to create a good film. Along with showcasing the talents of locals particularly Belfast Area High School students — and the many ways the community supported the making of "The List," Bannister hopes the flick will boost membership in the fledgling club.

A promotional poster for the premier of 'The List,' which is scheduled to be shown Saturday, Sept. 20, at Belfast Area High School. (Image courtesy of Jason Bannister)

Bannister, in his first year teaching at Troy Howard Middle School, is known for his film-making projects with fourth-graders at the Kermit Nickerson School in Swanville. Last year, Bannister expanded his creative scope by reaching out to students at BAHS and adults involved in community theater to form the Belfast Filmmaking Group. Last fall, the SAD 34 Board of Directors approved Bannister's request that BFG be recognized as an official club at the high school. Bannister said the group is also open to locals interested in all aspects of film-making — whether it's in front or behind the camera.

The premier, a suspense film titled, "The List," will be shown at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 in the BAHS gym. The event is free and open to the public, and donations will be accepted to fund future BFG projects. The film is about a young girl; Katy (portrayed by BAHS student Emily Desjardins) whose father is killed in a car accident and her mother is badly injured. Katy finds herself assisting Detective Danny Barnes (Nathan Raleigh) to solve the murder of two of her fellow students. The plot takes place over eight days.

Jason Bannister, far left, strums on a guitar during a break in filming 'The List.' (Image courtesy of Jason Bannister)

The group of students and community volunteers, including James Clayton, began filming in October of 2007 in several locations, including Bay Wrap, the Belfast Police station, a home in Swanville, at BAHS and the Belfast waterfront. Participants were exposed to every aspect of film-making — from storyboarding and directing to camera work and public relations.

Wes Sterrs, right, and Hannah Stimpson, center, assist Jason Bannister in a winter scene. (Image courtesy of Jason Bannister)

The editing process for "The List" was completed last week; none of the cast or crew will see the finished product until Saturday's premier. "It's an hour and 15 minutes of suspense," said Bannister. "... I think everyone will be pretty impressed."

The only people who have seen "The List" are Bannister's students at THMS, but it's useless to try to pry the ending from them-they have been sworn to secrecy. BAHS juniors Tyler Johnstone and Cameron Grant have backgrounds in musical theater, speech and drama. Both said they learned a lot about all aspects of film-making, including lighting and sound. "It's made me think a lot about acting in front of a camera; I think about how to get the mindset to be able to start crying and be emotional when the camera is right there in front of you," said Johnstone. "It's so much more intimate."

Bannister, center, consults with community volunteer James Clayton, far left, as BAHS student Emily Desjardins, right, assists with a microphone. (Image courtesy of Jason Bannister)

Bannister said there's something for everyone when it comes to film-making, whether it's fashion design or behind-the-scenes work.

"It's not just acting," Bannister said. "If you go out for the football team, for example, you know you're just going to play football. But with film-making, acting is just one piece of the puzzle." Bannister, Johnstone and Grant are hopeful that more students in the Waldo County area — the group is not limited to BAHS students — will take part in the next project -- student-produced short films for the 2009 Maine Student Film and Video Festival.

Students at THMS will be included in the mix, as Bannister plans to assist them with producing films to enter in the junior category.