Courtesy Ross Lavigne

By Hayley Ferguson

All Girls Film Camp

GIFT camp gives Medicine Hat girls a chance to make own film

Jul 25, 2019 | 5:10 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – Action.

The most famous word in film making history.

As director and cinematographer Tamarra Lessard knows all too well, they are usually spoken by men.

“When it comes to gender disparity, a lot of the topics right now are women on screen. But when you really look into the statistics, it was overwhelming that women behind the cameras were also just short.” She said.

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It’s those stats, that inspired the Girls In Film and Television (GIFT), a non-profit organization, to start their own summer camps across Alberta.

Including Medicine Hat.

“We start off with writing, they write their first short film. They work together as a crew. And day two is just as jammed packed. We teach them how to do camera work, lighting, auto, all in one day.” Explained Lessard, who is the lead instructor at the camp.

From there they shoot their short films and learn to edit them.

Which is something 15-year-old aspiring actress, Amelia Armstrong, says has opened her eyes to the idea of working behind the cameras.

“I definitely know more what it would be like to be on a professional movie set. And I would know little bit more about the cameras and the lights.” She continued. “It’s good to know when you are in a situation everything about it.”

Her fellow crew mate Caroline Perry says her favourite part has been working as a team with the other girls.

“We’ve worked together really well. I feel like we would be a really good crew. Everybody has like different interests which is perfect. So we all kind of fit together.” Perry smiled.

Not only are all the campers girls, but the leaders as well.

“They are all women which is super important to us. And it’s not because we don’t support men in the industry.” Lessard said. “It’s just because we want to show these young women that it’s possible for them to be in the industry.”

Armstrong has taken that to heart.

“Everyone is a person and so they should be treated equally. And so I think just because it’s a girl they should be able to do what they want to.” She said.

To wrap up the camp, the girls will present their film to friends and family to show them and the world exactly what they can do.