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Op-Ed: Sonoma Film Festival aims to prepare filmmakers of tomorrow (Includes interview)

but the stewards and standard bearers of media for years to come. The program also seeks to prepare students with tangible skills they can use in an ever-changing world. That world we now see before us in the second decade of the 21st Century is media driven. The convergence of technology and media being almost seamless is upon us. And Hansen, is very aware that young people today need to know the difference between media saturation and newsworthy information.

 Lights  camera  action.  The skills that the media arts program at Sonoma Valley High School provid...

“Lights, camera, action.” The skills that the media arts program at Sonoma Valley High School provide are extremely valuable as well as practical. Hansen said he enjoys his work most when he can “turn a kid around from being a pain to being a star and helping that person build a ‘dream job,’ through media arts.”
Courtesy of Peter Hansen


He emphasizes the importance of good, honest storytelling. “I have a degree in journalism and what I try to get across to my students is story, story, story,” he said. The upcoming Sonoma International Film Festival at the end of this month is an opportunity for students to not only participate in filmmaking in a professional way, it also gives them a platform to fine-tune their ability to tell a story.

“There is so much ‘schlock’ out there, (with regards to media) he said. I love that sense of exploration and going out on a treasure hunt. Helping the students to use various tools and techniques to tell a good story or to express themselves. We lose that as adults, he said. But kids are naturally full of wonder/curiosity and imagination.”

Hansen’s enthusiasm and commitment to the media arts program and to students seems infinite. Yet, as he explained to this reporter. “I was a corporate man,” he said. Before taking on the job and building the media arts program at Sonoma Valley High literally from scratch, he made presentations and advertising materials for corporations and major companies.

“Believe it or not, that was easy, said Hansen, this is harder. Teaching and working with over 160 kids is a lot of work.” Hansen’s most cherished approach is to help a student build a dream job thru media arts. He is realistic when he says, “not every kid is the type to be on a ‘college track.’ There is the type of person who will build a career, enter a trade or be their own business or sole proprietorship, such as a graphics designer or a freelancer.”

Some careers one does need a formal degree. But there are many jobs and career fields where lots of formal education is not as important as experience. Hansen sees the experience itself as that which has the most impact upon a young person, not so much the academics of it.

This is why at this time of year when SIFF is setting aside a special screening event for the students at the festival and providing media/video workshops for Middle school kids, Hansen is most elated. “All of the work our students do (both at the high school and middle school level) get’s a special screening at the film festival.”

The Sebastiani Theater at the center of town becomes  standing room only  when the SIFF has its scre...

The Sebastiani Theater at the center of town becomes “standing room only” when the SIFF has its screening night for the high school and middle school students who make films and PSAs to be shown at the annual film festival.
Courtesy of Peter Hansen


“It’s like they become rock stars for that night,” he said. And, with regards to the screening event at the SIFF held at Sebastiani Theater at the center of town, “everyone turns out for this,” said Hansen. “A lot of the kids from the school turn up at the screening just to cheer them on. Its as big as a variety game or a sports championship, all the kids get to participate and experience the excitement.”

Kevin McNeely, Executive Director of SIFF is very proud of what Hansen has been able to accomplish. When I talked to McNeely earlier this past February, he referred to the entire program for the schools as “a miracle.” Hansen agreed as he pointed out, “schools can’t afford this program, the equipment, the ever-expanding technology, they just don’t have the budget.”

SIFF is not alone in its efforts to support media arts to schools in the area. San Francisco’s Streetside Stories organization has been reaching out to youth to help them improve their skills. “Our struggling public schools are often the last place where effective new learning models reach students that need them the most,” said Alec Raffin, Executive Director of Streetside.

“A recent National Endowment for the Arts study found that African American, Latino, and low-income youth receive significantly less arts education than white and higher income youth. Streetside helps close this gap through our core programs, which are comprised of innovative arts workshops that improve literacy, integrate technology, and are aligned with state Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) standards, as well as Common Core state standards.”

And, like SIFF, Streetside Stories was started at a grass roots level in 1989 when two brothers Seth and James Levy wanted to promote reading and writing by riding their bicycles cross-country, bringing storytelling, theater, and creative writing to kids in the communities they stopped in along the way.

When Hansen began the Media Arts Program 15 years ago at SVHS the budget was as thin as a shoestring. He received a meager stipend for his class time and extra hours of work with the students. But now thanks to SIFF and the “benefactor angels” of Sonoma Valley as McNeely referred to them, the program is well funded.

“My salary, said Hansen which is measured by percentage is 100 percent as of the past two years.
The State through the Sonoma Valley Unified School District decides how many sections of my program to carry, and I am fortunate to finally have them recognize this and allow me 100 percent.”

While extremely grateful, Hansen understands that could change. But whether the school via the school district will be able to continue to pay a salary or not, Hansen as well as McNeely is not worried. The investment made in programs such as this do give a return. Hansen and McKneely reiterated that more than once. They noted how many students who graduate from SVHS with an foothold in the Media Arts Program go on to prestigious filmmaking schools and media arts programs. Acceptance into NYU, UCLA and jobs with National Geographic, Cartoon Network, Pixar and Apple where just a few they mentioned.

It has now become customary for celebrities to attend the SIFF festival and to speak to the students. Reps from media companies like Pixar have come to SIFF also to speak. While McKneely pointed out SIFF is not a marketplace event like Sundance or Cannes. “It is a destination event and among the Top Ten film festivals in the nation.”

While some with only an eye for fiscal ledgers might be skeptical of media arts programs for schools, Hansen and the SIFF clearly see the future unfolding. If money for a program or piece of equipment is lacking, they believe in earnest that funding will be found. “Call it ‘a miracle’ fate, serendipity, this teaching job and helping form a media arts program was meant for me,” Hansen said.

“If I can help turn a student’s life around, from being a pain to being a star, enthralled about life and wanting to participate in it, that means a lot,” said Hansen. “40 percent of it is about helping with social values, morals and life-lessons. Media arts is not just one thing, that is why I love it,” Hansen said. “I try to teach all the basics, the film festival provides all the rest.” For more information about the Sonoma International Film Festival and its support and outreach to Sonoma Valley High School and other programs visit the SIFF web site.

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