Montrose teacher takes on key role

By Tania Martin
MONTROSE multimedia teacher Jesse Roberts is set to work with some of the Dandenong Ranges most promising up and coming filmmakers as the Shire of Yarra Ranges launches its 2006 Youth Service Bravado Film Festival.
Now in its fourth year, the Bravado Youth Film Festival aims to encourage young people to get involved in community projects as well as promoting filmmaking skills.
Mr Roberts has been involved in the film festival as a film editor since it started in Healesville in 2001.
He said the festival gave young people a great opportunity to learn some basic camera skills.
Mr Roberts said the festival is open to anyone aged between 12-25 who is interested in learning how to put together a short film or documentary.
As the festival coordinating editor, Mr Roberts helps the festival entrants to edit their film or documentary.
He said the festival continues to grow every year and it was amazing to see how many talented young people there were in the shire.
Mayor Monika Keane said the film festival was organised by the shire’s youth services team to provide an opportunity for participants to learn about film making with access to the services of an experienced film editor.
“The Bravado Youth Film Festival is a chance for young people to discover or display their talents for directing and producing short films, and a great way to get friends and family involved and have fun along the way.
“This year’s entrants will have a chance to shine with the stars of Hollywood, with the final screening to be held at Reading Cinema in Chirnside Park on 15 November,” she said.
Cr Keane said the festival is free to enter, and entrants will receive a mini digital video cassette to record their film and up to six hours production time with a professional film editor to prepare their entry for the premiere.
Cr Keane said selected entries would be showcased throughout venues around the shire in January next year.
All Bravado entrants must attend a special information session to enter a film with session for hills residents on Thursday, 7 September at the Belgrave Youth Services Office, 1616 Burwood Highway at 5.30pm.
Entries for the Bravado Youth Film Festival 2006 close on 25 October. For more information contact the shire’s youth services team on 1300 368 333.