Combining creativity and film work, senior Zach Camden’s passion for video productions allows him to share his talents with fellow students.

While being a varsity football player, Camden makes time to pursue filmmaking through video production projects, Night of the Stars (NOTS) films and participation in the Slick Rock Student Film Festival.

According to Camden, his involvement in the “Butterfly” video, directed by alumni Mitchell Callisch, ’09, and Riley Endicott, ’10, sparked his interest in joining video productions during his junior year.

“I was asked to be involved in the ‘Butterfly’ video, and I had so much fun,” Camden said. “This made me want to enroll in video productions the next year.”

Camden claims that video productions offers an outlet for student creativity.

“I like video productions because it gives me a way to express my creativity and allows me to share my talents with other people,” Camden said. “Even though I have an assignment, I can make my own video and make it look the way I want.”

Though he had little experience with video equipment and filming before joining the class, video productions adviser Scott Callisch recognizes Camden’s dedication and commitment in pursuing filmography.

“Zach Camden is a hard worker: he always goes above and beyond in his work,” Callisch said. “Zach never wastes time in class: he always does what he is supposed to when asked.”

During his first year in the class, Camden was recognized by the Slick Rock Student Film Festival as a finalist for best high school film, and was honored at Night of the Stars last year for best editing.

Because his class did not have a NOTS video their sophomore year, Camden took the leadership during his junior year to film, edit and star as Edward Cullen in his class’s rendition of Twilight.

“I wanted to make a video for my junior class, only because we didn?t have one our sophomore year,” Camden said. “But once I had started to take the class, I really enjoyed it and liked it because I was good at it.”

Co-star Cassidy Hutchins, ’11, says that Camden’s involvement in the video was comedic and beneficial.

“Working with Zach was fun because he is so funny, yet he is determined to film the video,” Hutchins said. “My favorite parts were the awkward scenes in the videos, which made me laugh when I think back.”

At the end of his senior year, Camden will have completed two years of video productions. As he considers college options, Camden says he is interested in attending the University of Southern California (USC) for its prestigious film program. Alumni of USC include famous directors such as George Lucas, who directed and produced Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

“I would like to go to USC because of the film classes I can take,” Camden said. “Also, my favorite director, George Lucas, graduated from there.”

Though video productions includes video assignments and dedication, Camden says that the class differs from other courses due to the freedom and creativity involved in every assignment.

“In class, I have the freedom to create what I want,” Camden said. “Others should join video productions because you have the freedom to create what you want and decide what you want the video to be about.”

Camden along with fellow filmmakers sophomores Jordan Boudreau and Juan Ruelas have submitted video projects to the Get Reel Student Film Festival. Film clips of Camden’s feature film, “Freshman Whisperer,” Boudreau’s feature “Jack Danger” and Ruelas’ documentary “Tattoo You” will be shown at the Tower Theatre, starting at 3 p.m. on Nov. 14. The event is free to the public, including drinks and gourmet desserts from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

For more information on video productions, read the March 18 article, Video productions promotes cinematic creativity.

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