Since last school year, students in the Word domain have had the opportunity to shine in a short film. The writing class led by Mattijs Deraedt (33) develops the screenplay. Acting coach Bert Dobbelaere (42) guides the students on set. Ian Bauters (34) coordinates the project.
This project, unique in Flanders, emerged from the success of the first short film last year. Ian Bauters explains: “We were very proud of the result and learned a lot about the entire process. Gradually, we realized there were opportunities to involve students from other classes as well.”
Mattijs Deraedt, a Writing teacher, sees the added value of the collaboration: “We have not only acting talent but also writing talent. The students were enthusiastic about working on their first screenplay, which will now come to life.”
The project is expanding to include music and dance students, making it a cross-disciplinary narrative. Bert Dobbelaere emphasizes: “The intention is that every student following a word training program can participate in at least one short film during their school career. Currently, we are the only DKO school in Flanders offering this.”
The writing process began by establishing the guidelines for the production, with a limited number of locations and a chosen genre. The writers, including a student who proposed the idea for a 'Sweet 16' birthday party, conceived the characters, their world, and the plot twists.
After writing, an audition afternoon was held at the end of June for the roles. Bert Dobbelaere explains that for the larger roles, attention is paid to the actors' flexibility and emotional handling, as film acting differs from theater.
Prior to filming, a 'table read' takes place, where the storyboard, including every shot, lighting, sound, set design, costumes, dialogue, and emotions, is reviewed. The screenwriters will also attend some of the shoots to see what happens to their original script.
After editing, the result will be shown during a premiere evening at Kinepolis, offering the students a complete experience. Some students discover a passion for acting, while others find interest in the technical aspects behind the scenes. The demanding project is being considered for submission to film festivals.
