Monster Movies Showcase Student Imagination Friday In Cathedral City

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — Student films with frightful twists will show in Cathedral City Friday as part of a summer program designed to give youths experience behind the camera and allow them the joy of seeing their productions on the big screen.

The 30 short films made possible by the "Young Creators Summer Program" within the Palm Springs Unified School District are slated to premiere from 9 to 11 a.m. on seven screens at the Mary Pickford Theatre, 36850 Pickfair St.

Program founder and CEO Christian Sesma told City News Service that as a director of more than 20 years, he felt strongly about opportunities for elementary and middle school-age youths to be involved in the process themselves, relying on their own creative impulses.

"We wanted the students to see what it is like to be a part of a high- level film-making 101 experience," Sesma said.

The seasonal Young Creators Summer Program focuses on youths in grades 4 to 8 and is currently composed of around 600 students from every elementary and middle school in PSUSD.

Students this year selected the theme "Monster Summer" for their productions, based on the creatures familiar in blockbusters turned out by Hollywood. Participants were encouraged to create different characters, including familiar ones like mummies and vampires.

Sesma, whose credits include "Into the Deep" and "Lights Out," said the summer camp has the feel of "a real movie set."

"We allow the campers to take on every step of the process," he said, adding that organizers believed the students would gain from circulating in an environment similar to one they'd encounter on a Tinseltown set.

Students have worked on burnishing their filmmaking talents by taking on various tasks, such as acting, directing, camera operation, audio arrangement, makeup and script supervision, according to Sesma.

He said the idea is to lay a foundation for students' future careers, possibly helping open doors to the entertainment industry. Last year, a previous program participant was cast in an upcoming motion picture, according to Sesma.

A red carpet walk will precede Friday's screenings, which are not open to the public, though the young filmmakers will be able to watch their creations with family, friends, adult supervisors and special guest Sean Patrick Thomas, whose acting credits include "Barbershop," "Save the Last Dance" and "Deep in the Darkness."

More information about the program is available at youngcreatorscv.com/home.