CHIMACUM — The entire world is a soundstage with the youth of today poised to tell its stories, a prominent filmmaker told hundreds of Chimacum High School students at a recent assembly.
“There are a lot of ordinary stories you can tell,” T.R. Boyce, who has worked on both blockbusters and small films, said to about 350 kids in the school auditorium.
“You can tell a story about someone you know — your brother or your sister — and it doesn’t matter if it’s two minutes or four minutes or six minutes, it’s doing something.
“It’s being willing to put something out there, and that’s where it starts.”
In addition to presentations at Chimacum and Port Townsend high schools, Boyce is getting involved locally by acting as emcee for the Port Townsend Film Festival’s Oscar fundraiser at 3:30 p.m. March 2 at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
Boyce has worked as a sound engineer on movies like “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull” and “Men in Black 3.”
He was also producer for “The Forgotten Kingdom,” a small-budget film shot in the African country of Lesotho, which was screened at a past Port Townsend Film Festival.
Boyce, who works out of New York City, said at Wednesday’s gathering that there are a host of ways to get a small film some exposure on the Internet, but it still isn’t a solo act.
“Filmmaking is a collaborative art,” Boyce said,
“You can’t do it all yourself.”
After the assembly, about a dozen students gathered around and Boyce shared a theory about filmmaking,
“There are three things that people want when making a movie: fast, cheap and good,” he said.
“You can only have two out of the three.”
If you want fast and good it won’t be cheap. If you want cheap and good, it won’t be fast, and cheap and fast is never good, he said.
Chimacum High School Principal Whitney Meissner said Boyce’s message was important for all the kids, regardless of if they want to make movies for a living.
“His message that we need to share, change and adapt is important for everyone,” Meissner said.
“We have to be prepared to fail and be open to the fact that failure can be success in some areas, which is a message that all kids need to hear.
“In a time where there is so much importance placed on instant gratification perseverance is a skill we all need to learn.”
On Sunday, Port Townsend Film Festival’s Oscar party begins with a walk on the red carpet and live music at 3:30 p.m., leading up to the big-screen broadcast at 5:30 p.m.
The tickets, $55 in advance and $65 at the door, include appetizers, dinner and dessert.
There will also be a lot of support for Bruce Dern, the 2012 Port Townsend Film Festival guest who is nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role in “Nebraska.”
“This year the Oscar is especially important to Port Townsend because Bruce Dern left Port Townsend and immediately filmed “Nebraska,” said Port Townsend Film Festival Executive Director Janette Force.
“He took the flavor of what happened at the festival, and it influenced his incredibly natural, effective acting.
“He had such a great time with us.”
For more information, call 360-379-1333 or go to www.ptfilmfest.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
