Emma-Jane Cohen made her first video when she was seven, talking her friends into acting for her, and she hasn’t stopped since.
Groovy Juvie, the film she made at the Galiano Island Film and Television School last summer, placed second in the early teen dramatic filmmaking category at the 17th annual Eyelens Film, Video and Animation Festival in Vancouver in April.
“I always loved watching movies, not just for the story but for the making of it, how it comes together, the special features,” said the 13-year-old Grade 8 Seaton Secondary student.
With her parents’ encouragement and support, she attended GIFTS film camp last summer to learn more about filmmaking.
“I didn’t know anybody there but we worked well together and learned all the different aspects of making a film,” said Cohen, who made the film with Jordan Somani and Alexander Christiansen.
“At first we couldn’t decide on an idea, then we came up with the idea of two kids stuck in juvie for pulling a cop’s pants down. One kid comes up with crazy ideas to escape but they can never co-operate on anything.”
According to Cohen, she has always made films of different subjects.
“Sometimes my sister, Mary-Rose, says something that inspires me or I get an idea from something around me. I like painting and the ideas from painting can become a film. My favourite director is Tim Burton because he’s like the Lady Gaga of directing — different and creative,” she said.
Cohen’s talents lead to a summer job at Sookinchoot Native Youth Centre making films. She was the youngest employee at the centre and has been offered the job again this year.
She hopes to attend GIFTS again and go on to work in some aspect of filming.
“It just kind of comes to me,” she said.
“When I’m editing, I will try things and get something new. I enjoy it as a way to show my creativity. Sometimes I look at a video and can’t even believe I made it.”