THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

Students let cameras roll

BY KEVIN GERRITY, Californian staff writer
e-mail: kgerrity@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, Jun 12 2007 8:55 PM

Omar Silva had a tough senior year, flunking English and French. Photo by Felix Adamo

Raul Olvera, left, frames up a shot as Omar Silva shouts out instructions during a rehearsal at the Joey Travolta Short Film Camp at the Weill Institute. Photo by Felix Adamo

Joey Travolta, second from left, watches a replay of a scene they just shot at a local motel. With Travolta are cameraman Tamir Mostafa, left, student Ivan Medrano and Spark Boemi, right, a lighting and editing expert for the camp. Travolta and his crew are in town teaching a short film camp at the Weill Institute.

The 18-year-old felt low. "I did not have the appropriate skills to get what I wanted."

Silva was a different guy Tuesday as he directed rehearsals for the opening scene of a "West Side Story" music video at a film camp for some 50 sons and daughters of migrant farmworkers.

Now, Silva brims with pride. Just halfway through the 10-day camp, he has already decided on a career.

"I want to be a film director."

He even has plans for his sister.

"I told her that if I become a film director, I will hire her to check my spelling," he said.

Silva and the other camp members at the Weill Institute, 2100 Chester Ave., have found a mentor: Joey Travolta.

Yes, he's the brother of actor John Travolta.

Joey Travolta wears many caps. He's a producer, director, teacher. He has helped children with autism to make a film. And he runs a program for adults with developmental disabilities.

"How many people get to go to work and love what they do?" Travolta asked.

He's high-energy. He does not walk. He springs from one step to the next.

His humor and hustle make easy converts of his students, who come from all over Kern County.

About 15 middle and high schools chipped in $50,000 to the film program, said Philomena Hall, a coordinator with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools office.

Travolta and his eight assistants exposed the students to everything from writing, acting and lighting to directing, filming and working with sound.

At the start, they were given an 11-page vocabulary of film-industry terms.

Luis Salguero, a 15-year-old eighth-grader, said at first he could not bring himself to talk.

Within days, Salguero was playing a hamburger in a commercial that spoofed Mac versus PC.

"I didn't know I was good at acting," he said. "I see these movie (stars) and I want to be like them."

So does Jacqueline Saldivar, a 15-year-old junior.

In a scene for a music video, Saldivar played the part of a mother inspecting the efforts of a son who promised to clean his room.

The location, a motel room downtown, was packed with lights, cameras and props. Travolta and some of his assistants dished out instructions. Even a deaf pit bull named Zoe got her part right after a couple of tries.

Saldivar handled the traffic as if she had never known a moment of stress in her life.

She, too, wants to become an actress. She said her mother loves the idea.

"She's excited," Saldivar said. "She's waiting for the money to come."

Before the program ends Friday, the students expect to complete three commercials, three music videos and one short film.

In a tone of youthful bravado, Omar Silva exclaimed: "Movies are my life."

Silva said his mother works in the fields. He knows she is pulling for him.

"She wants me to have a good future," he said.