By Maly Ly, SDAFF writer
For myself, a daughter of the nomadic, agrarian Hmong hilltribe of Laos, Iím possibly one of the last generations to speak my native language, witness the spiritual chanting of our chosen shaman healers, or perform the elaborate hand dances of young Hmong maidens in vibrant costumes during New Year celebrations.
Only in recent years have books and articles emerged about the Hmong people, yet
real visual imagery remains under-developed. I often wonder what will remain of
our rare culture as we adapt and adjust to a new way of living in America.
Then I was introduced to Larry Gagnon, instructor for the nationally-acclaimed
Digital Media program at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego. Upon meeting Gagnon during a
recent visit to his classroom, he greeted me with congeniality and a willingness
to share his passion to young aspiring filmmakers. Heís a tall, burly,
jovial-looking man of Guamanian Hawaiian descent.
He reminds me of the family friend who always has a good story to share ñ the kind of adult that kids actually want to listen to.
In Gagnonís second year as the man who inspires a whole new crop of award-winning film production artists, Gagnon offers a solution that makes it palpable.
"Film is the perfect medium for storytelling from within Asian Pacific cultures where much of the culture can be lost to oral tradition. Whether itís a song, dance, custom, or part of history, it needs to be told and recorded. The story is whatís important for the next generation."
When it comes to producing top film talent and representing ethnic minorities in
the media business, Gagnon acknowledges: ìThere are not as many Asian Americans
in this field, but you can bring a lot as an ethnic person. It doesnít matter
who you are, you can make a difference.î
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"I had the chance to document my native background a few years ago when my cousins got into learning the Chamorro language and dance. Iím from the generation that understands but doesnít speak my native language," Gagnon admits.
He laments that it was too late when his grandparents passed on. Fortunately, he was able to immortalize his motherís presence on tape before she passed. For Gagnon, these simple family keepsakes are a wealth of invaluable information.
Last weekend, Gagnon covered a story on the Southwest Festival for the Union Tribune about Native Americans trying to keep up their tribal crafts. He recognizes the trend among all cultures trying to do the same. In his City Heights neighborhood, Gagnon lives with Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian families across the way.
"It makes the world smaller. When the people from Europe arrived, they were trying to lose their culture. Now people are trying to keep it. Where America is known as a melting pot, there was a tendency to lose the culture."
"I find it so interesting when you look at the people. You can appreciate the culture and their foods."
And when you enter his classroom, there are no traditional desks and textbooks. It looks like youíve just stepped into an actual film production studio with set equipment, endless cables, cameras, and multiple computer editing workstations in another room.
The students are visibly engrossed in what they are producing instead of looking at the hand on the hour clock tick.
"If youíre here to watch film," Gagnon tells his would-be students on their first day of class. "Then you should leave."
He runs his class like a production shop. His goal is to prepare the
students for the real world, with a taste of whatís out there. Students are given specific roles and held accountable for their responsibilities throughout the
process.
Last school year, Rancho Bernardo won all eight awards out of the eight
nominated categories at San Diegoís Innovative Video in Education (IVIE)
competition including Best Interactive Media for Bronco Magazine, Teacher
Videos, Best Lighting, Best Comedy, and Peopleís Choice Award. Rancho Bernardo
additionally placed top honors in the 24hr. Redeye Film Festival within the IVIE
competition.
Now in its fifth running year, these students have garnered over forty film
nominations and awards in addition to being featured in San Diego on ITV Channel
16 and KFMB News 8ís "Cool School."
Gagnon joined Rancho Bernardo Highís highly decorated program two years ago,
bringing with him fifteen years of field expertise. Heís worked at ad agencies
and spent years as a freelance photographer. The opportunity for change came
while Gagnon served as an advisory member on the board for Rancho Bernardo High
Schoolís Digital Media Arts Program. It was at that time that the founding
faculty producer, Ross Kallen, approached Gagnon about teaching.
Gagnon recounts Kallen saying, "I need to get you in here because the kids would really benefit
from your field experience."
And benefit they did. "Oh, I love it! [Working in the digital media program]
is probably one of the best things you can do for your future. Just flat
out. The skills that Iíve learned are much more important to me than like a
history lesson or anything like that [Ö] Iím doing real world activities right now at a
high school level that many kids donít have an opportunity to do," says Kevin
Graham, student president of the Digital Media Club."
Graham also enjoys the sixty dollar stipend the school pays the students for
every project they produce.
"You know, that goes a long way on a high school
studentís budget."
Vince Flores is another senior whose talents have flourished from Gagnonís
teachings. "I got started in tenth grade over the summer by one of the teachers
before. It was almost an accident that we met. He saw my graphics and asked if I
wanted to join the program."
Under Gagnonís mentorship, Flores has since broadened his career ambitions from
graphic design to computer animation and digital cinematography. Next fall heíll
be heading off to art school in Florida or San Francisco with an impressive
portfolio, far advanced beyond his age.
Just a quick viewing of Floresí astounding work reflects a modern curiosity
about his Mayan ancestry. It was awe-inspiring to see him combine elements of
cultural mysticism and imagination using digital technology. "Forty percent of
the time itíd be more cultural. Books are a good inspiration for me, [as well
as] random thoughts. Iíll think of stories in my mind and make up demons and
cool stuff."
Flores takes great satisfaction in his creations. "I feel like really proud
after I do it too. And I feel like the work is never done, so Iím constantly
changing things."
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Class had been dismissed by now, but I hadnít noticed any female students among the group. After interviewing the boys and a second glance around, I had to be the one to ask, ìWhere are all the girls?î
"Thatís a darn good question!î exclaims Seth Herring, student field project manager. He explains that the class is technically intensive and "may deter girls away".
However, he goes on to saying that the girls also have a need for specialized roles such as writing or directing.
Fortunately, there have been girls who graduated from the program and went on to
attend film school.
"Yeah, if one walked in and saw this big dark room with a bunch of guys aroundÖ"
chuckles Arnold Marquez, program director for SDAFF who visited Rancho Bernardo
with me.
Then Gagnon jumps in, "We wanted to make some trades [at a recent student
television convention]. A couple of young ladies for Kevin, but he wasnít too
happy about that."
All of us, including Kevin Graham, laugh at Gagnonís comments. The students work
hard, but they also have a good time together.
Although Gagnon provided training for other various programs, his motivation for
teaching comes from watching his students apply lessons from him into life
experiences in the field.
"When youíre talking, giving examples, and dealing with the kids, itís
motivating hearing your message and examples repeated and used in practice,
handing it on like the movie 'Pay It Forward'."
Gagnonís can-do attitude and appreciation for sensory creativity have influenced students of various ages and ethnicities ranging from Vietnamese to Pakistani to vocational adults, as well as those with physical challenges.
"I had a young Korean student, Song Yi, who was a deaf golfer at school. She
came to me and wanted to know how she could be a filmmaker. Some of the best
filmmakers I know are colorblind because color doesnít get in the way. You have
to be a visual person to relate the story without encumbrance."
Gagnon relates it to the form of silent films and being able to express openly.
After Gagnon encouraged Song Yi to see the story through her eyes, she was able
to produce a short video on how to play golf.
Hearing this from Gagnon reassures me that anyone with inner vision can become a
filmmaker. Iíve got a richness of stories about the Hmong people and my own to
share. He gives me a greater appreciation and understanding of filmmaking as a
visual art as well as a science. The hallmark of creativity comes from within
and can be cultivated through a process.
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*Two sisters, even the little one wanted in |
As an Asian female writer and photographer, I hadnít seriously considered filmmaking before meeting Gagnon. In the process of writing this article, I absorbed every piece of insight Gagnon dispensed. Whether we were talking in person or on the phone, he had something new and relevant to offer. I can easily write words and show pictures, but he tells me film is what places you in the experience. Fortunately, with the growing capabilities of technology, itís easier to take an idea and bring it alive on video.
"Youíre able to express yourself much more in film. In still photography, you only have one chance [Ö] itís limited and challenging." Gagnon expresses. "You can tell the story better with more than one shot."
"I wasnít always a technical person but I knew that I liked photography and the arts.
The first time I got started was in seventh grade, back when it was still
photography. I loved being creative and found it to be relaxing."
"It was also a way to exercise my mind. Iíd look through magazines and wonder
how did they take that picture? There were so many ways of analyzing it."
In his high school years, Gagnon transferred his knowledge of photographic
composition into radio and television. As his visionary skills expanded, video
became Gagnonís chosen medium.
"Video was the best way to do it because film was more expensive. Iíd have all
different styles of cameras. Now with digital, itís easier to express yourself.
You can edit off your laptop and have that creative immediacy."
Generally speaking, Gagnon feels that a good story will tell itself and fall
into place. The applicable part is having a complete story detail and getting it
done. Thatís where the value of production makes it all come together. In
filmmaking, itís vital to "keep all the ammo and parts in line." A slight
mistake can cost $50,000 on the film set.
Adults interested in filmmaking can equally benefit by enrolling in the Digital
Media vocational day and evening classes at Rancho Bernardo High School. The
Digital Media ROP program encompasses filmmaking, animation, computer robotics,
and photography. The program runs four elective classes from beginners to
advance, and is equipped with portable digital cameras shooting in Mini DV,
operated on Power Macs, and supported on seven different editing bays using
Final Cut Pro.
With three screening facilities, the studio and production facilities have
attracted other technology educators from countries such as China, Australia,
and England. Currently, the program is featured on the Apple Computer website.
Bronco Magazine is a student-produced monthly magazine show featuring news,
sports, and off-campus stories of interest.
Bronco Magazine and other award-winning student film projects are viewable on
the Rancho Bernardo High School website at www.rbdigital.net
"Some students will want to spend more time going through the bookwork. You have
to learn to walk before you can run and should start off slowly. If anybody has a
desire for film or television they should just get out and do it!" Gagnon urges.
His every word resonates with my own creative urges. Since I was seventeen, I knew I would have a story to tell someday. I just didnít know how the story would transpire or through which form. It happened unexpectedly.
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*Spiritual good faith offerings at a traditional party |
Three years ago, my youngest brother was murdered in an attempted robbery over Motherís Day weekend. It marked the end of the world as I knew it, and the beginning of questioning everything. His funeralóa spiritual return journeyówas my reintroduction into our undocumented customs and heritage. It was both confusing and fascinating at the same time. I was left with an aching desire to document such an extraordinary ritual so others after me would have a better understanding and preparedness of Hmong ways.
During the funeral, one of the most amazing comforts was a collaborative home video that his fiancÈe and friends put together of their favorite moments and testimonials. I remember how we all sat in silence and in awe as we relived his life, comforted by the knowledge that in his brief lifetime, he had lived and loved well.
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*My family at a traditional party |
Of course, there is more to this story. My purpose is clearer now. I could possibly be the first Hmong female filmmaker to capture the vitality and survival spirit of an uncommon people.
If Gagnon can harness this much effect in just a couple hours of conversation, imagine what creative breakthroughs can transpire throughout an entire semester under his instruction. Larry Gagnonís influence resonates in fostering and nurturing the timeless storytellers among us. It could be me. It could be you.