About

ABOUT DREAM BIG PRODUCTIONS

Dream Big Productions is Templeton Secondary School’s film, media arts and animation program in East Vancouver, on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples.

Students learn by making things. Depending on the class, that might mean writing, filming, editing, animating, recording sound, building a portfolio, or working with a group to make an original film. Students are given a lot of creative independence as they build their technical skills, and much of the work is collaborative.

We have access to an enormous amount of film equipment and professional software, but learning the gear is only one part of the program. I want students to develop their own ideas, learn how to work with other people and make work they are proud to show an audience.

A LONG HISTORY OF FILM AT TEMPLETON

Film has been part of Templeton for more than two decades. The program was started by Jim Crescenzo, who established a strong culture of student filmmaking at the school.

Today, Dream Big is run by Corin Browne, a community-engaged artist, filmmaker, media arts teacher and parent in the Templeton community.

We also work very closely with the Templeton Theatre Department and the super star Drama teacher Tanya Zambrano. Film and theatre students collaborate in all kinds of ways, including acting, casting, writing, production and our public screenings and events.

BUILT BY STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY

Dream Big has grown over many years through student fundraising, community support and partnerships. Much of the equipment students use today is here because students who came before them helped raise the money to buy it.

We have also had long-standing support from Vancouver Film Studios and Pacific Backlot, as well as Templeton Secondary and the Vancouver School Board.

Our relationship with Simon Fraser University’s School of Communication has also become an important part of the program. Afterschool Film students do their final editing at SFU, with access to their media labs and support from faculty, staff and mentors.

Another crucual part of Dream Big is our alumni. Many former Templeton students come back to run workshops, mentor productions and work with current students. A former admin called this our "culture of return" and we work hard to maintain realtionships with grads into adulthood!

AFTERSCHOOL FILM

Students who want to do more can join the Afterschool Film Program, an off-timetable Film and TV course for students in Grades 10–12.

ASF works more like a production company. Students write and pitch their own films, form production groups, cast actors, spend several months in pre-production, film on location, and then edit at SFU. The finished films are screened publicly, including our annual screening at the Rio Theatre.

IMMERSION, CAREER EXPLORATION & WORK EXPERIENCE

The Film Immersion program has also given students the chance to spend a more intensive period of time making films and working with artists, filmmakers and community partners.

We are now starting to build more career exploration and work experience into Dream Big as well, including dual-credit opportunities with BCIT and more connections between students, post-secondary programs and people working in the film and media industries.

I want students who are interested in continuing in film, animation or media after high school to have some idea of what those possibilities actually look like.

WHAT I WANT STUDENTS TO GET FROM THIS

Not everyone who takes one of these classes is going to become a filmmaker, and that isn’t the point.

I want students to become more confident creatively, learn some real technical skills, get better at working with other people, make new friends, take some risks and make work they are proud of.