Student’s skills honed in independent study | Letters | March 27

Published 10:14 am Friday, March 27, 2009

The high school filmmaker, Richard Murphy, highlighted in your March 13 issue (“Filmmaker goes with his gut”) is not just working from his “gut.”

As an Eagle Harbor High School student, he gained his skills through a grant from Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council in cooperation with Bainbridge Island TV.

The students were studying the Elwha Dam Removal at the Olympic Park Institute.

The BITV mentors trained students in advance and joined them there to help document their learning in that unique setting. They then worked late hours at the BITV studios to perfect the final product.

The film, “Shifting Currents,” was accepted into several festivals. Richard and the other students went on to study more advanced techniques in the following year.

This year it is Richard’s senior project at Eagle Harbor to develop several shorts for his “portfolio,” as well as passing on skills to younger, budding filmmakers.

Through Eagle Harbor’s independent study opportunities, Richard was able pursue excellence and celebrate his passion.

Emily Grice

Bainbridge Island