Blind Students Learn to Be Filmmakers

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to see through the eyes of someone’s who’s blind? Thanks to Kevin Bright (producer/director of In Living Color, Friends, Dream On, and Joey) and the Perkins School for the Blind, even those with perfect vision will be able to experience a little bit of what life would be like without sight. Ten students, ranging in age 17-20, are taking a film-making course from the award-winning producer. They recently submitted their first hopeful hit to the Braille Institute’s first film festival called Cinema Without Sight. The story is based around the friendship of three of the girls in the class. Titled “I am more than what I see,” the students wrote the script, directed and filmed their clip using some creative techniques adapted by Bright for the visually impaired. For example, he came up with a way to measure the distance between the camera and subject by using the student’s canes. He also helped them learn to adjust their lighting based on the temperature of a desk lamp.

It all began when Bright was on the East Coast enjoying a Lakers – Celtics game. The National Anthem that night was sung by the Perkins School choir. They really left an impression on Bright, who made a donation to the school. A thank-you phone call followed, as did a visit to Perkins. According to the Perkins website, “Bright was instantly captivated by the school and its students, one of whom astonished him by conducting the tour unassisted. He was intrigued by Perkins’s connection to Helen Keller, who had studied there as a child, and by a framed letter hanging on a wall that she had written in perfect penmanship. ‘It was a miracle,’ said Bright. ‘Straight as an arrow! Even line! It never drifted!’ This led to an opportunity to develop a film-making course.

The students were given high-definition digital flip cameras. They quickly caught on to how to use the buttons and were filming their world with enthusiasm. After filming, Bright critiques their work. He doesn’t hold them to anything less than the highest standards, either. Through their experience together so far, it seems that the class has taken to filming like ducks to water, and Bright seems to really get a kick out of playing the role of Mother Duck.

The top entries to the Film Festival will be premiered on June 26th, 2010 at the Braille Challenge Final Awards Ceremony. They will be posted on YouTube and the Braille Challenge website. The first place winner will be invited to Los Angeles and receive a prize of $1,000. Pardon the pun, but keep watch for what will truly be an eye-opening experience!

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