The WPPI 2014 Student Highlight Film Is Here (VIDEO)

As many of you know, this year we added Filmmaking as part of our educational tracks at WPPI. As with our photography programs, I wanted to have some hands-on classes that would lend to real world experience. What better experience could you get than covering a live event, and turning the edit around in a short period of time?

Starting on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, Joe Switzer and 10 select students met to go over the script, and begin production of this film. I was fortunate to be at this first meeting with the “crew” and I immediately felt a chemistry forming between these guys.

Over the course of the next four days, this team worked tirelessly shooting late into the night at our events, in the hallways, on the trade show floor, and in a small conference room huddled around a laptop each taking turns doing some editing.

On Wednesday evening, we invited the whole crew up on stage and debuted their film at our awards ceremony. On stage they put their arms around each other in nervous excitement as the film played which ended in a standing ovation.

I am SO proud of this group, who joined this class as strangers, and left as best friends hugging (and high 5’ing) each other as they proudly walked off the stage. This is what WPPI is all about!

Big props go to Joe Switzer and his crew who helped out—we’re lucky to have a guy like him who is so dedicated to giving back to our industry.  And, THANK YOU to the students of the first annual FILM class at #wpp2014! You guys rock!!

Here it is! WPPI 2014 “Hi-Five Highlight” on Vimeo

WPPI 2014 “Hi-Five Highlight” from Switzerfilm on Vimeo.

WPPI Filmmaking Student Video: 100% filmed by WPPI workshop students
Music licensed by Song Freedom
Song: “Vegas Baby”
Artist: Blue Stahli