Lights, camera, action for Techweek

Since he was a child, Tyler Redmond dreamed of making films. Now, he hopes to help other budding filmmakers through his Techweek workshop.

“Film has been my first love since I was 5 and has never changed. There’s something for me about the movement, the framing, the feeling and emotions on someone’s face – there’s beautiful photography out there but something about the moving picture and bringing ideas out to life in video spoke to me”, says Tyler.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to be a filmmaker and being able to achieve that as a 19-year-old. I feel so privileged to have the opportunities that being a filmmaker in Marlborough gave me and want to open those chances for more local kids”.

Tyler’s introductory course “Through a Camera’s Perspective” teaches students how to operate professional-level cameras. The course is a one-stop-shop for kids interested in technology, art, music, drama, movies, and photography – while showing how cool cameras are and encouraging different career paths.

“We’ll be teaching everything you need to know in photography and cinematography basics – I’ve made sure the course is easy for any youth to understand, as courses I did found it tough to relate technical information to kids”, expands Tyler.

Tyler has been a member of the Top of the South Filmmakers Association since 2017 and makes productions with them, while also having his own projects.

“The founders Aaron (Falvey) and Phil (McKinnon) are amazing filmmakers, and they took me under their wing, and I gained a lot of connections through them.

“I fell in love with cameras from the age of 5, then had this really delusional idea a 15-year-old could be hired as a director on a filmset to make a living despite being told that being a filmmaker was unrealistic.

“But, as a kid in Marlborough with world-class filming locations across the region, you can be anything you want if you have the drive and passion. Kids don’t realise there are film career opportunities readily available here, and I hope to make even more”.

Alongside his film projects, Tyler has been in production crews for shows like The Voice and Masterchef.

MDC Economic Development Programmes Manager Dorien Vermaas approached Tyler to organise new courses for local youth with his passion.

“The fact she came to me shocked me and made me feel really grateful for the opportunity to give back to local youth doing something I love”.

“This is hopefully the start of something much bigger – we’ll have a non-for-profit school holiday programme in July where we’re getting local cinematographers that have worked Avatar, King Kong, Cowboy Bebop to mention a few, and recreating famous scenes from films the kids will know”, mentions Tyler.

“We’re all doing it for the love of filmmaking to give the kids that join the programme a way to enter the film industry while staying in Marlborough instead of leaving for film school”.

The Techweek workshop is just $5, as Tyler wanted to make the workshop as reasonable and accessible as possible.

“If a kid wants to do the course but their family can’t afford it, we’ve made sure there’s a little fund to support them coming along”, he says.

“I hope the fact I’m still a youth will inspire and show Marlborough’s kids that you can get into this industry right now – you’ve just got to be willing to get stuck in and ask”.

Register for and find information on “Through a Camera’s Perspective” at https://techweek.co.nz/programme/view/through-a-cameras-perspective-213/