At West, there are a variety of different creative outlets for the student population. Students are able to take art classes, music classes, or explore their passions through writing. However, outside of the school, the opportunities are slim and connections are required in order to bring a vision to life. Local videographer and movie director Scott Berry was able to make those connections and the result is his short film, “Jitters.” The film is based on some of his own experiences with dyslexia and a creative twist.
“It’s going to be a short film, and we’ll be filming it over 5 consecutive days. And the premise of the film is, or at least the elevator pitch is about a young dyslexic boy, attempting to overcome a fear monster, in the midst of a spelling bee. And it’s a comedy drama with a splash of musical,” Berry said.
The film centers around 13 year old boy Otto, who was found when the team did an audition process at the Old Town Playhouse. Berry, who is originally from Australia, came up with the idea for the film in 2017 and after moving to Traverse City, had planned to start the film, but the COVID pandemic prevented him from progressing forward with the project.
“First it was gonna be [an] Australian cast and all homegrown in Australia because that’s where I’m from. But my wife and I moved to Traverse City about 4 years ago. And um, when I, when I first moved here, I actually wanted to do it as soon as I got here. […] But 4 years down the track, I have met some amazing people, and […] amazing locals and there’s a few people from Grand Rapids, but I’m very proud to say the team that we’ve pulled together is amazing,” Berry said.
Berry was able to meet people like dance studio owner Veronica Wurm and West Middle School Choir Director Emerik Dee. As a result of this, Wurm’s dancers and the choir students are both going to be participating in the film.
“I think it’ll be good for the [dancers] because it’s gonna expose you to how different it’s gonna be to collaborate with, like, different, uh, theater people, and… singers, and film people, and everything, it’s, like, a hurry up and wait game, instead of, like, dancers are used to, like, go, go, go, go, go. Whereas, film projects take so much longer ’cause you’re waiting on the camera to reset or you’re restaging the whole setting and making the backdrop look a certain way. And it just involves a bunch, like, a lot more people than just, like, get on a stage and perform,” Wurm said.
This project will be very different for the dancers and they will have to be flexible to conform to the creative ideas Berry has created. The West Middle School Choir is recording the song for the short film the dancers will be performing to on June 5. This gives the dancers about one to two weeks to prepare, meaning they need to keep in mind how the choreography may change when they get on set.
“This one, none of it is my, like, vision, we’re just being brought in as a dance group, performing. The song is given to me. I don’t get to choose any of that. And then, there’s like a storyline with it too. So there’s not just like a dance for camera. Like, creating a pretty picture and, like, a feeling. It’s more of, like, there’s a whole storyline connected to when we’re supposed to be [dancing],” Wurm said.
The dancers at Design Dance Company, the studio which Wurm owns, will be able to be exposed to a new environment and take part in a community project, different from what they are used to.
“[I hope to learn how the] behind the scenes works in a movie and how, like, it comes together,” freshman and dancer Avery Wills said.
In order to pull the short film together, Berry had to gain support from other areas, more than just the creative department. The majority of the film will be shot at the Woodland School, which is working with Berry on an additional collaboration. To provide the financial support, Berry worked with local businesses.
“So about October last year, I reached out to about six local businesses, and asked if they would support, like financially support the film. And they all said, yes, I’ve just gotten yeses from a lot of people. So, I would say just, the thing I want to add is, I have a lot of gratitude, and a lot of hope for the future of filmmaking in Traverse City. People are hungry. Locals are hungry for the creative arts and I just so happen to be putting my hand up to direct this little story,” Berry said.
After the film is done, Berry is planning on premiering it at local cinemas like the State Theater and the theater in Elk Rapids before entering it in film festivals.
“(E)veryone has been enthusiastic, encouraging, willing to dive in on the journey with me. And yeah, it’s exciting,” Berry said.
