School Information Testimonials

Letters

Well, my year is finally slowing down... only one shoot left. This year has really been important for me... I have now established myself as a focus puller in the indie world. … Anyway, I wanted to thank you for being the inspiration for my career. I love my job and my passion for the industry started with your program. I’m always happy to get news that GIFTS is doing so well.
Andrew "Lawnchair" Coppin (GIFTS 95... or was it 94? first year, anyway.)

You have the best "Film &Television" school there is and all my friends know what a great place it is.
Geoff Howard (1999)

I want to let you know how impressed I am with the extraordinary work that goes on there. To find talented teachers and mentors who seem to be as charged and thrilled by facilitating creative camaraderie and who can also enable a bunch of young people to produce a hard copy of their work in such a short time is not quite believable. ... I just can’t figure out how you guys get to the finished product from the idea. But that is what makes your school remarkable. Somewhere behind all the technology you have figured out how to access the potential of the students, you’ve figured out how to get at their energy, their vision, their ability to work physically harder than either they or their parents thought possible. And you’ve figured out how to do it quickly! You all deserve tons of praise and material rewards if that’s what you desire, but you are surely rich in karma points for what you’ve built there. I know we pay for our children to go to G.I.F.T.S., but what they get out of going there is priceless.
Jim Thompson

I had a great time at GIFTS and I met some very nice people. I really enjoyed working on road safety PSA's and I'm very grateful for this opportunity to make a positive difference. Thank you for sending me the tape with all the videos produced during the week. My parents were very proud of my work and I'm happy I ever did it! I also received a copy of the documentary and it is AWESOME! It will keep my memories of GIFTS alive for a very long time. And now the good news! When I went to GIFTS I learned a lot and this was an asset when I applied for the Television Production program at BCIT. And guess what? I'm accepted!!! I'm so happy, I still can't believe this happened! I got accepted on my first try & straight out of high school!
Olga Routkovskaia (2000)

I took your dramatic media intensive back in spring of ’98… we went to the Victoria Film Festival and met John Waters. How are things? I’ve been working in film since I graduated from [film school name deleted] (what a bad choice in education on my part) and was talking with P.D. and she mentioned that she’s working with Ken on a screenplay. Your name came up and it stuck with my for a while so I thought I’d write to tell you how good I’ve been doing and how great your program was. [Bad Film School]’s film program was extremely unorganized and very experimental feeling. They give you a general hands-on knowledge, but nothing thorough. ... I hope things are well on the island. I’ve heard a lot of good things from students since myself.
Eric McDonald (1998)

Here's a sample of some recent evaluation forms:

“I believe that it’s opened a gateway, a new perspective on my future career.” - Stephanie Pickett - Mission B.C.

“GIFTS is a wild, entertaining, challenging, rewarding week in the wood.” - Alan Jeffries - Lopez WA.

“A spectacular course that enables its students to express their imagination in every way possible.” - Adrian Lee - Richmond B.C.

“GIFTS is really great at giving kids guidelines for safety but while giving incredible creative leeway. It’s so neat to see the finished product that comes as a result of that. Thanks!” - Ashley Rose Bulmer - Victoria B.C.

“I am really happy to stay at GIFTS. I think the way from Italy to Galiano Island was not too far, because your course is exactly the thing I was looking for. Thanks” - Philipp Moravetz - Italy.

“I realized now more than ever that I really want to work in film for the rest of my life. I love it.” - Lauren Grant - Gibsons B.C.

“Huge impact on my life. Without GIFTS, my life would have taken a wrong turn.” - Jesse Randall - Delta B.C.

“An experience that you should never pass up.” - Mike Dawson - Carp ONT.

“A friendly environment where you’re welcome to share your creativity and ideas to great interesting people who will boost your idea a work to expand it.” - Josh Brand - North Saanich B.C.

"Has expanded my knowledge and confidence to consider making my own films.” - Robert Ball - Victoria B.C.

“GIFTS enables you to experience life as a filmmaker while you learn techniques that affect you the rest of your life.” - Gregory Brown - Nanaimo B.C.

“Essential experience for anyone in media production.” ... “I think that GIFTS has broadened my horizons. I now understand the aspect of creating a film, and I love it!” .. “At first I was nervous about coming to GIFTS, because I knew little about film, and I knew NOBODY! Yet, after this week I have made many new friends, and I have learned more about film than I ever knew was possible! I intend to return every year I can!” - Danielle Bossin-Hardy - Ottawa ONT.

“An experience that has to be lived to be believed.” - Todd Cowman - Wilcox SK.

“A fabulous program that urges you to look within at your creative being!” ... “If my life could be seen as a flower growing then this program has provided the sunlight to help me unroll a petal.” - Jodie Holloway - Victoria B.C.

“A positive, motivated, educational atmosphere.” - Jeff Rabena - Courtney B.C.

“Helps me further develop skills in filmmaking. More experience to further get me to the level I want to reach.” - Jeff Prosserman - Thornhill ONT.

“This has been an amazing experience which has shown me how rewarding filmmaking is, and how phenomenal, accepting, patient and fun people can be.” - Allison McColl - Vancouver B.C.

“It’s taken away hesitation and fear and made me aware and confident of my potential and the possibilities out there.” - Christopher Hampton - Tsawwassen B.C.

“I found this program helped to peel yet another layer off my ‘shell’ to go even deeper into my true self - honor and express it in a wonderful way with amazing people and phenomenal support.” - Johanna New Moon - Cobble Hill B.C.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn, stretch yourself, and be immersed in creative energy and you get to make a film.” - Leslie Kemp -Abbotsford B.C.

“So much of what I learned this time was personal artistic development. This said, I was able to learn a ton about the conventions and theory behind short drama film.” - Alex Lerchs - Delta B.C.

“A super intense stimulating and resourceful week with results that are sure to be long lasting.” - Caitlin Padgett - Vancouver B.C.

“Enjoyed the hands on ‘Let’s just do it’ method.” - Chris Darimont - Victoria B.C.

“The most valuable week (in terms of experience) of my life.” - Chris Mock - Mill Bay B.C.

“Life and mind-alteringly absolute must have! ... I think this program will continue to influence me to work hard towards my goals and help me decide what media field I should pursue my career in.” - Alix Hick - Victoria B.C.

“Thank you for the most wonderful week. I learned so much and had a blast doing it!” - Amy Kunkel -Westbank B.C.

“An intensive and personally explosive journey.” - Don Gibson - West Vancouver B.C.

“Giving youth a chance to fulfill their dreams.” - Teva Weston - Nelson B.C.

“GIFTS allowed me to explore all the areas of film and T.V. I wanted to learn about and inspired me to pursue a career in film/TV more than I have ever wanted to in the past. ... This program has had a major impact on my decision to pursue the technical end of film and TV in the future.” - Kalyn Bomback - Winnipeg MB.

“A roller coaster of film experience back grounded by a kaleidoscope of people which climaxes in the triumphant completion of a short film.” - Vanessa Jones - Lantzville B.C.