Retired Rodeo Entrepreneur and Alberta Sports Hall of Fame member Jack Daines (left) and Red Deer filmmaker Ty Loupelle, a 14-year-old Grade 9 student from Hunting Hills High School. The pair collaborated on Loupelle's short film documentary this year which was part of the Reel Youth - Age Is More film project. (Supplied)

By Sheldon Spackman

Lights, Camera, Action!

Youth filmmakers team up with local seniors to ‘share wisdom’ in short film series

Dec 10, 2019 | 8:20 PM

Budding young filmmakers from central Alberta recently celebrated the experience of making short film documentaries with the help of local seniors.

One of them was 14-year-old Ty Loupelle, a Grade 9 student from Hunting Hills High School who was one of 10 local filmmakers that recently took part in The Revera and Reel Youth Age Is More film project.

The project connected young people with older adults to create short films that touch on important social issues concerning age and ageism, in addition to building new, intergenerational friendships between them.

The stories are part of a series of specially-produced documentary films that were shown on Nov. 14 during Sharing Wisdom: Red Deer Gala Premiere of Revera and Reel Youth film project held at the Revera’s Aspen Ridge Retirement Residence in Red Deer.

Loupelle’s film subject was Innisfail’s Jack Daines, a rodeo legend and entrepreneur inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

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Loupelle says collaborating with Daines taught him that working hard and doing your best will always result in your best interests.

“Nowadays, some people don’t really put in 100 per cent and you can find a lot of people saying that their job is not their favourite, people could do something else they enjoy more,” he points out. “I feel if you give 100 per cent and try your hardest, then you’ll be successful.”

Loupelle says the experience was a great opportunity for young and old to come together and form friendships, while explaining his interest in filmmaking began around the age of nine.

“I decided that being on T.V. and getting involved with movies and television was a real possibility,” he recalls. “So I decided to do my own research and found myself an agent so I can get on-camera. But then I discovered this program and how I can get more involved behind the camera. It was such a great program, I learned so much!”

Loupelle says it was fascinating to learn how previous generations lived their lives in their younger years.

“Jack had a very interesting story and I’m glad I had the chance to be partnered with him,” says Loupelle. “Reel Youth taught us everything from how to set up a shot, to how to edit our audio and B-roll. This program really gave us the freedom to make our film what we wanted it to be.”

Loupelle says his film is something he’s very proud of.

“I’m so happy I got involved with this and I’m so proud of everyone else who got involved,” he exclaims. “I loved the outcome of my short film, it was so nice meeting everyone. It was just all-around a fantastic time.”

Loupelle says making another short film is now part of his plans moving forward.

“I would really like to continue with filming documentaries and short films,” adds Loupelle. “I think I would definitely look into other Reel Youth programs and see how I could get involved. It was a really great program, not just for learning new stuff, but taking a look into the industry as well.”

To check out Loupelle’s documentary and additional Reel Youth films featuring other central Albertans, click here or visit www.ageismore.com.