A College of the Canyons film professor has begun filming his newest project, a story about the struggles of student homelessness and balancing an academic life with economic issues.
The Valley is a miniseries directed by Professor Bavand Karim of College of the Canyons Media Arts. It was shot on campus, where he utilized classrooms, offices, and other campus facilities as his set.
While rehearsals take place in Mentry Halls studio, production designer Amelia Hines helps Karim paint the picture
“On our first day, I was really nervous that I didn’t make his vision correctly for a certain set we were on, but he ended up loving it, which is amazing,” said Amela Hines, set designer for the Valley.
A strong dynamic between the crew makes for an efficient and fun atmosphere around the set. These students can make an idea come to life through teamwork, even through the occasional hiccups.
“For today, I don’t want to say hectic, but it was getting a feel for everyone, figuring out who wants to do what, where we fit best, and what our weaknesses are,” said Carlos Gonzales, camera operator of The Valley.
In a 153-acre campus, the crew manages to move from point A to point B with all their equipment while under a two—to three-hour time crunch.
Karim films at a familiar place by shooting at the school he teaches at, giving him a direct view of the hardships that some students may face.
With the cost of living rising, and students having a more challenging time being financially stable due to current issues of student fraud, The Valley carries an important message that the crew feels necessary to share.
The series is planned to be streamed on SCV TV; however, the release date is yet to be scheduled.
