Rolling the Reels
Adventures in Film at College for Arts and Technology with Sani Supinen
Lights. Camera. Kelowna!
Hi world, meet Sani! Sani is a current student in our Professional Filmmaking program who is attending the College after her award-winning submission earned her top spot in our 2023 Create Your Future Scholarship! Having started her program with us in October of 2023, we thought now would be a great time to catch up, check our Sani’s behind-the-scenes look below!
“Do what you love, love what you do, and success will follow.” – David Frost
Q: How did you hear about College for Arts and Technology and what made you apply?
A: I first found out about the College simply by researching film schools and programs. I knew it was something I wanted to pursue, and CAT was the clear option. I had previously attended the filmmaking Bootcamp at CAT in March of 2023 and it was incredible! I got to work alongside other aspiring filmmakers to create a short narrative using all the equipment and space offered by the school. Having got a taste of what the program was like I knew without a doubt I wanted to attend.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats
Q: What inspired you to pursue your current field of study, and how has your perspective evolved since starting college?
A: Growing up I was really into the arts which eventually brought me to film. I started taking videos for fun and eventually made a few independent short films. I loved what I was doing but I knew I could improve and expand on it. It’s what inevitably led me to Cato.
Since starting college, I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time. I had my idea of what film was like having created projects of my own, but I quickly realized I was only scratching the surface. Having only been here for 6 months, I’ve seen how much actually goes into a project. The teamwork, planning, long set hours and postproduction, it all comes together. And when it does it’s amazing what can be accomplished. I still have plenty to learn and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
Q: How are you balancing school and life and what does a typical week look like for you?
A: Since I moved to Kelowna for school, my life has completely changed. I love my classes and all the work that we’re doing but I do have other interests as well. My school schedule is very reasonable in having spare time, while still giving us the maximum benefit of class hours. I still have time to do things like go out with friends, stay active and even visit home on weekends. Even though I’m staying busy, there’s a great balance in school and life outside of class.
During the week, I focus on classes and studies, but I also make time for hanging out with friends and exploring Kelowna. It’s a nice balance of work and play, with weekends especially dedicated to relaxation and fun activities.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln
Q: What type of Filmmaking do you want to pursue after graduation?
A: After graduation, I’m excited to explore and bring together some of my passions. I love racing and motorsports and combining that with film is such a fun experience. Every car project I’ve done has become a favourite. I’d love to expand on that and find work with them more looking forward.
“The future is always beginning now.” – Mark Strand
Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us Sani and congratulations again on winning our inaugural Create Your Future Scholarship! We are honoured to be a part of your creative journey and we look forward to seeing your future unfold.
You can follow Sani on her Instagram at @sanifilm.mov
Complete program details are available on our Professional Filmmaking program page.
Note – this blog was created with help from two dedicated CAT students: student outreach by Audio Engineering & Production student, Stephen Spekhalskiy and blog photos by Professional Photography student, Christian Reiniger (Instagram: @christianrphotos Website: https://www.christianreiniger.ca/) Thanks to you both!