This text is part of the special section Higher Education
Inaugurated last October 12, the Pôle en Cinéma, attached to UQAM’s École des media, not only inspires the first students who attend it, but arouses the envy of many graduates who are now well established in the industry. And for good reason.
Formerly the scene of stormy general meetings of student associations, the Marie-Gérin-Lajoie room was for a long time rarely used to its full capacity. It is therefore in this vast, totally transformed space that the students of the film program, those who are destined for directing, post-production or cinematography, will learn all the rudiments of the trade. And they will do so by strolling on its two floors, between a recording studio, a sound effects room, a 120-seat projection room, a state-of-the-art film set, dressing rooms for actors, a set workshop, etc. . In these perfectly soundproofed premises, and some high enough so that the sound boom does not smash against the ceiling, learning about cinema, television and new media takes place in an exceptional setting.
“Before the inauguration of the Pole, we weren’t driving kitty, but here we clearly have a Cadillac in our hands! summarizes with a laugh Geneviève Perron, director of photography whose work can be seen both in the cinema (The perfect family guidee, From father to cop 2) than on television (The Simones, The beautiful discomforts), herself a graduate of the cinema profile in 2004. Since then, very active in the audiovisual sector, she constantly returns to her alma materfirst as a lecturer, then as a teacher since 2018.
This status has enabled her to contribute to the development of this new space, the gleaming and sophisticated character of which is already making many people envious… starting with her! “The architecture is absolutely magnificent, and each time I enter the projection room, I see how it has become an incredible place of creation, points out Geneviève Perron. In my entire career, I’ve never shot with an Arri Mini LF camera, the one that students will use to learn the basics of the craft. The same goes for the lights, which rival those currently used in the film and television industry.
The Pôle en Cinéma benefited from the financial support of the Quebec government, a contribution of $9 million, allowing this exceptional addition to the UQAM School of Media. Already recognized for the quality of its programs, the dedication of its professors and the international influence of its graduates, including Denis Villeneuve, this emblematic place will not, however, expand its doors, at least in the short or medium term.
“With investments of this magnitude, one would think that we would fill our classes and use them as a cash cow,” quips Pierre Barrette, professor since 1989 and director of the School of Media at UQAM. First, you cannot teach 100-150 students believing that they can all receive the same quality of supervision and attention. The film program welcomes 30 new students each year, and the same number in television and interactive media. We feel a certain pressure from industry to produce more graduates, but it’s not in our DNA: it’s a university program that is part of a university spirit, with technical courses, and others that give historical perspective. »
With this exceptional transformation, there is no doubt that we will continue to rush to the doors, even if the chosen ones are ultimately few in number. “But, emphasizes Pierre Barrette, we accept people who will benefit the most from this training; it’s not just a matter of grades. We are looking for people who have a vision and who want to make the most of it. Our graduation rate is also one of the highest of all programs. »
On leaving, caught up in an industry which, like so many others, is suffering sorely from a lack of skilled labour, these graduates quickly make their mark, and everywhere. “I constantly bump into my former students on film sets,” says Geneviève Perron proudly, “and colleagues tell me the same thing in the post-production sector. »
How do these students stand out from others? “When they make student films, they reproduce the team on a set with the different positions: chief stagehand, electro chief, etc. Once on a professional set, they know all the workings and know how to handle all the equipment safely. “Basically, summarizes Pierre Barrette, the heart of our mission is to provide the film industry with people who will feed it with their skills, but also with their talents.” »
Some UQAM graduates who stand out on the big and small screen
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.