Raylene McEachern had a hard time choosing between her passions when she was enrolling at VFS: film, film, or film? But despite already knowing where she wanted to end up, she started off in the Foundation Visual Art & Design program to better prepare herself for the demands of the Film Production program and life as an aspiring entertainment industry professional.

Raylene recently explained to us where her passion for film came from, and what she’s learned so far from two VFS programs. Here’s what she said:

Q: Hi, Raylene. Could you start off by describing your background before you took Foundation Visual Art & Design? What drew you to this field?

A:  I was a high school student at Rutland Senior Secondary and a major jock – no thought about film at all. Then a teacher (Mr. Applegath) brought me into the Video Production program, and I was hooked right from the beginning. I became very involved in the program, and I went on to be a Teacher’s Assistant in grade 11. In grade 12, I worked as one of the top editors for our school news broadcast program, as well as working on the valedictorian video. I was in love with anything to do with film or photography.

VFS visited my school every year and I had them as an option right from grade 10, and once in my grade 12 year, VFS was the only school I applied to. I never had a second guess as to whether I should go into the film industry.

Q: When it came time for you to choose your “stream” in Foundation, why did you choose to pursue film (instead of Animation or Design)?
A: I knew once I began the Foundation program that I would be attending Film Production the following year. I really liked how much knowledge we were receiving in other fields, but my passion still lay in the film stream. I wanted to have the chance to be a DOP on as many films as I could. I ended up being DOP on four final projects that I am very happy with. The film stream helped me be “a step ahead” when entering the Film Production program.

Q: How does your experience in Foundation help you in your current studies in Film Production?
A: Foundation helped me more than I can even explain: it basically prepares you for everything and anything.  It really helped me understand all the different fields and options that surround the film industry. For example, I feel that if I went to work on a film that had 3D animation involved in it, I would be able to understand how it works, most terminology, and how to approach it. Foundation completely prepared me for the VFS workload. This year, it almost makes me laugh how crazy some students are going with the amount of work we have, but with me I don’t feel like there is much work at all because I have already gone through a year of having numerous projects due all at the same time. The amount of stress the Film program produces is a lot less if you have already been through Foundation and are used to having many projects on the go. I feel that I will be even more prepared for the “real world” because of the two years of intense work and stress I have gone through.

Q: Have you formed any collaborative working relationships with your classmates?
A: Oh yes, I have formed many good working relationships with my classmates.  I think that is almost the best part about coming to VFS: the people you meet, the relationships you create, and the networks that you have for a lifetime. I have built relationships with classmates from all corners of the world, and I would never hesitate calling them for help on a project. One thing in going through Foundation that I found very helpful was that I knew many people who were in different programs who could help me out with certain things. You always need a sound guy, and someone who is good in After Effects is great for titles.

Q: Once you graduate from Film Production, what do you hope to do with all that you’ve learned at VFS?
A:  I’m not too sure what I will do once I graduate VFS… find a job. But I’m not sure what kind of job I am looking for. I came to VFS because of their Cinematography classes, but I have found a great interest in Art Departments. I guess I’d be an advantage to both departments. Who knows where I will be in November when I graduate? Hopefully I will have met someone who wants to hire me by then. I do think that VFS prepared me in a range of subjects and definitely prepared me for a load of stressful work that I can take with me into the film industry and put towards whatever job I end up with.

Thanks, Raylene! Best of luck with the rest of your year in Film Production.

Raylene’s is just one of many different journeys that bring students to Foundation Visual Art & Design. For more, read about Tyler Egeto‘s and James Choi‘s!