Arviat filmmakers, 21 and 22, head to Quebec for advanced training

Two young Nunavut filmmakers are in Quebec City this week for advanced training at a film production company, which they'll use to co-produce their own short documentary.

"It's fun work," said 21-year-old Sam Pauppa, in Inuktitut. He headed south on Sunday along with Jamie Okatsiak, 22.

"I really enjoy being able to try all the new equipment and just learning new innovative tools," Pauppa said. "I enjoy talking to people."

The trip was made possible by the Arviat Film Society and ARCTIConnexion.

Vincent L'Hérault, ARCTIConnexion's director, spent two months in Arviat last summer working with the pair, who had been hired to document several local research projects underway in the hamlet.

"At the end of the summer, Sam and Jamie were so good, they were so engaged, and they were so happy to work with movie production that I suggested to them that they come down south to get more professional skills," he said.

L'Hérault paired them up with the Quebec production company, 4elements Productions, where they'll have a chance to learn about everything from writing to interviewing, setting up a shoot and editing the results.

Vincent L'Hérault said his interest is in helping the next generation tell their stories.

"I am only there to help," L'Hérault said, "and I think this is the best way because I am not part of the the Inuit culture and I don't fully understand the Inuit culture, so if we want to document it and keep it alive then pass it to the future generation, then it needs to be done by local youth."

This week is all about training. Next week, Okatsiak and Pauppa will start work on a three- to four-minute documentary of their own design.

"Today everything has to do with social media and cell phones and this is one way we can keep up with it," Okatsiak said in Inuktitut.

The pair say they owe their success to the many filmmaking opportunities in their hometown.