by Angelika Dawson, Contributor
A film club at Communitas Supportive Care Society (CSCS) is welcoming membership from anyone with developmental disabilities and their community workers.
Members of the club create their own movies and learn about the making of films.
The club is the brainchild of Brian Cucek, a movie-making enthusiast who works for CSCS.
Since 1974, Communitas has served people who live with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, providing opportunities for belonging, growth and contribution.
Cucek is a support worker and accompanies people as they take part in different activities in the community. He is also passionate about making films.
“Movie-making is very collaborative. It really requires teamwork,” he said. “I thought it would be great to have the people that we serve, our staff, and even people from other organizations come together to make movies that we enjoy.”
The purpose of the club is to give those with developmental disabilities a chance to be creative through filmmaking, allowing them to express themselves and have fun.
While Cucek takes on the role of director and camera operator, the ideas for each film come from everyone in the group.
The group has already shot one video while on an outing to Mill Lake, which Brian turned into a music video using a song suggested by Darrin Riga, one of the group members.
Riga enjoys being part of the group.
"The film club is a lot of fun and I really like acting,” he said.
The group is currently working on a Batman-themed short film, in partnership with Abbotsford Community Services. A documentary about the people at Communitas is also in the planning stages.
Watching their finished work is another chance for the group to get together and enjoy their accomplishment while munching on popcorn and snacks.
For more information, contact Brian at bcucek@communitascare.com