Collegiate Times

While many Virginia Tech students spent last summer taking classes, working or perfecting their tan, senior Tim Leaton spent it volunteering at an orphanage in Uganda. His time there inspired him to make a film about the experiences of the orphans and the harsh reality of life in Uganda. Earlier this year, he entered a clip of his film into the Film Your Issue contest, which encouraged all 18 to 26-year-olds to enter 30 to 60 second films. Last week the winners were announced and Leaton, for once, found himself in the spotlight. The Collegiate Times interviewed Leaton via email from his home in Richmond.

1) Why did you decide to go to Uganda? What inspired you to make this film about your experiences there?

Some years ago, I had edited someone else?s footage from The Canaan Orphanage and produced a video for them, although never setting foot in Africa myself. Working so intensely with the home-video footage from this orphanage for countless hours was the inspiration for me to join the team and become a part of their annual trip during the summer of 2005.

I imagine most Americans have little concept of what?s going on in Africa. The median age of people in Uganda is about 14. In the small country of Uganda alone, there are about two million orphans. This is a result of both war and disease. Besides being exposed to many diseases, many of the children are unable to go to school and have little opportunity to get ahead.

Also, I really believe that film is the most powerful medium we have today. More so than books or radio. The way Mr. Rothman designed this contest (with the voting) attracted a huge amount of interest in my issue. Although each person watching these films may only be able to make a small difference, the exposure this contest provides is incredible.

When we went to Uganda last summer to volunteer, I saw the tremendous good that is being done. Even a small amount of help is making a huge difference in these children's lives. But the situation in Africa is very urgent and more action is needed. I am passionate about both this cause and filmmaking, so it was a great way for me to express myself.

2) What was it like to film a movie in Uganda? What were the specific complications that arose?

As part of the team, I taught at village schools and used whatever free time I had to shoot footage, including interviews with the Canaan children and staff, many of which had to be done with insufficient sunlight. The challenge was to use the few minutes of light after the students returned home from school in the evening before the sun set. I did all of the cinematography (with little to no electricity for battery power), editing, directing, etc. for my ?Orphans in Africa? film completely on my own.

The orphans all lined up to be interviewed for me, but I wasn?t emotionally ready for the heartbreaking stories of their lives before they were at Canaan. Many of the children were beaten or ?caned,? by their caretakers, and many were also starving or sick before they arrived at Canaan. Most of these children had been unable to attend school since no one could pay their school fees. I hope people watching the movie will see the smiles and hear their excited voices. When you see that, you just want to help them. I came home to America with beautifully hand-written letters decorated with drawings of flowers, some written to me, others to my mom or brother, who they had never even met before.

3) Did you watch the other videos in the Film Your Issue contest? If so, which did you like?

I was impressed with the piece called ?The Fencers,? and also ?The Tears Are Falling,? although neither became one of the five winners. At first I was worried since they were actually shot on film, like real commercials and movies. All I had access to was digital video, so at first I wasn?t sure how mine would compete against those two that had access to much bigger budgets.

4) The contest had some very famous judges. How does it make you feel to know that these people watched your film?

I?m honored to know that celebrities including George Clooney, Walter Cronkite, Brian Williams and the Dalai Lama have taken the time to view my work. In addition to these and the other VIP judges, I found out that many other industry connections are interested in our films. I heard that the man who is president of the agency that owns Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman asked if he could take a look at our films. He said he wanted to look for some future directors that he should keep an eye on. That was exciting for me to hear.

5) I read on your website that you want to be a filmmaker after college. What kinds of films do you want to make? Who are your favorite directors?

My passion is fitting music and picture together in a way that creates emotion. I would love to someday make modern musicals such as Chicago, Moulin Rouge or Beyond the Sea. My two favorite directors are Charles Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock, because they were both brilliant in the way that they matched their image and music together.

6) Virginia Tech is not a school traditionally known for the arts. What kinds of improvements would you like to see at the school?
The film department is actually growing right now. Until now, we only had two film professors. Jerry Scheeler teaches film production and Stephen Prince teaches film theory. But starting in the fall, they?re hiring a new teacher, Paul Harrill, who will teach more film production.

Harrill won Sundance a few years back, so maybe I should get some advice from him before my film is shown there in January! Virginia Tech?s new student film festival, Progeny, is more proof that the film community at Tech is growing.

7) What would you like other students at Tech to do about the problem of orphans in Africa?

I would encourage fellow Hokie families to sponsor a child in Africa. I?ll admit that I used to ignore all those commercials on TV for sponsoring a child, but it really is incredible how far a small amount of money goes over there. The little bit of money that my family gives to two of the Canaan children changes their lives completely.

I think the Canaan Orphanage that I visited is the perfect model of what could happen in all of Africa. When I went to Canaan, I saw smiling and happy children. They were studying hard all day and then singing and dancing at night. I won?t be surprised to see if some of the Canaan children become leaders of Uganda some day. And I?m serious about that. There is great potential for these educated children to go out and not only get jobs and become good citizens, but also to become leaders and help change the conditions in their country. There are probably many good organizations out there and I want to encourage people to seek them out!

8) What has been the most helpful class you've taken at Tech, in terms of filmmaking?

Jerry Scheeler?s film production class taught me some basic principles of how to make a movie. I learned about how to use light to create a professional look, and many other helpful hints. Once you know the basics, you can apply them to everything you do. I wish I had taken that class earlier!

I also learned a lot from Stephen Prince?s ?Film Director? class. We studied two of the greatest directors in history and we were all blown away.

9) Any plans to go back to Uganda?

I would love to go back to Canaan someday. I?m not sure when that will be, but I do plan on it. My dad is actually returning to Canaan in less than a week.

10) Anything else you'd like to say to the students and community of Virginia Tech?

I saw the power of media and this contest reinforced my desire to have a positive effect on the world doing something I love, filmmaking.