Students and guests at Oxnard College’s auditorium learned about filmmaking when Oxnard Film Festival Director Kitty Merrill spoke at the Literature, Arts and Lecture Series.

The Oxnard Film Festival is a yearly event supported by the community and overseen by Merrill that displays the various talents of people in filmmaking.

Merrill started off the lecture with a radiant smile and provided a few jokes, putting the crowd at ease with laughter. She talked about the various aspects of filmmaking and why it is important for people to be engaged with the media.

“Becoming involved in the media world isn’t easy,” said Merrill. “It may be a little hard in the beginning, but once you get the hang of filmmaking, it becomes a part of your life. Devotion is what it takes.”

She explained that the media is also essential because it shows the many cultures in society and connects people to the world.

She went into depth discussing the Oxnard College Film Festival including what kind of films will be featured (horror, drama, comedy, fantasy, memoirs, documentaries, etc.), the fact that participants have the chance to win a camera for the top film and other prizes for the runner- ups and that attending the event is a chance to see the works of creative minds as well as supporting filmmakers in the community.

“We have over eighty entries in our film festival this year and selecting the winners will be quite difficult for our panel of judges,” said Merrill. “Regardless of who might win, the importance of that day is just to have fun.”

Through the course of the presentation, several filmmakers and festival organizers went onto the stage to discuss their participation in the event.

The crowd was given sample of some critically acclaimed films that won in the festival recently. Among these works were a music video directed by George Juarez of Oxnard College and a crime-drama film by Juan Smith from Ventura College.

Merrill also discussed the youth workshops the Oxnard College Film Festival will be hosting.

18-year-old David Sanchez, majoring in film at Ventura College, discussed his role as a host for one of the youth workshops at the film festival.

“It’s really good to interact with kids there who all have the passion as me: filming. Just like the film festival, we also have our own contests in these workshops,” said Sanchez.

By the end of the presentation, many in the crowd were interested in dabbling with film.

“I’ve always been the type of person who likes to try new things, and I’ve been wanting to do like something this for a long time,” said 20-year old Riley Spark, an English major. “After hearing the presenters today, they motivate me to make my own film.”

Felipe Gonzalez, a law major, was impressed with the filmmaker’s determination.

“Mrs. Merrill is a really informative, enthusiastic speaker,” said the 22-year-old Gonzalez. “I’ve never knew so much commitment goes into movies and music videos, but seeing the final products of the short films she showed us, it seems well worth it.”

The Oxnard College Film Festival will be on Oct. 16 and 17.