“It’s art. It’s commerce. It’s heartbreaking and it’s fun. It’s a great way to live,” says Miquel Enrique, the new instructor of Storm King’s upcoming Summer Filmmaking Program, quoting Sydney Lumet on making movies. “Filmmaking is a great part of my life’s journey, and I am very excited to share it this summer at SKS.”

Born in Mexico to an American/Mexican family, Miquel decided to become a filmmaker at a young age. He earned an honorable mention in a national high school level short film festival for El Despertar at the age of 15. He has worked in production houses in both Mexico City and New York. At 20, he enrolled in the SUNY Purchase Film Conservatory where he continues his studies. Because of his dual nationality and mobility between both countries, Miquel enjoys exploring unique Latino dynamics in his films. 

We are very excited to get to know Miquel, hear his approach to making great films, and what he plans to bring to Storm King’s Summer Film Program this year.

 Q: What made you decide to pursue filmmaking?

“I’ve had my eye on filmmaking for a long time now. When I was about eight, my mother bought me a very small, very cheap digital camera. It only took pictures, but I started telling stories with a sort of crude stop motion. AKA: Manually skipping through the photos on playback, and speaking out the dialogue for friends and family. 

However, there was a specific event that sealed the deal in my teenage years. When Ratatouille was released, I fell in love with the way Remy (the rat) created flavors, as well as how his creativity was shown on screen. That evening I told my parents, ‘I know what I want to do when I grow up. I’d love to be a chef like Remy, but I’m a very picky eater. So instead, I want to create something I do love to consume: Films!’ Since then, I pursued filmmaking in high school and college, and now I do it professionally.”

Q: How do you get your inspiration for making films?

“Fishing for inspiration is always very tricky. Sometimes inspiration comes from outside and sometimes it comes from inside. I do not think there is a one-size-fits-all approach, but I do believe that every film I’ve done has come to me from a unique and unexpected place. It is all about being a sensitive observer–sensitive to yourself and to your surroundings. You need to pick up on things happening around and inside of you as if you were searching for a radio signal with the most sophisticated listening equipment. Once you catch a whisper, and you begin to follow the lead, it becomes stronger than you. As a filmmaker you are always searching for stories. You are fishing for just a moment, a moment that produces awe.”

Q: What are your plans for the SKS program this summer?

“I am very excited for this year’s program. I actually have several outcomes planned out, depending on the number of students and where their passion lies–directing, filming, writing, or acting. The first week is for pre-production, creating ideas and writing scripts. We will be learning about shortlisting and storyboarding, as well as viewing short masterpieces to find inspiration. 

The second week is all about production, where we will learn the basics of every key job that is necessary to put together a production. The students will also learn how to command a cast and crew as a director, or how to hold themselves in front of a camera if their inclination is in acting. 

The third week will be about post-production– how to successfully edit a clean and polished piece. This year, I want each student to have a chance to try directing, if they wish. This means we will produce many short films this year, as opposed to previous years where a single film was produced. Depending on the size of the class, students may need to co-direct. We also have a very accomplished teaching assistant (TA), Helena Breger, coming on board to help manage the increased workload. We have both been in situations where we need to shoot a film in a single day, multiple times a week, so look out for many sets happening this summer!”

Q: What can participants expect to take away with them this summer?

“Filmmaking requires a plethora of people with wildly different skills. Each student will have an opportunity to explore any of these in-depth and build a strong foundation within filmmaking. The student can voice what they are interested in and we can help them hone in and strengthen their craft. Every student will be able to finish the course with a strong first piece to add to their portfolio. 

Even if they are not interested in a filmmaking career, there are still many aspects of producing a film that can help strengthen students’ abilities in different departments. They will build organizational skills, learn how to manage a team, but also how to be a part of a larger thing. They will learn problem solving, and how to think quickly on their feet when something inevitably doesn’t go as planned. Most importantly, they will learn how to carry out a project from start to finish properly. Creativity always works best when everyone participates. That includes Ms. Breger and I, so something tells me we will also learn something along the way.”

The SKS Summer Film Program runs from July 26–August 14, 2021 and there are still spaces available for high school students aged 13 – 19. To register and get more information go to http://sks.org/film-school/