Marley de Oleveira leads locals towards artistic fulfilment.By Ed Merrison
SUMMER school has allowed Marley de Oleveira to act up on camera and the experience has led him to take a directing role.
At just 15, Marley may seem a little young to be promoting Yarra Valley Arts Council’s 11th Annual Summer School of Music and Art.
But what better advertisement could there be than a young man with talent who has crafted films and friendships through the program?
Chum Creek resident Marley has accepted public relations duties for the school after spending the last two years on its filmmaking course.
The course teaches writing, camera work, sound, documentary storytelling and editing and is aimed at teenagers.
The young movie moguls get a chance to show their work at a final-day screening at the RACV Country Club.
The crew of mates with whom Marley made a Batman and Robin spoof last year picked up the award for best comedy at this year’s Bravado Youth Film Festival.
“I remember our first film was very basic but summer school made this one a lot easier because we had the experience and knew how to use certain effects and close-up shots,” he said.
Before he graduated to acting and filmmaking, Marley began with the Arts for Kids course which caters for primary school-aged children and takes in everything from visual art to music and circus activities.
But summer school is not just a chance for the young to get creative and strike up friendships.
A huge array of programs for adults takes in choir, jazz improvisation, a capella singing, jewellery-making, bookbinding, embroidered landscapes, creative dance and all sorts of painting and drawing.
In fact, if it’s art, it’s in.
“There are always new things each year so people who like to try different thinks can come back each year,” Marley said.
He suggested people get a group of mates together and sign up for the friendly vibe and the chance to learn something new.
“It’s something really good for kids to do during the holidays and they learn some good skills without even realising it,” he said.
“I know the adults really like the atmosphere and the nice lunches and the kids really like just doing art all day and making new friends.”
Applications for summer school, which will take place from Monday, 8 to Friday, 12 January, close on Friday, 15 December.
The artistically inclined can find out more at www.yarravalleyarts.com.
