

June 2025
The Stanstead College Movie Club is a film learner’s program that will take you through the entire filmmaking creative process. From writing to shooting and editing, we will complete the program with a public screening of our film which will also be available online.
My name is Jason Rodi, I am a filmmaker. I have been making movies for as long as I can remember, first in my mind, then finally when I was about 13 years old and a student here, at the College. I went on to study film in some of the best universities in the world, I’ve been making a living as a filmmaker for over 20 years and have my own thriving production studio in Montreal. I’ve moved back to Stanstead because I wanted my girls to have the best life possible, a movie life, and I could not think of better than the holistic education I received here, a place where I had the time and resources to start living my dreams of being a filmmaker.
Back in the day, I created a movie club where I got together with other students and made my first “movies”. Hence today I would like to invite you to the revival of this Movie Club where I will guide you through the writing, shooting, and editing of a short movie. My hope is that we turn Pierce Hall into our own buzzing production studio where we make music and dance videos, build sets, light scenes, shoot movie versions of the school play, make documentaries, and at least one short film a year.
Because movies are a collaborative process that utilize every aspect of life, from communications, to science or business, I would encourage you not to quit a club you’re enjoying in order to also have a hand in the movie club. There is no reason you can’t be in the art or dance or theatre club, as well as the movie club, since we'll utilize your particular skills in their own way. I would even invite faculty and staff to participate if any are interested, as I’m sure whoever shows up will have something to learn and contribute to the process.
Interested, send me an email here: j@NOMADlife.tv
We'll see you at the movies! ;)
- Jason Rodi, NOMAD founder and Stanstead College Alumnus
June 2025
The Stanstead College Movie Club is a film learner’s program that will take you through the entire filmmaking creative process. From writing to shooting and editing, we will complete the program with a public screening of our film which will also be available online.
My name is Jason Rodi, I am a filmmaker. I have been making movies for as long as I can remember, first in my mind, then finally when I was about 13 years old and a student here, at the College. I went on to study film in some of the best universities in the world, I’ve been making a living as a filmmaker for over 20 years and have my own thriving production studio in Montreal. I’ve moved back to Stanstead because I wanted my girls to have the best life possible, a movie life, and I could not think of better than the holistic education I received here, a place where I had the time and resources to start living my dreams of being a filmmaker.
Back in the day, I created a movie club where I got together with other students and made my first “movies”. Hence today I would like to invite you to the revival of this Movie Club where I will guide you through the writing, shooting, and editing of a short movie. My hope is that we turn Pierce Hall into our own buzzing production studio where we make music and dance videos, build sets, light scenes, shoot movie versions of the school play, make documentaries, and at least one short film a year.
Because movies are a collaborative process that utilize every aspect of life, from communications, to science or business, I would encourage you not to quit a club you’re enjoying in order to also have a hand in the movie club. There is no reason you can’t be in the art or dance or theatre club, as well as the movie club, since we'll utilize your particular skills in their own way. I would even invite faculty and staff to participate if any are interested, as I’m sure whoever shows up will have something to learn and contribute to the process.
Interested, send me an email here: j@NOMADlife.tv
We'll see you at the movies! ;)
- Jason Rodi, NOMAD founder and Stanstead College Alumnus
June 2025
The Stanstead College Movie Club is a film learner’s program that will take you through the entire filmmaking creative process. From writing to shooting and editing, we will complete the program with a public screening of our film which will also be available online.
My name is Jason Rodi, I am a filmmaker. I have been making movies for as long as I can remember, first in my mind, then finally when I was about 13 years old and a student here, at the College. I went on to study film in some of the best universities in the world, I’ve been making a living as a filmmaker for over 20 years and have my own thriving production studio in Montreal. I’ve moved back to Stanstead because I wanted my girls to have the best life possible, a movie life, and I could not think of better than the holistic education I received here, a place where I had the time and resources to start living my dreams of being a filmmaker.
Back in the day, I created a movie club where I got together with other students and made my first “movies”. Hence today I would like to invite you to the revival of this Movie Club where I will guide you through the writing, shooting, and editing of a short movie. My hope is that we turn Pierce Hall into our own buzzing production studio where we make music and dance videos, build sets, light scenes, shoot movie versions of the school play, make documentaries, and at least one short film a year.
Because movies are a collaborative process that utilize every aspect of life, from communications, to science or business, I would encourage you not to quit a club you’re enjoying in order to also have a hand in the movie club. There is no reason you can’t be in the art or dance or theatre club, as well as the movie club, since we'll utilize your particular skills in their own way. I would even invite faculty and staff to participate if any are interested, as I’m sure whoever shows up will have something to learn and contribute to the process.
Interested, send me an email here: j@NOMADlife.tv
We'll see you at the movies! ;)
- Jason Rodi, NOMAD founder and Stanstead College Alumnus
June 2025
The Stanstead College Movie Club is a film learner’s program that will take you through the entire filmmaking creative process. From writing to shooting and editing, we will complete the program with a public screening of our film which will also be available online.
My name is Jason Rodi, I am a filmmaker. I have been making movies for as long as I can remember, first in my mind, then finally when I was about 13 years old and a student here, at the College. I went on to study film in some of the best universities in the world, I’ve been making a living as a filmmaker for over 20 years and have my own thriving production studio in Montreal. I’ve moved back to Stanstead because I wanted my girls to have the best life possible, a movie life, and I could not think of better than the holistic education I received here, a place where I had the time and resources to start living my dreams of being a filmmaker.
Back in the day, I created a movie club where I got together with other students and made my first “movies”. Hence today I would like to invite you to the revival of this Movie Club where I will guide you through the writing, shooting, and editing of a short movie. My hope is that we turn Pierce Hall into our own buzzing production studio where we make music and dance videos, build sets, light scenes, shoot movie versions of the school play, make documentaries, and at least one short film a year.
Because movies are a collaborative process that utilize every aspect of life, from communications, to science or business, I would encourage you not to quit a club you’re enjoying in order to also have a hand in the movie club. There is no reason you can’t be in the art or dance or theatre club, as well as the movie club, since we'll utilize your particular skills in their own way. I would even invite faculty and staff to participate if any are interested, as I’m sure whoever shows up will have something to learn and contribute to the process.
Interested, send me an email here: j@NOMADlife.tv
We'll see you at the movies! ;)
- Jason Rodi, NOMAD founder and Stanstead College Alumnus
June 2025
The Stanstead College Movie Club is a film learner’s program that will take you through the entire filmmaking creative process. From writing to shooting and editing, we will complete the program with a public screening of our film which will also be available online.
My name is Jason Rodi, I am a filmmaker. I have been making movies for as long as I can remember, first in my mind, then finally when I was about 13 years old and a student here, at the College. I went on to study film in some of the best universities in the world, I’ve been making a living as a filmmaker for over 20 years and have my own thriving production studio in Montreal. I’ve moved back to Stanstead because I wanted my girls to have the best life possible, a movie life, and I could not think of better than the holistic education I received here, a place where I had the time and resources to start living my dreams of being a filmmaker.
Back in the day, I created a movie club where I got together with other students and made my first “movies”. Hence today I would like to invite you to the revival of this Movie Club where I will guide you through the writing, shooting, and editing of a short movie. My hope is that we turn Pierce Hall into our own buzzing production studio where we make music and dance videos, build sets, light scenes, shoot movie versions of the school play, make documentaries, and at least one short film a year.
Because movies are a collaborative process that utilize every aspect of life, from communications, to science or business, I would encourage you not to quit a club you’re enjoying in order to also have a hand in the movie club. There is no reason you can’t be in the art or dance or theatre club, as well as the movie club, since we'll utilize your particular skills in their own way. I would even invite faculty and staff to participate if any are interested, as I’m sure whoever shows up will have something to learn and contribute to the process.
Interested, send me an email here: j@NOMADlife.tv
We'll see you at the movies! ;)
- Jason Rodi, NOMAD founder and Stanstead College Alumnus
Février 2026
Dans le cadre du cours de français 11e enrichie avec Jean-Jacques Prévost, nous avons parcouru ensemble, sur cinq séances, toutes les étapes de création d’un court métrage : de l’écriture du scénario jusqu’au montage final. Après des bases communes en narration, tournage et montage, les élèves ont ensuite travaillé de façon très autonome, en équipe, en prenant en charge leurs idées, leurs choix artistiques et leur organisation.
Ces quatre films sont le résultat de leur créativité, de leur engagement et de leur capacité à mener un projet de A à Z, avec très peu d’intervention extérieure. Une belle démonstration de ce qu’ils peuvent accomplir lorsqu’on leur fait confiance.
Match Mystère
J’ai trouvé ce scénario vraiment astucieux, avec des jeux de mots bien placés tout au long. L’humour fonctionne bien, de manière subtile, par exemple, la blague sur le “cougar” est particulièrement fine et réussie. L’histoire est drôle en soi, et les dialogues sont bien écrits.
Les choix de plans étaient également bien pensés : on se rapproche des personnages quand c’est nécessaire pour ressentir leur lien, et le cadrage à hauteur des yeux permet de bien s’ancrer dans leur perspective. On comprend clairement que c’est leur histoire qu’on suit, et non celle du serveur, ce qui est un bon choix.
Cela dit, la scène où le personnage s’étouffe aurait gagné à être reprise, avec un peu moins de rires, pour garder l’intensité dramatique du moment. Aussi, même si ce n’est pas essentiel, des costumes ou un petit effort pour différencier les personnages des élèves auraient permis de mieux plonger dans l’univers du récit. Mais ce n’est pas un gros défaut : on comprend bien le but de l’exercice.
Dans l’ensemble, c’est une belle réussite, avec de très bonnes idées derrière.
Haute cuisine, compte vide
Premièrement, excellent titre : il est à la fois accrocheur et parfaitement en lien avec le dénouement.
Ce film se démarque surtout par l’interprétation remarquable de Roger. Même s’il est plutôt réservé en classe, il révèle ici une belle énergie et une présence scénique inattendue. Il parvient à maintenir un bon rythme et à donner de la crédibilité à son personnage. Je l’encourage vivement à poursuivre cette voie, peut-être en s’impliquant dans une pièce de théâtre ou tout autre projet artistique. Il a clairement le potentiel de briller dans ce type de rôle.
C’était un plaisir de participer au montage. J’ai tenté de respecter votre style tout en renforçant certains éléments clés. Le rythme, qui joue un rôle similaire à la ponctuation en écriture, était central dans mes ajustements. En l’absence de plusieurs plans de coupe, j’ai intégré des images fixes générées avec l’aide de ChatGPT. Bien que statiques, elles ont permis d’aérer le récit, d’améliorer la fluidité et d’installer un vrai tempo narratif.
Cependant, un point visuel important mérite d’être souligné : la scène du repas est filmée presque uniquement depuis le point de vue du serveur. Ce choix de cadrage crée une distance avec les deux personnages principaux. Pour renforcer l’identification du spectateur, la caméra aurait davantage gagné à se positionner à la hauteur des yeux des deux amis, afin de mieux capter leurs expressions et renforcer l’impact émotionnel.
La structure de l’histoire est claire et efficace : deux amis ont faim, ils vont au restaurant, mais ne peuvent pas payer. Cela dit, le film manque d’une véritable conclusion thématique. Il aurait suffi d’ajouter un clin d’œil en début de récit, une réplique comme « T’inquiète, au pire on fera la vaisselle ! », pour créer un effet de boucle et donner plus de sens au dénouement. En l’état, on hésite entre le gag absurde et une critique sociale… mais le ton ne tranche pas vraiment.
D’un point de vue sonore, la toute dernière réplique est inaudible. Idéalement, cette prise aurait pu être refaite ou enregistrée séparément en postproduction pour garantir une meilleure compréhension.
En somme, bravo à toute l’équipe pour votre créativité, votre autonomie et votre engagement. Ce projet témoigne d’un bel esprit de collaboration. Et encore une fois, mention spéciale à Roger, dont le jeu d’acteur a été une véritable révélation.
L'Invention du Siècle
Ce projet s’est démarqué par son ambition et son originalité. Malgré la complexité du scénario, avec plusieurs scènes, personnages, accessoires et lieux, l’équipe a tenu à aller jusqu’au bout de sa vision. J’avais proposé de simplifier le tout en limitant l’histoire à une seule scène, mais les élèves ont préféré rester fidèles à leur idée initiale, et ils ont eu raison : cela donne au projet un ton unique, presque théâtral.
Ils ont mis beaucoup d’efforts dans la production : création de costumes (y compris une perruque), mise en scène, direction d’acteurs et même participation d’amis externes. Le montage a été pris en charge par les élèves eux-mêmes, ce qui est tout à leur honneur. De mon côté, je me suis contenté de resserrer un peu l’ensemble, de corriger certains problèmes de son, et d’ajouter quelques effets musicaux pour renforcer l’impact des transitions.
Ce qui est particulièrement appréciable, c’est leur capacité à s’adapter aux contraintes du tournage. L’utilisation de papier au lieu de vraies feuilles, le souffle humain en remplacement d’un appareil, ou encore le remplacement du fusil par la soufflouse à la fin, tout cela démontre de la créativité et un bon sens de l’improvisation.
Certaines blagues tombent un peu à plat, mais cela n’enlève rien au plaisir qu’on ressent en voyant les élèves s’amuser à jouer. Mention spéciale à Jacob, qui se distingue par sa présence, son énergie et son articulation. Le gag final est réussi : il détourne une scène potentiellement choquante pour en faire une chute humoristique autour de la fameuse Souffleuse 5000.
Bref, bravo à tous pour votre engagement et votre capacité à faire vivre un projet du début à la fin. C’est une belle démonstration de rigueur, de débrouillardise et d’esprit d’équipe.
La Vengeance des Tickets
Ce film a été particulièrement agréable à suivre, notamment parce qu’une partie du tournage s’est faite en classe. Cela a permis à tous les élèves d’observer de près le processus de création, de la mise en scène au jeu d’acteurs. Le groupe a ensuite tenu à faire le montage de façon autonome, ce qui est remarquable. J’aurais aimé pouvoir les accompagner un peu dans cette étape pour resserrer le rythme et améliorer certaines transitions, mais le résultat final reste adéquat.
Le choix d’évoquer Le Parrain comme référence stylistique se ressent bien à travers certains choix de plans et, surtout, la musique. Cela crée une tonalité dramatique et sérieuse qui donne de la personnalité au film. Même la coloration brunâtre appliquée à l’image évoque l’esthétique du film original, ce qui démontre une belle recherche visuelle.
Cependant, le lien avec Le Parrain semble plus esthétique que narratif. L’apparition soudaine des sabres laser à la fin détonne complètement avec le ton établi jusque-là. On aurait gagné en cohérence si l’histoire avait assumé des références Star Wars dès le départ, ou bien si la scène finale avait conservé la logique du Parrain. Ce décalage nuit à la fluidité du récit.
La dernière scène, où Dahlia travaille chez Dunkin' Donuts, apporte une belle touche finale, en élargissant un peu l’univers du film. Toutefois, cette idée aurait été plus forte si elle avait été introduite dès le début comme une option de travail. Cela aurait permis de mieux ancrer la conclusion et de renforcer la satisfaction du spectateur en voyant les conséquences logiques des choix des personnages.
Dans l’ensemble, c’est un film plaisant, avec des efforts évidents sur le style, le montage et l’interprétation. Un beau travail d’équipe, à la fois drôle et soigné.
Mise à jour – Juin 2025
Ce mois-ci, j’ai eu l’honneur d’animer un atelier de cinéma avec la classe de Français de 1re secondaire. En seulement sept périodes, les élèves ont imaginé, tourné et monté un court-métrage original intitulé :
Le Schéma d’un Crime
Inspiré des films de casse (heist movies) et des récits d’enquête, ce film méta raconte l’histoire d’une classe qui aurait falsifié ses résultats scolaires, ou est-ce simplement le scénario d’un film parfaitement exécuté ?
L’objectif pédagogique : mettre en pratique le schéma narratif en cinq étapes, tout en explorant les frontières entre fiction et réalité. Résultat : un film intelligent, drôle et étonnamment bien structuré… pour un « crime narratif ».
Day Dreamer
2023 Stanstead College Movie Club Production :
Day Dreamer
May 2023, Stanstead College
The journey to complete the film was certainly a roller-coaster, with many unexpected twists and turns. However, as anticipated, we managed to see the project through to the end. Initially, I aimed to involve as many students and faculty as possible, and this was largely successful during the first month of the club when we crafted the script. The experience of collectively brainstorming and intertwining our dream concepts into a cohesive narrative was simply delightful.
As time went on, though, commitments to other clubs, sports, and academics led many to prioritize these over the movie club. I too became preoccupied with other projects, but I remained determined to complete the film and keep it a fun process. Ultimately, my daughter Jane and I teamed up to complete the film. Our previous filmmaking experiences together made scheduling shoots and maximizing efficiency a breeze. Jane's foresight about the film's eventual outcome was impressive, proving that I should always trust her instincts.
I must also extend my heartfelt gratitude to a phenomenal member of the movie club, Jasmin Kaiser. Her unwavering enthusiasm, intelligence, creativity, and spirit greatly enriched our film, and it simply wouldn't be the same without her contribution. We bid her a fond farewell as she returns to Germany and hope she will stay connected with both the College and the Rodi family.
Lastly, I cannot overstate the importance of Mr. Duane Liverpool's involvement. His generosity in allowing us to use his classroom, his assistance in directing our extras, and even his own acting skills were invaluable. Without his support, we might not have a film to present to you today.
So, without further ado, please enjoy our cinematic creation: Day Dreamer



DIRECTORS
Jane Rodi
Jason Rodi
CO-DIRECTOR
Jasmin Kaiser
WRITERS
Madeline Lippmann
Henrike Kraushaar
Lea Matoush
Jana Loparic
Justin Bouchard
Camryn Moore
Jacob Beasse
Halle Khanna
DAY DREAMER SCRIPT
FADE IN:
CUT IN:
1) EXT. BEDROOM - DAY
An alarm clock rings and a girl awakens. JANE looks at herself in the mirror and brushes her teeth.
CUT TO:
2) EXT. GRASS FIELD - DAY
JANE jumps out onto the grass and goes for a run. She looks determined and confident.
CUT TO:
3) INT. BEDROOM - DAY
JANE puts on her uniform and heads out the door.
CUT TO:
4) INT. DINING HALL - DAY
JANE has a healthy breakfast and rushes out the door to go to class.
CUT TO:
5) INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
JANE walks down the hall and greets EVERYONE. She is Miss Popular.
CUT TO:
6) INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
The TEACHER hands JANE a paper with a big A+ on it. She is ecstatic and practically carried out of the classroom.
CUT TO:
7) INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
JANE is swarmed by people congratulating her. Suddenly, she falls into a dark hole.
CUT TO:
8) INT. BEDROOM - DAY
The alarm clock rings again, and JANE awakens feeling tired. She looks dishevelled as she puts on her clothes.
CUT TO:
9) INT. DINING HALL - DAY
JANE quickly grabs white toast and coffee for breakfast.
CUT TO:
10) INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
JANE walks down the hall, trying to avoid being noticed. PEOPLE pick on her, and she is pushed around.
CUT TO:
11) INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
The TEACHER hands JANE a paper with a big red F- and the word "LOSER."
12) INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
JANE walks out of class and gets hit by a BOY running by. She falls to the floor. EVERYONE laughs and points at her.
CUT TO:
13) INT. BEDROOM - DAY
The alarm clock rings again, and JANE awakens feeling like she's in a different body. She sees herself as the BOY who was laughing at her earlier in the hallway.
CUT TO:
14) INT. BEDROOM - DAY
JANE wakes up again and approaches the mirror, afraid of what she will see. She sees herself, and everything seems fine. She goes about her day as usual.
CUT TO:
15) INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
JANE walks down the hall and is hit by the same BOY from before. Suddenly, she is all alone in the hall, and her classroom door is locked. She is trapped and cannot escape.
CUT TO:
16) INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
JANE sees a figure that looks like her own double in the classroom. She steps away from the window and walks down the hall like a ghost.
CUT TO:
17) INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
JANE sees a figure at the far end of the hall and calls out to it, but it walks away. She runs after it, but it won't stop.
CUT TO:
18) INT. SCHOOL STAIRCASE - DAY
JANE runs up and down the stairs, trying to catch up to the figure, but she is always a step behind.
CUT TO:
19) INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
JANE is awoken by her teacher.
She opens her notebook and begins writing... "Day Dreamer. I woke up in class..."
CUT TO BLACK
THE END
PREMIERE
June 16th Variety Show
portraits of Stanstead College


This is Stanstead College

Sanitas: Athletics in Motion @ Stanstead College

The Man I Want to Be: Varsity Boys Hockey @ Stanstead College







