Supporting Literacy and Giving Young Filmmakers a Creative Voice at Hall Memorial Library
Young people in Northfield, Tilton and beyond will soon have the opportunity to see their work on the big screen.
Hall Memorial Library will this fall launch Infinite Lens, a new filmmaking program for 12 middle and high school students that will teach participants how to write, film and edit their own short movies.
The program is supported by a grant from the Greater Lakes Region Children's Fund, and completed films will be showcased next summer during the Raven Gael Blaisdell Foundation's popular Movies in the Park series, giving young filmmakers the chance to share their work with the community.
For Steve Bouffard, Children's Services Librarian at Hall Memorial Library, Infinite Lens is the realization of an idea he’s wanted to bring to local youth for years.
Through the lens
Drawing on his background in filmmaking and teaching, Steve designed the program to introduce students to the creative film process. Participants will meet every other Tuesday after school, learning the fundamentals of lighting, sound, camera work, green screens, tripods and editing software.
The goal is simple: create an original short film.
Students will leave each session with assignments that move their projects forward, whether that means writing scripts, filming scenes, gathering props or editing footage. Some may choose to complete much of their work at the library, while others will continue developing their projects independently.
To support that flexibility, Hall Memorial Library will make filmmaking equipment available for participants to borrow, much like checking out a book.
"We want them to have ownership of the entire process. These will be their films," says Steve, a filmmaker himself whose newest creative, “Depressed Terrestrial,” has been winning awards at film festivals.
"Making a movie requires coordination, planning and production,” he says. “There are so many different pieces that have to come together. Kids don't even realize they're learning these skills because they're having fun and making each other laugh.
"I think there's plenty of opportunity for kids to discover strengths they didn't know they had," he adds.
Each completed project will be between five and 10 minutes long and will be shown before feature presentations at the Raven Gael Blaisdell Foundation's Movies in the Park events.
About the foundation
The foundation is a nonprofit established by Paul M. Blaisdell in 2020 to honor the memory of his late wife, Raven Gael Blaisdell.
"Raven had a tremendous love of reading and libraries, and we wanted to share that love with the community and inspire children to absorb the world through the magic of literacy," says Paul, the president of the foundation.
Located at Hall Memorial, the foundation serves children and families throughout the Tilton, Northfield and surrounding communities through literacy initiatives, summer reading programs and community events. Last year, the organization distributed nearly 2,000 new books through 18 different programs.
One of its most popular initiatives is Movies in the Park, a free family-friendly series held from May through September featuring movies, books, popcorn, face painting, door prizes and community activities.
For the young filmmakers participating in Infinite Lens, the series will provide a public audience for their work and a chance to see their creativity celebrated alongside professional films.
Beyond literacy, Blaisdell says the Foundation is driven by a desire to strengthen community connections.
"What inspires us is the look of joy on kids faces," he says. "Seeing them come back and tell us about the books they received or the experiences they've had. It's also about bringing people together and creating a sense of community."
To learn more about the Raven Gael Blaisdell Foundation or its community programs, contact
To learn more about Infinite Lens, call 603-286-8971.
The foundation welcomes opportunities to partner with community organizations and individuals who share its mission of encouraging literacy, learning and community engagement among local youth.
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