The National Film Board demonstrates a keen commitment to both teen issues and fostering teenage talent with the recent production of salt. Part underground magazine, part documentary film, the ‘filmzine,’ created by four 17-year-old girls, breaks new ground with its unique four-part format, a $400,000 nfb investment and screenings in two major Canadian festivals.

Codirector Amber Goodwyn says the film was ‘sold as a script and came in a scrapbook format.’

In a broad sense, salt was predicated on a do-it-yourself approach, ‘which the nfb really liked,’ says Goodwyn. ‘And we tried to capture that in the film’s aesthetic.’

‘The film has a graphic look,’ adds producer Pierre Lapointe. ‘Some of the sections have words on the screen, and between each documentary, there’s an introduction and a ‘making of,’ which is very zine-like.’

Each girl created and directed her own 15-minute segment: Goodwyn waxes on the problems of the public education system, Morgan Gage on independent music culture, Karen Shamey-Smith on self-mutilation and Beverly Brown on punk culture.

The four emerging directors are all graduates of Montreal’s Moving in New Directions alternative high school in Montreal.

Rick Blackburn, who taught two of the girls at mind, brought the group to Lapointe, whose focus is fostering young filmmaking talent, particularly in the documentary genre.

The title, salt, says Goodwyn, refers to the filmmakers melting away stereotypes about themselves and other kids.

‘[salt] also refers to us as being a flavor; bringing something new to documentaries and youth culture,’ says Goodwyn. ‘It’s also salt-in-the-wound because it’s not always easy to accept the issues [dealt with].’

Goodwyn and Gage both say the filmzine was effective in breaking down stereotypes about their generation – not just to adults but to their contemporaries as well.

‘We live in a contrived society and most kids just play out what’s expected of them,’ says Goodwyn. ‘I don’t want to be a role model, but I want to prove that we’re not just a stupid generation.’

Gage, for example, uses her main character to break down the stereotype of the independent musician.

‘Most people think of a young male with long hair and a guitar,’ says Gage. ‘So I chose a woman who is married and has two young children. And she tries to leave her [performances] as early as she can so she can get up with her children at 6 a.m.’

salt premiered at the Montreal International Festival of New Cinema and New Media, Oct. 11-22, and was also showcased at the St. John’s International Women’s Film and Video Festival, Oct. 18-22.

At the St. John’s festival, the nfb held a workshop for teenagers, in which the teenaged filmmakers participated. *