When Charles Butterfield, 21, graduated from CedarBridge Academy two years ago, he knew he wanted to study film, but he had no idea how to pursue his dream. He looked at a few colleges, but in the end signed up for the Bermuda College.“Like all parents, my mother (Ceita Butterfield) wanted me to do something with myself, at least get off the Island,” said Charles.It wasn’t until a presentation at the Bermuda College about the Whistling Woods Film Academy in Mumbai, India, that Charles saw the way forward. In 2010 former Premier Ewart Brown struck a deal with the film school to facilitate Bermuda students studying there.As per a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two entities, Whistling Woods agreed to recommend Bermuda to the Indian entertainment industry and the Government of Bermuda would provide sponsorships to two students every year from Bermuda to study filmmaking at the film school.Charles applied, even though until that point he’d never travelled further than the United States. Then an unknown e-mail address came up on his BlackBerry.“I was like ‘I wonder who this could be’,” he said.It turned out it was an e-mail informing him that he’d been accepted to Whistling Woods and he had received the India Film School Scholarship Bermuda. Another boy, Jason Jackson, was also chosen. He leaves in July to study at the academy for two years in pursuit of an associate’s degree in film and broadcast studies.“I was really happy,” he said. “I told everyone and I was just super excited. My mother was excited too. She has been behind me a 100 percent. My father, Ramone Smith, is proud.”He is the middle child of six children, and even his brothers and sisters were proud of him, which is an achievement considering that most siblings are hard to impress.Charles is now learning as much as he can about Indian culture, language and etiquette. He has also had to cope with all the medical requirements necessary which include eight vaccinations.“The language will be a challenge,” he said. “I will have to get a translator. But once I get there I know I will be constantly surrounded by the language, so I think me and Jason will probably get used to it real quick. Jason, just came from Argentina on a Rotary Exchange so he is doing pretty well for himself too. Up until now the furthest I have ever been is the United States. This is a totally different side of the world. I will have to be on my Ps and Qs and pay attention.”He has so far signed up for editing and screen writing courses. He hopes to also take other courses offered at Whistling Woods, such as acting classes.“Since graduation, I have been hanging around the filmmaking field,” he said. “I have been editing and little videos here and there. I have been doing various jobs to keep myself busy until I leave in July. I like to make videos of anything. It doesn’t really matter. I just love doing it period. As long as it has something to do with cameras and video I will do it.”At Whistling Woods he is hoping to take his filmmaking skills to the next level and he is also hoping to expand his whole way of thinking about film.“Whatever comes, I will just take it and go for it,” he said.Charles first discovered his interest in filmmaking while at CedarBridge Academy through a class taught by Renee Kuchler.“I was an average student in school, getting Bs and Cs,” he said. “When I first did started learning about filmmaking and editing, it was a real eye opener for me. I said ‘wow, this is a talent I didn’t know I had’. I thought I should go deeper and see what I could get out of this and what I can get out of this and where it can take me. Come to find out it is taking me across the world to school.“That is where it is taking me. When it came to that particular subject, editing film, I found it easy. I just did it and it came naturally to me. Ms Kuchler saw the potential in me and told me to go for it. We did a film about school. I think actually it was about bullying.“We entered a competition in Delaware and the film I did came second place overall. A class from CedarBridge went over to the competition, but I had already graduated by that point so I couldn’t go.”He admires filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, and music video director Hype Williams. He is a little embarrassed to say that his favourite film is ‘Forest Gump’ with Tom Hanks. “It is one of my favourite movies,” he said. “I like the whole storyline. Forrest Gump was dumbfounded by everything, but he was the most successful guy you could ever meet. That is what I like about it. When I go to India, I know I am going to do great things with everything I am going to learn. It is going to be a great opportunity for me to go out there and learn every single thing that I can.”Outside of filmmaking Charles enjoys staying active by playing basketball, football and doing anything to stay fit.