A Discussion About Filmmaking
and why our new filmmaking classes are a success at TAS!
TAS has been preparing actors to confidently walk onto set for over 20 years! But what about the other aspects of filmmaking? Not all actors want only to act. Many of them also find joy in writing, producing, and directing. A fact that is not only true for our students, but true for our coaches as well. That’s why we decided to open the door to the challenging, creative, and fun world of filmmaking.
Last year we, at TAS, broke our own mold by adding the “On-Set Experience”; a course which gives students firsthand knowledge of working behind the camera. This new class gave middle and high school students a way to explore more movie magic than ever before- from writing, to directing, to filming, and even editing their own short film. Students not only gained knowledge of the craft of filmmaking, but they also grew close bonds through collaboration, goal setting, and product production. And the venture was a hit! So much so, that we launched a more advanced version for year two; introducing the “Creator’s Lab” this year. The Creator’s Lab class allows students to take the lead on creating their own shorts and provides ongoing filmmaking challenges to test their skills.
Today we will discuss these classes, and filmmaking in general, but first, let’s introduce their coaches: Leah (Merritt) and Adam Breazeale.
"The Most Honest Form of Filmmakings is to Make a Film For Yourself"
What are students getting out of 'The On-Set Experience' and 'Creator's Lab' classes?
Leah: “There is so much that feels mysterious about the filmmaking world- especially when you are first getting into it and start booking your first acting gigs. When we created this program we really aimed to demystify the filmmaking process and empower students to create their own films. In this class, students are given full creative control to tell the stories they want to tell, while us coaches are there to guide them and answer questions along the way. By taking such a hands-on approach, students leave class with a deep sense of pride in the films they made together AND a new confidence every time they walk onto a set, or even just have a story idea in their head – they now know how to make that come to life. Plus, they have quality demo reel footage to show for it!”
What do you enjoy about coaching these classes?
Adam: “I love giving the students a new perspective on the art form they’re interested in. Such as: giving them a new way to watch movies, having them think about the blocking, camera angles, lenses the filmmakers might have used, the techniques they employed to get the finished product. Then also seeing them try and develop their own unique creativity through that new knowledge, all in the making of their own film.”
Leah: “It’s truly amazing the stories that young students create when you simply step aside and let them explore their own creativity. Our students are all between the ages of 11-17 years old which is a really vulnerable time in everyone’s life. You go through a lot of changes and self discovery in those years, and watching our students find a place of belonging and inclusion is by far my favorite part of this class. We teach them about how filmmaking is a collaborative art form that requires creatives of all different types to work together towards a single unified vision. So watching the kids really take that and run with it, supporting and encouraging each other throughout the class, is just so amazing to see.”
Why would taking a filmmaking class be good for someone who strictly wants to act?
Leah: “So, I am a self-proclaimed “just an actor”, funny enough! But as an actor we are so often out of the loop on set – there’s just so much happening that doesn’t directly involve us! That was intimidating to me at first as I’m a person who always likes to see the whole picture. So once I started learning about the behind the scenes process, I felt like a much more capable and direct-able actor. I was just recently on set for a network TV show, which is a fast paced environment, but because I was listening and understanding everything that was going on around me, I could anticipate changes the Director needed me to make – things like being aware of the camera, or understanding where my light is coming from, or being conscious of continuity – all of these things make me a better actor to work with (and made the experience much more relaxed and fun!)”
Adam: “This class is great for actors for a few reasons, but I think most pivotal being they gain knowledge on the roles on set that are much more obfuscated. When they arrive on set as an actor they won’t be as confused by the chaos of all the different jobs, lingo, and equipment.”
What do you think are the most important parts of filmmaking?
Adam: “The most important parts are safety then collaboration. Filmmaking is a very diverse job, maybe the only job in the world that will take you from simply talking at the dinner table to dangling off the side of a building. In all those cases there are chances for danger; you need to know how to work with others and use the professionals around you to maintain that safety. It’s about getting everyone home to their own dinner tables that night.
Really film is a huge job and being sure you are safe, and tackling it with all the resources at hand, is I think most important.”
Leah adds: “Collaboration and respect. We all bring our own ideas and interpretations of the script to the table, but it’s so important to be able to listen and respect each other’s opinions during the filmmaking process. And just throughout life!”
What is your biggest highlight from the past year?
Both: “We are THRILLED to announce that our inaugural year of On Set Experience had not just one but BOTH of their films accepted into the Georgia Film Festival!
Not only was it an honor to launch this amazing program for young filmmakers at The Actor’s Scene, but watching that program collide with real world opportunity in our community was really cool.
We are excited to see what this year holds for our students!”
Not only are our coaches raving about these classes, but our students are too!
Meet Peyton Cooper, one of Leah and Adam’s students from last year who loved the class so much she came back for “The Creator’s Lab”.
Ready to join in the fun? We have a brand new “On-Set Experience” class for ages 11 to 17 starting this month! Give our Front Desk a call to find out more! The deadline to register is October 13th.
You can also read more about OSE, HERE.
Ready to get started? Reach out today!
TASFRONTDESK@GMAIL.COM
770-904-6646
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About The Author
Kirsten Krehbiel
Kirsten Krehbiel is an Atlanta based actress, director, and writer who enjoys bringing people new truths through the art of storytelling. She has a love of acting both on camera and on stage, having been lucky enough to be a part of incredible productions in both worlds. Kirsten joined the TAS team in 2020 as a coach, a job she loves because it lets her watch first hand as students grow and gain self confidence as actors. When she is not creating or coaching, you can find Kirsten hanging out with her grumpy cat on their back porch.
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