糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Students Join Professor in Georgia to Work on Feature Film
A group of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock mass communication students had the unique opportunity to work on the production of a feature-length film by Kiel Thorlton, chair of the School of Mass Communication.
The poetic love story, called 鈥淏efore We Knew,鈥� was filmed over the summer in Columbus, Georgia, and surrounding counties. Thorlton, the award-winning writer and director of 鈥淎 Place Called Home,鈥� spent nearly eight weeks on location, while 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students Zachary Farmer, KeaLea Graham, Adrian Rogers, and Jonathan Leath joined the crew for more than four weeks. With the support of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, the students received travel, lodging, and accommodations as they worked alongside industry professionals on their first major film production.
The film is a romantic drama that follows two young adults who fall in love before they are emotionally ready. The film explores themes of fate, choice, and love from opposing perspectives, incorporating poetic narration and introspection throughout the story. Thorlton co-wrote the film with his wife, Elizabeth, drawing some inspiration from their real-life love story, which began when they were teenagers.
鈥淚t really was a great experience,鈥� Thorlton said. 鈥淚t was hot, we got caught in thunderstorms, but that鈥檚 all part of film production. The students got a chance to be part of a professional network, to live and work in a different environment, and to see what it really takes to craft a film.鈥�
Each student was assigned to a different team on set鈥攃amera, grip and electric, production design鈥攚here they gained hands-on experience in the day-to-day responsibilities of film crew work.
Zachary Farmer, a senior from Wrightsville, worked with the Grip and Electric team, helping set up lights and mirror boards and assisting the gaffer.
鈥淲orking on set was a hands-down 10/10 experience,鈥� Farmer said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never worked on a production before, but now I pray I have the chance to again. I learned how to work under the pressure of time. We had such little time to get things done on set, and that experience will stick with me.鈥�
Adrian Rogers, who graduated with a degree in mass communication in May, worked on the film as the second assistant camera operator, responsible for building the camera body, handling lenses and filters, slating shots with a clap board, and working with the director of photography and first assistant camera operator.
鈥淎s this was my third experience on a film set, I definitely learned quite a bit and grew from this month in Georgia,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淚t was my first time in the camera department, and I was really honored to have been trusted with an important role. Even though the Georgia sun and heat was critical, the crew I worked with made this an awesome learning experience for me. Overall, I would definitely do it again with the same crew I worked with. Everyone was so talented on set, and I really cannot wait to see where everyone goes next!鈥�
KeaLea Graham, a senior from Little Rock, was also part of the grip team. It was her first time on a film set, and she valued the close mentorship that came from working with a small crew.
鈥淢y experience was honestly great,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淚 learned a lot more about lighting and the grunt work side of the industry. I鈥檓 forever grateful to Professor Thorlton for the opportunity. I learned a lot and met some great and very creative individuals. I would love to work with them again.鈥�
Thorlton said the hands-on project was modeled after a valuable opportunity he received during his own film school education and hopes to bring similar work opportunities for more students in the future.
鈥淲e鈥檙e now in post-production鈥攅diting, music, color, and sound design鈥攚hich will take about a year,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut having our students be part of this process from the ground up is incredibly valuable. If I can provide that experience for more students, that鈥檚 what I want to do.鈥�