The nearly 2,000-mile distance between Los Angeles, California, and The Volunteer State shouldn’t deny the dreams of statewide teenagers hoping to enter the film industry, alone. And in Little Hollywood, Tennessee, a small group of soon-to-be filmmakers begin their journey, which made its world premiere recently via a showcase production of the 57th Nashville Film Festival‘s Tennessee Features category.
In this documentary film, around 300 elite students from across the state apply to attend the Governor’s School for the Arts during the summer before their senior year in high school. Of that total, around 24 are whittled down to attend more than three weeks of film school at the campus of Middle Tennessee State University that crams in the teachings of time management and working with others (while accepting other’s help) and making creative choices while learning the basics of operating the necessary equipment to bring a full-blown motion-picture narrative to life — the program’s final project.
That, in itself, seems ambitious for anyone, to be completed within that brief amount of time. But when factoring in that each of these kids has a different background or level of experience (one had had absolutely ZERO experience before entering the program in this film, while others prepare year-round) to pair with their young age, becoming a cohesive group isn’t always a given (although it is encouraged).
“I’ve never had anyone teach me how to do anything to a film.”
Film faculty Amanda Dillingham (Concentration: Production and Set Roles) and Sam Dalton (Story and Premise), work alongside other alumni from the program to work as film counselors to the children, who have worked in a variety of roles in the movie industry.
Internal fears creep to the surface as the teenagers learn to work with other gifted students and follow directions. The first assignment is always chaotic — learning the tedious parts and needing to fail are often necessary in order to learn the team-building process.
“Apparently, you like seeing creative teenagers stressed-out, constantly.”
Bringing the final products of a one-shot, a music video and a feature film to the big screen isn’t a solitary process, so failure isn’t an option. Collaboration is the name of the game, here, as the students quickly find their breaking points, then work themselves off the ledge before jumping.
They’re socially awkward; some feel like social outcasts because their hometown schools didn’t offer any sort of film studies and many didn’t receive much encouragement from their families or their schools, which made me cry a little bit, because I did receive encouragement for my creative side, even if my parents didn’t quite understand it.
“You don’t get second chances in our industry.”
Just about all of these students fear their parents won’t understand their work, but deadlines and the necessary rolling with the punches are learned as COVID-19 infects the campus and interrupts classes, turning this into a coming-of-age film. Their excitement to create is infectious and this eventually becomes a validating process for them, even while they’re dealing with ADHD issues and disagreements, not to mention questioning their own self-worth.
“I regret my life choices.”
Having grown up within the Middle Tennessee area as a Child of the ’80s, I had no previous knowledge of the Governor’s School for the Arts, but I am extremely thankful for its creation. Back in the day, Hollywood felt so far away. But in the 21st century, the country music industry has welcomed multiple film productions throughout the state (along with a local SAG-AFTRA office), so kids dreaming of working within the film industry doesn’t feel so impossible these days.
Little Hollywood, Tennessee is dedicated to the late John Ashworth, who empowered and inspired students to apply to the Governor’s School program, of which he was the founder. I am encouraged to see the progress that’s being made in the industry locally, as the number of Tennessee filmmakers grows each year. I’m hoping the worldwide audience for this movie will exponentially grow as streaming services are eventually added to show what is currently building in Tennessee.
The film industry has officially transitioned into Middle Tennessee, and a growing number of teenagers is hard at work, encouraging it to flourish here for many years to come. And Little Hollywood, Tennessee should be credited for promoting that growth.
“I don’t think the parents really understand what they’re sending their kids to…”