Stars are born – Young Baton Rouge filmmakers premiere their movies and walk the red carpet

When I was a teenager, prom night culminated in a tradition called “Grand March,” where high school juniors and seniors would strut down a catwalk under the watchful eyes and the “oohs” and “ahs” of the entire town—posing occasionally for our turn in the spotlight, or in this case, the many flashing lights from elated parents wielding disposable cameras.

To us it meant the final countdown. Graduation was right around the corner.

A similar moment under those artificial suns occurred recently in a much more meaningful way. The Academy of Motion Picture Development (MPD) showcased two movie premieres—the result of its Summer Film Camp, four weeks of intensive filmmaking classes for a new generation of artists.

The stars of the event were burgeoning filmmakers, all 18 or younger—some as little as 5—who donned suits and gowns and waltzed eagerly down a red carpet leading up to Rave Motion Pictures on Hatters Avenue. But these stars accomplished more than just posing; they took their first steps toward becoming a new crop of cinematic storytellers.

“[MPD] gives children avenues and equipment they might never touch, and the understanding for how to tie it all together,” says Aaron Williams, the Academy’s founder and director. He believes that learning these skills now, and adapting to leading-edge technologies, will ensure that Baton Rouge’s youth can compete in new economies like the film industry.

MPD teaches students all facets of the film industry, including acting, editing, directing and costuming, by providing opportunities for vigilant practice.

“The reason I got so good at playing football was because at school, I was always playing football,” Williams says, explaining his philosophy. “By the time I got to college level, I was used to the game. That’s hard for young people to do here because there was nowhere to actually practice [filmmaking].”

Among the premiere attendees was Gov. Bobby Jindal, whose son has taken interest in his state’s up-and-coming trade.

“I like being behind the scenes and directing movies,” says Shaan Jindal, age 8. “It’s fun to use cameras and other electronics to bring a story to life.”

Gov. Jindal, playing the role of proud parent and film watcher, was temporarily the subject of other parents’ cameras until the limousines carrying young stars overshadowed him.

Then, one by one, parents and guardians escorted their children into the theater. One mother said she appreciated that her daughter, age 11, was able to attend the camp during after-school hours. The child’s grandfather was also in attendance, along with many other family members, huddled beneath umbrellas, anxiously awaiting the children’s arrival.

In this new media environment, the “star” isn’t necessarily the actor or actress. Says Williams, “If you know how to act, direct and edit, when you go audition for a job, you already have an idea of what the director is looking for.” And this multi-faceted knowledge, Williams says, will help keep talent ?in Louisiana.

“If you don’t start implementing programs where the growth industries are, these kids, especially kids from the wrong neighborhood, aren’t introduced to any opportunities in their own backyard,” he says. MPD classes help students develop positive associations with education, Williams says, making them likely to stay in school, stay in their own neighborhoods and attain those local jobs. Williams and his wife work with schools to cover costs, often paying out of pocket for scholarships.

Proceeds from MPD premiere ticket sales were donated to the organization Louisiana Arts and Entertainment for scholarships and film training programs across the state. Williams and others hope that, going forward, these aspiring filmmakers will have many more moments in the sun.