YORKTOWN — The cast and crew take a short break and go over the director’s notes. The production assistant opens a window to cool the room. Just as the crew starts rolling, a breeze ruffles actress Andrea Pena’s hair.
“Last looks!” someone calls. The hair and makeup artist walks in, rearranging Andrea’s hair. The window is closed and everyone takes their places.
“Action!” yells director Sharyea Phillips.
The set is a vacant Yorktown home — not a Hollywood soundstage. The director, lead actress, production assistant and hair and makeup artist are high school students from Newport News. They’re shooting “From The Moon, To Her Sun,” one of 11 short films from three school divisions that will be screened at the second Next Generation Storytellers Film Festival in Newport News this fall.
For many participants, this is their first experience with the TV and film industry. It came about thanks to a partnership between Newport News Public Schools and Next Generation Storytellers, a company founded by TV actors Trent Garrett (“Andi Mack,” “New Girl”) and Jacob Young (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “All My Children”).
Next Generation Storytellers offers educational and technical support to “bring Hollywood” to underserved communities. The program includes a 24-week virtual course on screenwriting and filmmaking and serves as the production company for the films chosen from student projects. About 80 to 100 Newport News students participated this year.
The company got its start last year with Hampton City Schools. Garrett, a Hampton native, wanted to launch the project in his hometown. He said even as it grows — this year, the group also is working with three schools in South Carolina — the festival will always be held in Hampton Roads. This year, it will be held at the Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University.
Katie SheehanSmith, the visual and performing arts supervisor for Newport News Public Schools, said representatives from the division were invited to last year’s festival.
“We were truly moved and touched by the impact this project had on the students,” SheehanSmith said. “It was evident that this experience was unlike any other that a classroom setting could provide.”
Sharyea, 16, got involved after hearing about it from her art teacher. The Woodside student said the best part has been seeing her notes come to life as they shoot the film.
Lilly Goba, 16, wrote the script. Lilly, who just graduated from Warwick, has written poetry and novels. But she enjoyed learning how to write scripts, learning how to “show and not tell.”
“It’s a dream I didn’t know I had.”
Andrea, 17, was cast as the film’s lead. She said she’s always wanted to act but never had the opportunity — Denbigh High School does not have a theater department. Then she saw an announcement for auditions for this project. During filming, she received coaching and support from the storytellers team. Between takes, Garrett sometimes stepped in with tips. Other students received similar support.
Garrett said his crew works at a fraction of their regular rates because they believe in the mission — bringing opportunities to students who need them most. He said the course was created with input from Hampton City Schools staff, who helped translate his team’s expertise into an educational curriculum now being taught across the country.
Participating students will fly in for the film festival. Next Generation also just launched a partnership with Boys Town, an organization based in Nebraska that offers programs, including a residential treatment center for youth with behavioral health problems or mental illnesses.
Correction: A previous version of this story listed the incorrect last name for the visual and performing arts supervisor for Newport News Public Schools. Her name is Katie SheehanSmith.
Nour Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
