The Piedmont Highlander

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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Self-taught filmmakers study through camera lens

Self-taught+filmmakers+study+through+camera+lens

From writing to directing, student filmmakers learn the craft from both on and off screen.

“Whenever I have free time or an opportunity to use school to take videos, I take it,” senior Tiger Leet said.

Using his family’s camera, Leet learned his skills without formal education.

“Sometimes me and my friends just take a camera and shoot a random movie, other times we plan one out over a series of weeks,” he said.

Leet’s published films include his Senior Class President campaign video and ASB promotional videos. He also promotes his works through Facebook.

Working with junior Daniel Champion, the pair entered a collaborative film into a YoungArts competition.

“I didn’t place,” Leet said. “I had to make a film in under two weeks, which was a learning experience in itself.”Tiger and Daniel

He has worked in styles including drama, comedy and documentary. A documentary on protests led to his clips being picked up for KQED’s Channel 9 news programming.

Leet’s experience is limited to research online, several books on screenwriting and practice.

Beginning in the third and fourth grades, Leet began working on small projects with his brother and friends, using his mom’s camera.

“People worry about an expensive camera and expensive gear — a good filmmaker doesn’t need that,” Leet said from his seat in the café, an unfinished script strewn before him. “The thing that has really helped me is getting out there and filming, just practice and practice. Each one of my films is better than the last. Have passion — that’s my main trick.”

Leet intends to pursue filmmaking in college and as a career. He plans to attend a camp over the summer.

“Over the holidays we all got new camera equipment, and we plan to do more filming in 2015 than we ever have before,” Leet said.

Working in informal collaboration, Leet splits his efforts with other students.

“When asked what I really want to do, I would say to make films,” junior Saam Niami-Jalinous said.

Primarily a writer, Niami-Jalinous also acts and consults for other aspiring student filmmakers.

“I’ve always really liked movies,” Niami-Jalinous said. “I thought since I was ten I really wanted to get into movies, always kind of a stupid dream for me.”

Champion shares an interest in movies and filmmaking.

“I’m always thinking in my everyday life about how I’d show things through film because I think it’s one of the most relevant medias for the modern day,” Champion said.

Leet refers to his work as a learning process.

“At this age with limited equipment and access, it’s hard to develop a style,” Leet said. “I have dreams about what I want my films to look like.”

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