Camille Speer of Great Falls, a student at the Fairfax Academy for Communications & the Arts, looks at a camera in a studio at the school. This is Speer’s second year in the school’s Professional Television Production class. Photo by Janelle Germanos
Camille Speer, a resident of Great Falls and a senior at Langley High School, discovered her passion for producing films in the Fairfax Academy Professional TV Production class.
In addition to preparing for her future in the film industry and serving as a model for others in her class, she has recently been awarded first place for her film "Art Promotional" at the Annual Television, Internet and Video Association Peer Awards at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. According to Speer, "Art Promotional" demonstrates the power of art and its ability to spread love.
"What I wanted was to show that no matter where you go in the world, art is a universal language," Speer said. In the film, artists from different countries combine their work to form one heart. "I just thought, why not make the word a big heart, because that is what art does. It makes people love each other," Speer said.
AT THE AWARD CEREMONY, Speer networked with other professionals in the film industry in Washington, DC. "A lot of card swapping, so that was really good. There were some very prestigious people there," Speer said. Speer said she was shocked to win first place. "When they called gold, and said my name and project, I was just completely stunned. I had never received such an award before and it was such an honor," Speer said.
According to Erin Bloom of Herndon, a career experience specialist at Fairfax Academy, success stories like Speer’s can be used as an example to encourage other students interested in the arts. At the Fairfax Academy, a majority of the students who graduate from the Academy pursue a career in the field they studied. "She’s fabulous. It makes it nice to hear the success stories. I like it because I get to know the kids more personally. I can use her as an example, and push her out in the limelight," Bloom said.
Bloom told Speer that she is well-spoken and able to communicate to others her passion about filmmaking. Speer determined she wanted to pursue a career in filmmaking after first enrolling in the class last year. "Why couldn’t I make my own films, and play a part in them? And then write them and direct them, so that whatever I see in my head comes to life," Speer said.
Speer enjoys taking the class at Fairfax Academy. The class allows for students to learn all of the steps of filmmaking, as well as learn about the different jobs available in the industry. "It really helps you get your feet wet," Speer said.
According to Speer, the class has helped her find direction in filmmaking. "It really helps you, because you’re not just learning one aspect, you’re able to really explore the options. I’ve found that I absolutely love producing, scriptwriting and directing, and I was only able to figure that out by taking this class," Speer said.
SPEER ENJOYS leading others and serving as a director, but also values collaborating with other students. "I try so hard not to be bossy. I really do enjoy working with others, and collaboration is so important in the film industry especially, so I like creating these relationships with the other kids," Speer said. "I would say I am a leader in some sense, but I don’t always have to be a leader and I’m okay with that."
Speer plans to major in film production and minor in producing or scriptwriting.