Film Studies Alumni and Current Students Collaborate on Film Set
The EMLCS department has been offering Film Studies Production classes for seven years now, so it was only a matter of time until a successful graduate of the program would reach out to collaborate with current students. Leon Jean-Michel Gisclair, Nicholls grad of 2019, and current MFA of Film Production candidate at the University of New Orleans, reached out to Assistant Professor, Melissa Remark in January to offer an opportunity to current film studies students. “I was familiar with the talent that the Film Studies and Production tracks are known for turning out,” Leon said, regarding his desire to build a dedicated crew for his Master’s thesis film, 3:55A.M. He explained that at Nicholls he learned, “an appreciation for the sheer amount of work that goes into making a film that you can only obtain by working on a set. I knew there would be other students that had learned that appreciation at Nicholls.”
Ms. Remark shared this opportunity with Film Studies students who had recently completed the ENGL 346: Short Narrative Film Production course. Gavin Hebert and Ethan Cortez eagerly volunteered for more film set experience. “Any experience on set is valuable, and this is by far the most professional one I’ve been able to get on,” Gavin explained. “These [UNO] students are very serious about their work, so meeting likeminded and talented individuals was a major draw.”
Ethan explained how filmmaking is an artform he’s “very passionate about.’ He said, “If I am given an opportunity to work on a project, I will take that opportunity.” So, over two weekends in February and March, Leon filmed his short film, a supernatural thriller, 3:55 A.M. with Gavin Hebert serving as the camera operator and Ethan Cortez serving as a production assistant.
The short film, 3:55 A.M. is about a detective, JB Boudreaux, who must return home to find his missing partner after their small town experiences a Rapture-like event. Leon explained how the inspiration originally came after watching HBO’s hit miniseries, Chernobyl. “I became intrigued by the concept of following a group of survivors in the wake of a major catastrophic event, specifically the idea of following an outsider coming into town amid the fallout.”
Participating on a high concept film with professional, SAG-AFTRA union actors has given the students a new perspective on filmmaking. “I have always thought of independent filmmaking in the Robert Rodriguez way: a one-man show,” Gavin admitted. “Being part of a sizable crew really allowed me to dissect the individual roles that are common on set.” Ethan felt similarly, noting, “To be able to work with so many people was a great privilege, and I learned a great deal from my fellow peers on set. I would constantly ask questions and had so many new experiences on set. I would say that I have a greater sense of how things operate on set when working with others.”
Regarding the challenges of filmmaking, the student filmmakers had different perspectives. As a writer-director, Leon felt the pressure of the speed of filmmaking, troubleshooting the problems of losing daylight, and only having access to a location house for a limited time. Ethan noted the long hours as a difficult aspect of filmmaking. “It was challenging, but very rewarding.”
“It was very encouraging to know that someone who went to Nicholls has come this far,” Gavin said. “Seeing the caliber of actors and equipment Leon was able to get, even as a [Master’s] student was also quite motivating.”
For Leon, writing and directing his thesis film has been a memorable experience as well. “Seeing the vision I’ve had for this story come to life,” Leon said was the most rewarding part of the production. As a former Nicholls Film Studies student, Leon knows first-hand the type of obstacles current students face, but he has great advice for developing their knowledge now to prepare for later filmmaking opportunities. Leon suggested watching as much as they can. “Exploring films and series outside of the genres you favor will help you to appreciate the assortment of stories you may wish to one day tell.” And secondly, Leon added, “Find a job on a film set at least once. There’s a certain appreciation that you gain for even the most bare-bones productions once you’ve worked on one, and it changes how you watch films, too.”
