INDIANKeynoteUSAOLIS – Deonna Weatherly graduated from Indiana University in 2020.
“Which was the worst year to graduate,” Weatherly said. “I didn’t have a job or a clear direction I wanted to take, so I started my own production company called Weatherhouse Co.”
Weatherly also founded the Weatherhouse Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides creatives with a hands-on learning experience in film and video production.
Indiana Youth Film Festival: Deonna Weatherly
“We brought in high school students and young adults and taught them how to make movies,” Weatherly said. “(We) gave them a hands-on learning experience and they had to make a movie after each session.”
But something was missing.
“We had small premieres and had their family or friends come see their movies, but it seemed like there needed to be something more, like that was the next thing,” Weatherly said.
In late 2022, Weatherly came up with the idea of creating a film festival just for Indiana youth.
“I created my company to provide opportunities specifically for women and people of color in the film industry,” Weatherly said. “That’s why I think having a youth film festival makes sense.”
Meet the filmmaker: Marissa Baker
Marissa Baker grew up making movies.
“I used to hang out with my best friend and we would make little movies,” Baker said. “I thought he was cool and I was just passionate about him.”
It’s a passion Baker carried with him when he was a student at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School.
Indiana Youth Film Festival: Marissa Baker
“I have always attended predominantly white institutions,” Baker said. “And sometimes it’s harder to find people like me who come from the same culture and background.”
Baker says she was inspired for her film by the Young Women of Color club located inside Brebeuf. The film, “Beautiful Roots,” follows the story of a girl with whom Baker identifies.
“It’s about this young woman of color,” Baker said. “She Her name is Aaliyah Davis and she creates a club at her school after being bullied. I kind of turned that into an image and then created something that could inspire other people, like me, to come together as one.”
Participating in the inaugural Indiana Youth Film Festival is an exciting prospect for Baker.
“I think it really shows me that I have some kind of skill that I can continue to build on as I go,” Baker said. “Even though I did all this by myself and didn’t necessarily have the best materials, I can still make something great.”
Meet the filmmaker: Myla Tissandier and Colin Wood
Myla Tissandier and Colin Wood met in high school. Tissandier wanted to be an animator and Wood wanted to be a YouTuber. However, each ended up in a radio and television class.
“Ever since I walked into that class, it changed the entire trajectory of what I was going to do with my life,” Tissandier said.
“We met there and that’s how I got into film,” Wood said. “We were playing around making videos and stuff.”
Indiana Youth Film Festival: Myla Tissandier and Colin Wood
The couple is now pursuing their studies at Indiana University and recently completed their film titled “The Taken.”
“The movie is about this guy who sees his family being kidnapped in front of his eyes while he’s on the phone and decides he’s going to go after them,” Tissandier said. “It’s just a great action-packed movie that we were really watching if we could test our skills.”
Skills that continue to grow.
“We’re proud of it, but I feel like whatever you do, you always go back and look at it, you would have done it differently,” Tissandier said.
“I think overall we’re very happy because it was our first movie,” Wood said.
The pair are also happy to share advice with other aspiring filmmakers.
“If you’re a young filmmaker, do it,” Tissandier said. “Don’t sit with these thoughts in your head and think about how you really want to do something, just get started.”
The Indiana Youth Film Festival is June 22. Click here for more information about the festival.
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