Sunflower County Film Academy (2023)
Week One.
“ I like the film academy. And I’d like to learn more about the equipment and how to operate them…I always wondered what it was like to be behind the scenes in a movie,” Jaiden Nix, SCFA Student.
(All photos by SCFA Instructors Glenn Payne and Ben Powell and Student Intern Mariano Sifuentes)
Jaiden Nix, Glenn Payne, AJ Johnson and Arthur Evans work the dolly.
Zariah Burl, Ben Powell, Merion Turner and AJ Johnson.
Jay Lee and Arthur Evans
Arthur Evans, Zariah Burl, Ben Powell, Jay Lee, Jaiden Nix and AJ Johnson
Merion Turner
Ariyanna Duvall, Glenn Payne and Peyton James
Zariah Burl
Week Two.
“I really enjoyed the Sunflower County Film Academy. I learned new things like planning for the film, setting up the equipment and using the slate. After this experience, I plan to pursue filmmaking as a back up plan.” - Peyton James, SCFA Student
Auditions for "Help Wanted"
Arthur Evans and Mariano Sifuentes capture Ariyanna Duvall, Zariah Burl, Peyton James and AJ Johnson
Ariyanna Duvall, Jay Lee, Mariano Sifuentes, AJ Johnson, Arthur Evans and Ben Powell on set.
Instructor Ben Powell holds the camera while Merion Turner "Elijah" places props for the movie.
"Action!" Peyton James on set with Merion Turner ("Elijah") and Tony Foster ("Mr. Earl").
Zariah Burl
Arthur Evans and Merion Turner ("Elijah") on the "Kitchen" set.
Merion Turner ("Elijah") and Zariah Burl
On set with Merion Turner, Glenn Payne and Zariah Burl.
Merion Turner, Jaiden Nix, Arthur Evans, Jay Lee and Mariano Sifuentes on set.
On the set of "Help Wanted"
Jay Lee, Arthur Evans and Merion Turner ("Elijah")
Peyton James, Merion Turner ("Elijah") and Jay Lee ("Jeremiah")
AJ Johnson, Glenn Payne, Peyton James and Jay Lee.
Jay Lee and Merion Turner ("Elijah")
Instructor Glenn Payne, Merion Turner, Jay Lee, Jacobi Baldwin and Cameron Baldwin scout movie locations.
Field Trip - Delta Music Institute.
“We really wanted the students to get the full experience of creating a film.” Glenn Payne, SCFA Instructor
SCFA students toured DMI in Cleveland, which has a major, Entertainment Industry Studies. Students learned about the varied music and audio production and post-production studio classes the institute offers.
Weeks Three and Four.
“I always wanted to know what was going on behind the camera and how they make certain scenes look they way they looked,” Jay Lee, SCFA Student
The slate for the SCFA student film, "Help Wanted."
First Assistant Camerman Peyton James filling in the slate.
The director's script for "Help Wanted" written and directed by Glenn Payne.
Mariano Sifuentes and Ben Powell on the set of "Help Wanted," with Cameron and Jacobi Baldwin's mother.
Jacobi and Cameron Baldwin ("DJ" and "Max")
Merion Turner ("Elijah") and Jay Lee ("Jeremiah")
A scene from "Help Wanted"
Camera view of "Elijah" and "Jeremiah"
Merion Turner ("Elijah") and Jay Lee ("Jeremiah") take cues from director Glenn Payne.
Peyton James
"Quiet on the set!" Merion Turner ("Elijah") and Jay Lee ("Jeremiah").
Jacobi Baldwin ("DJ"), Merion Turner ("Elijah", Jay Lee ("Jeremiah") and Cameron Baldwin ("Max") on the "Junkyard" set.
Jay Lee on the "Junkyard" set.
Glenn Payne, Ben Powell, Jay Lee, Jaiden Nix, Peyton James, Jacobi Baldwin and Cameron Baldwin
Peyton James, Mariano Sifuentes, Ben Powell, Glenn Payne, Jaiden Nix and Jay Lee on the "Junkyard" set.
Jaiden Nix, Cameron Baldwin, Jacobi Baldwin, Jay Lee ("Jeremiah") and Ben Powell prepare to shoot the "Fight" scene with Peyton James and Merion Turner ("Elijah").
Behind The Scenes.
“I always wondered what it was like to be behind the scenes in a movie,” Jaiden Nix
2023 Sunflower County Film Academy students in front of the historic Ellis Theatre in downtown Cleveland.
Future director, Ariyanna Duvall
Filming auditions for "Help Wanted"
Loading equipment for shooting on the set Merion Turner, Mariano Sifuentes and Jay Lee.
Mariano Sifuentes
Zariah Burl, Ariyanna Duvall, Jaiden Nix, AJ Johnson, Jay Lee, Peyton James and Merion Turner
Jacobi Baldwin, Jay Lee, Merion Turner and Cameron Baldwin
Merion Turner and Zariah Burl
Merion Turner and AJ Johnson
Jaiden Nix, AJ Johnson, Peyton James and Merion Turner
Glenn Payne and Zariah Burl
AJ Johnson
On the set of "Help Wanted"
Peyton James, Merion Turner, Zariah Burl and AJ Johnson
Public Screening.
“Just seeing how it actuallty looked through the camera was way different than what I thought it was going to look like. Looking through the camera it felt like we were in a totally different place. It didn’t feel like we were [here]. It felt cinematic…And this is really what it’s all about. You want to see your masterpiece at the end. You want it to see it come out good,” Zariah Burl, SCFA Student
"Help Wanted" Premiere on marquee of the Ellis Theatre in Cleveland.
Setting up chairs for the June 30 screening.
MDOT Commissioner Willie Simmons speaks to the audience about Fannie Lou Hamer before the screening of "Help Wanted."
The film's opening title.
A standing room only audience at the premiere of "Help Wanted."
Dedication credit in "Help Wanted."
Audience scene from screening
Dedication in film to Fannie Lou Hamer's daughter, Cookie.
Scene from "Help Wanted"
The audience questions the SCFA students after the screening.
Scene from "Help Wanted"
Credits from "Help Wanted"
Camera Credits from "Help Wanted"
Latasha Patton, her son, Peyton James, and Commissioner Willie Simmons.
Q & A with students after premiere of "Help Wanted."
Merion Turner proudly dispays his SCFA Certificate with Commissioner Willie Simmons.
Studio Shots.
Mariano Sifuentes
Ariyanna Duvall
Jay Lee
Merion Turner
Zariah Burl
Peyton James
Glenn Payne, Instructor
Ariyanna Duvall
Jay Lee
Merion Turner
Zariah Burl
Arthur Evans
Jay Lee
Ariyanna Duvall
Glenn Payne, Instructor