By Kathryn O’Brien/reporter
Being kind of crazy and all over the industry is a good thing, two filmmakers told South students March 3.
Lisa Dalton, an actress and director, and Ya’Ke Smith, a writer and director, spoke to students about their careers in the film industry.
“Most people in the entertainment industry are in it because they have an incredible driving passion to do it,” Dalton said. “It’s a crazy industry, and those of us in it have an incredible love for what we do.”
Both Dalton and Smith described how they got started in their careers.
Dalton was adamant about passion translating into one’s work. When she was told no, she would still go out of her way to direct or produce anything. From plays on her front lawn to fashion shows and then stunt work, Dalton said she gave every opportunity the dedication it deserved.
Passion was also a driving force for Smith.
“I knew that I wanted to make something that had a long-lasting impact on the viewer,” he said. “You need to think about what someone is going to take away after they watch your film.”
Smith said his mission is to make films that portray real scenarios. By creating films that confront social issues, he believed he could get people to talk about the issues and move on. It is the responsibility of the entertainment industry to make an impact, Smith said.
“It doesn’t matter what you have, what technology you have,” he said. “If you have a good story, you can make it happen.”
