POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College students enrolled in previous film production class are using what they learned in the industry.
Ryan Myhand of Metairie, La., a 2010 graduate, is one example, said Ronn Hague, PRCC’s film production instructor.
“Ryan spent last year as the associate field producer on a popular reality TV show,” said Hague. “He’s worked on more than 50 shows and almost a dozen movies, doing everything from robo-cam operator to production. He also worked as a stunt double.”
He is one of the PRCC students who have found a niche in the film industry. Another student, Sean Beck of Poplarville, makes his living working on movies and a popular network TV show based in New Orleans.
The PRCC film production class began in 2008 when Hague needed a crew for the Healthy People Now! (HPN!) films the department of nursing education and office of public relations were set to produce. Since then, film students have worked crew positions on more than 40 productions ranging from the short films used in the HPN! program to feature length productions.
The HPN! program gives the class hands-on experience on a regular basis.
The class consists of one hour of lecture and one hour of hands-on equipment training each week. The on-set training is scheduled on weekends. This class has trained students to work in the industry or for continuing their education at a four-year college film program.
“We’ve had some students go through the UNO film school and some go through the Full Sail University film program,” Hague said.
The class meets on Monday evenings for sophomores and Tuesday evenings for freshmen. Cost for full-time students is covered by their tuition. Cost for non-students is less than $200. For an online film production application and more information, go to https://www.hpn.prcc.edu/film-production-class.html or call Hague at 601-403-1316.
Student camera operator Andrew Madden of Slidell, La., preps the camera for a shot while student 2nd assistant camera Jay Lee of Hattiesburg assists on a recent HPN! production, “The Hole.”
