ED @ THE BLACK LENS FILM FESTIVAL

On the last weekend in February, Out of Hand Theater traveled to the Legacy Center in East Point to take part in the program of the Black Lens Film Festival, an event featuring the work of young artists and writers in their journey towards the filmmaking industry. 

During the first day of the festival, on Friday, February 24th, Out of Hand Theater did a workshop with the Stonewall Tell Elementary School Scholars - about film and telling their own stories. In the spirit of the film festival, the students watched the Out of Hand film "18th of June". Associate Artistic Director - and Writer/Director/Producer of the film - Nikki Young talked to the students about the process of filmmaking and stressed the importance of telling their stories after the viewing. Young also represented Out of Hand as a judge for the submitted student films. 

On the second day, Saturday, February 25th, middle and high school students put their full talent on display, ranging from musical performances, informational presentations about themselves, and sharing knowledge about their industry of choice, including film and business. Afterwards, a presentation about the process of writing screenplays was shared by the mentors of the students, detailing how to find a purpose for your writing and how to channel creative energy into formatting a script. In addition, Denise Armstrong, a professional actress who worked on Netfilx’s Greenleaf, spoke words of affirmation to the young people to encourage and support them as they continue their journey as creatives. 

After her words of encouragement, Out of Hand’s Adria Kitchens introduced the theater and its mission to the students, in addition to introducing Gerard Eglitis and John Settles as working creative employees for Out of Hand and beyond. In the spirit of the festival, Out of Hand showed the short film, 18th of June, written and directed by Nikki Young. Conversations about the film followed after the viewing, but instead of Out of Hand facilitating this time, the older students served as the facilitators for the younger students, asking them questions about their experience with modern racism as well as how to persevere through difficult times with the use of family traditions and community building. 

With the presence of Out of Hand at a student event like the Black Lenz Film Festival, we hope to inspire change through art and theater at all ages and grade levels.