A group of high school students in Chilliwack got some tips from an Emmy-winning director when he visited their classroom recently.
Michael Spiller 乌鸦传媒� known for his work on Modern Family, The Office, and other TV series 乌鸦传媒� was at G.W. Graham Secondary School sharing his expertise with a classroom full of film production students.
GWG teacher Michael Florizone connected with Spiller when they met at a Vancouver Film School workshop last summer.
After speaking with Florizone, Spiller said he was "blown away" by the Film Production Workshop class at G.W. Graham, which is now in its third year.
"The thought that there would be a program of this depth 乌鸦传媒� I could maybe have imagined it somewhere in Vancouver 乌鸦传媒� but the fact that it's here in Chilliwack, it's like wow. And you've got a full class乌鸦传媒� I was so inspired by that."
Spiller was a cinematographer before he began directing. He has directed episodes of Scrubs, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Sex and the City.
Originally, Spiller had planned on doing an online video chat with the students, but since it was a quiet time in Los Angeles, he decided to visit the teens in person since they'd get more out of it.
"I really like giving back. I really like talking about my career to people who are interested in it and helping to shape the next generation of people who may or may not do this for a living," Spiller said. "I'm very passionate about the work, and being around people who are equally enthusiastic reminds me of what I love so much about this business."
Spiller listened and took notes as the students did a script reading of their sitcom pilot titled Sandglass Saloon. He then checked out the set the students built by hand right inside their classroom.
He was impressed with both the script and the set.
"I thought it was really funny when I read it on my own. I think they did a great job, and I can't wait to see the end result," Spiller said.
The set is about half the size that it needs be with the number of characters in the sitcom, which meant the students were met with a lot of technical challenges.
"I can't believe the wood floors, and all the set dressing乌鸦传媒� the wallpaper is cool. They did a great job," he said of the set.
The kids set up cameras to do some staging with Spiller's help and to figure out the best angles and lighting in the small space. There was also a bar fight in Sandglass Saloon that the students wanted some help with. The morning was interspersed with questions, plus anecdotes and stories from his career.
The production-workshop students wanted to absorb as much as possible within the short, half-day window they had with the director. Spiller also visited some of Florizone's other film production classes, and participated in career day at the school. About a week later, during the school's Student Film Festival, he presented the best director award via video while holding his Emmy.
Florizone called Spiller's visit an "incredible opportunity."
乌鸦传媒淔ilm education is about more than just watching movies or discussing theory; it乌鸦传媒檚 about learning hands-on skills, collaborating with others, and drawing inspiration from industry leaders," Florizone said.
He added that the most exciting aspect of the Film Production Workshop course is that it乌鸦传媒檚 entirely student-driven.
"Students take the lead in every aspect of the project, from scriptwriting and acting to props, costumes, cinematography, lighting, sound, and editing. Their creativity and hard work are at the heart of this production," Florizone said.
Many student projects from the classes have been showcased at festivals and received awards. Most notably, the film Rat King was featured in Movie Maker Magazine and won Best Fraser Valley Film at the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival in November 2024. Rat King is also an official selection at Vancouver Island Short Film Festival in May.
Spiller, who does a lot of teaching within the Directors Guild of America, said one of other things he loves about visiting students is that they also teach him.
"I will learn something from them乌鸦传媒� my teachers are everywhere and if my eyes, ears, heart and mind are open, I have a chance to learn something," Spiller said.
