A local film school is offering several elementary school students at Leander and Round Rock ISDs a taste of the movie industry.
Lego Stop-Motion Animation classes are being offered by 4Reelz School of Film at several LISD elementary campuses throughout this fall and winter. RRISD elementary campuses also host 4Reelz classes on acting and improvisation, special effects and comic book creation.
“Our Lego stop-motion animation [class] is really our introduction to the concepts of storytelling and film, but in a very fun and familiar medium,” co-owner Nicholle Walton-Durban said.
The after-school enrichment program teaches the concepts of storyboarding, set design, filming and post-production elements, such as sound effects and music, she said.
Walton-Durban, who spent 10 years working in the film industry in Los Angeles, said she grew up in a small town in Louisiana where exposure to theater arts was limited. She said she believes in the value of arts education and is pursuing plans to expand the school’s presence in other cities.
“You never have to have a career in the arts to benefit from an acting class,” she said. “That’s the beautiful thing about the arts—it prepares you for all aspects of life.”
Jeremy Kuykendall became familiar with the school after enrolling his daughter in a stop-motion animation camp.
“She really learned a lot about the filmmaking process in general. [Editing], setting up different shots ... it was really Film 101,” he said.
Kuykendall said he has since taken several adult classes at 4Reelz, where he learned about the process of being an actor as well as acting fundamentals and techniques.
“It was a very welcoming, very safe place to be creative and to try acting. It’s not an easy thing for somebody to do, especially in front of strangers,” Kuykendall said. Since the training, he said he has been to several successful auditions for local films and commercials.
Classes at 4Reelz, which opened in February 2015, focus on teaching the entertainment business from both sides of the camera, Walton-Durban said. Professionals who are actively working in the film industry teach the classes, she said. Karen Hallford, a casting director with many years of industry experience, co-owns the school.
The school’s offerings include acting, screenwriting, editing, comic book design, stop-motion animation and special effects classes for children, teens and adults. Students can choose from weekly classes, workshops, summer camps and after-school programs. Birthday parties, studio rentals and taped auditions are also available.
“We’re in the business of art,” said Walton-Durban, adding that the philosophy at 4Reelz is based on four fundamental keys to success—creative talent, technical skill, business knowledge and marketing.
“You need ... a safe environment where you can explore and create and fail so that when you go out into the real world you’re strong, because it’s a highly competitive industry,” said Walton-Durban, who also owns Edgen Films, an independent film production company, with her husband, Justin Durban, and their associate, Leah Weinberger.
Walton-Durban said she believes students learn best by doing, and success in the entertainment industry requires ongoing training, refinement and practice.
Leander ISD after-school program
Course title: Lego Stop-Motion Animation Ages: kindergarten-fifth grade Number of classes: six Session 2 dates: Oct. 31-Dec. 16 from 2:55-4 p.m. (no classes Nov. 21-25 for Thanksgiving holiday) Deadline for enrollment: Oct. 25 Registration fee: $149
4Reelz School of Film
2851 Joe DiMaggio Blvd., Stes. 13 and 14, Round Rock 512-640-3831 www.4reelzschooloffilm.com Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (office hours), class times vary
