Nonprofit aims to encourage area filmmakers

When producer Janell Smith decided to create the Georgetown Film Society, she was looking for away to give back to the community and help the next generation of filmmakers, she said.

Smith, who got her start in the film industry as a stunt coordinator and martial arts choreographer, had already been working with Jim Fain, owner of A Premium Blend School of Performing Arts, located at 708 S. Austin Ave., Ste. 201, when the idea for the film society struck her.

"I thought there was something here that we could do on a regular basis that would help more people—not just from my stunt background, but from my producing background creating shows, getting a crew together, everything that goes into film, TV and media," she said. "I also found out that Southwestern University does not have a [radio, television and film] department. That shocked me."

Smith began talking with representatives at the Austin Film Society to determine how to move forward with her plans, and on Sept. 28, the group hosted the Georgetown Film Society's launch party.

Smith's goal is to create a nonprofit entity that could help area filmmakers by promoting their work and staying connected to others in the industry through networking opportunities, creating a film and music festival, and offering a film academy and internship opportunities for Southwestern students interested in film or television production.

"With a film society, that gave me the opportunity to open the door for interns, and developing a nonprofit would help set the stage for education so I could not only have the film society, but set up a film academy," Smith said, adding that The University of Texas' radio, television, film program offers students a variety of opportunities in the industry.

"I wanted to offer the same thing to Southwestern," she said.

In the next six to 12 months, Smith said she wants to build the GFS internship program to allow more students a chance to gain first-hand knowledge of the film and television industry.

"Hopefully I'll be the first in a really long line of interns who will get to take advantage of this organization," said GFS intern Riley Webb, a senior English major at Southwestern.

Along with interns, Smith hopes to create a film academy that would offer classes about various aspects of the film industry.

In working with the AFS, Smith said she hopes to set up a structure similar to the larger nonprofit with education and commerce being the primary focus.

"I want to help the community. In helping the community, it helps all of us. It helps me, it helps other filmmakers, it helps Texas," Smith said. "It helps drive business, and as a small-business owner, it's a win-win. It will create more business, which will help the economy."

The group will host a screening for the Texas Independent Film Network this fall and is currently accepting members.

Georgetown Film Society, www.georgetownfilmsociety.org