As a director, Kilgore filmmaker Chip Hale has been working with actors of all kinds for 21 years. With more indie film projects developing here and in nearby communities, the executive director of REEL East Texas is looking to cultivate a local talent pool of actors who are ready to step in front of the lens.
There are plenty of great actors already in the vicinity, Hale adds, but the bulk of them are trained for the stage. He’s hoping REEL’s upcoming ‘Acting on Camera Workshop’ will help the thespians hone their chops for cinema come July 26.
“Essentially, a lot of the actors who I have worked with in East Texas specifically have a lot of theater background,” he said. “That’s a fantastic foundation for your career, but there are subtle differences between acting on stage and acting in front of a camera.
“The REEL East Texas Board felt this was a great way to help local actors expand their experience.”
The event’s divided into two sections, a four-hour morning block for high school and college actors from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. session for adult performers.
“As REEL East Texas continues to delve into making films ourselves, producing local film projects, we need a roster of actors,” Hale said. The Kilgore-based nonprofit was fortunate to find an excellent crop of local and visiting actors for its first short film, 2023’s Through the Ghost, and more scripts are waiting for the right players. “Right now, we have three screenplays in pre-production. When the time presents itself and REEL has the means to make those films, we are going to need actors.”
An active list of local talent primed for film also means other productions can call on REEL for casting opportunities.
“One of our pillars as a festival is to build a filmmaking community in East Texas. What better way than to make movies ourselves? And, we’re going to need actors who are local,” Hale said. “This is a way of developing that relationship between REEL East Texas and thespians.
“Even if you have no acting experience at all, you should still come to this acting workshop.”
The upcoming workshop costs $100 per participant, helping fund REEL’s ongoing efforts in East Texas. Both sessions will be set in the Texan Theater at 201 S. Kilgore St.For more information, visit REELeasttexas.com. Sign-up with an email to Hale via director@reeleasttexas.com.
