The Savannah College of Art and Design is the university launchpad for a career in film and television. The opportunities for actual professional experience SCAD offers are second to none. From film sets to casting offices to production and costume design facilities, this is where someone with film and TV dreams can get their career started even before they graduate.
SCAD students have the unique opportunity to study abroad at the university’s Lacoste location in Provence, France. Students enrolled in the Spring Quarter documentary film class get the once in a lifetime experience to travel to the coast to attend the Cannes Film Festival where they network with film industry professionals, see highly anticipated films, learn on the ground with their professors, and are inspired to create their own unique content.
The festival experience allows them to picture themselves returning to the Croisette with their own films one day. Watch the video above and read more about each of their stories below.
Matison LeBlanc, 2023 Graduate
Summa Cum Laude
BFA in film and television, minor in dramatic writing
Since I left school, my number one priority has been to develop my first feature film called “Ada and the Doc.” It’s based on the untold true story of the first woman executed by the state of Louisiana. I made the short proof of concept as my senior project while I was at SCAD, and I’m really proud to say that it is screening three times while I’m here in Cannes, twice in the Palais with Film USA and then once here [at the American Pavilion] with the Emerging Filmmakers Showcase.
I actually went to SCAD as a painting major first. My background had only ever been in fine art, like David Lynch. He didn’t know he ever wanted to be a filmmaker until he did it. It was the same for me. I had been drawing and painting my whole life and then I got to SCAD and I took Film 100 on a whim and said to myself, “I’m never doing anything else ever again.” And so I took every film class. I had always been a writer, so I delved into the writing classes, learned how sets work, got on a set in any capacity from being a PA to being a special effects makeup artist. I got to work on “Fear the Walking Dead” while I was in Savannah. I got to work in the zombie department.
As far as the project itself [“Ada and the Doc”] goes, SCAD provided state of the art equipment. Not a lot of people can say they filmed their senior project on an Arri Alexa, so that was amazing. But probably the most invaluable thing from SCAD would have been the crew, the connections I made there because SCAD has a major for pretty much every art discipline around, so you have a built-in crew from costume designers to sound designers and more.
It means everything to be at Cannes, especially considering my internship placement with Lionsgate. I’ve been learning so much information that has really demystified the entire sales ecosystem for me. My team of SCAD producers are flying in today for the screening, and they all bought Marche passes, with our development funds for the future and so we’re going to go in there and try to sell this film!
Tess Nelson, Class of 2026
Third-year film and television major, with a minor in creative writing
I knew I wanted to be in film since 4th grade. I’d always been very involved in the arts. My parents were both theater actors. We watched a lot of movies and then when I was in 4th grade, I did a research project on Charlie Chaplin, and I just loved it so much I thought, this is all I want to do. I think I loved the heart. I think that’s very central in Charlie Chaplin films.
I knew that I wanted to tell stories and I knew that I wanted to tell the stories that I was impacted by, and so for a long time that was through both writing and directing. Because you fall so in love with the stories that you write, it breaks your heart to hand it off. Besides, I love working with the actors too, so that’s where I’m happiest.
I would say one of the greatest things about SCAD is the people that I’ve met there. I’ve made fantastic friends: Really, really talented, driven people with a love for storytelling, not just for the glamour of Hollywood. I have so many fantastic people that have helped me create works that I’m really proud of. And then of course, the professors are a great thing: Chris Donahue, Frank Green, and Christopher Millis have really supported me and helped me grow. They’re fantastic.
Cannes is one of the greatest film festivals in the world. It’s in a beautiful location. It’s terribly exciting. Probably all of my favorite films have done really well in Cannes. “Naked” by Mike Leigh did really well in Cannes. “Elephant” by Gus Van Sant did really well in Cannes. “Close” by Lucas Dhont did really well in Cannes. Every screening I go into could be the great thing that changes my life in some regard.
Layla Doyley, Class of 2026
Third year film and television major
What really made me want to go into film and television is just the opportunity to tell stories. I love telling stories visually in any way, and so I think film is such a great medium to do that. SCAD definitely has the resources that I need to be able to do so.
I first started telling stories through fashion. I started out as a fashion major at SCAD, and then transitioned into film once I realized how much I love to edit and be a director behind projects. Being able to use clothing to communicate different things to people, I saw how much I really love that aspect of fashion, and wanted to carry that into filmmaking.
I think what excites me the most about filmmaking is definitely the story development process, starting out with an inkling of an idea, and then getting to develop that into something that I think is mature and is more polished. It’s the brainstorming aspect, getting to collaborate with people, getting to talk through your idea and being able to start that project.
The most exciting thing that I’ve learned at SCAD is how to develop and create polished scripts, how to edit, and how to take feedback and take it well. It’s really valuable to be able to not be so defensive with your work, but actually take it back and edit it further and further and continue to get the feedback that you need.
I absolutely love Ava DuVernay and her work. I love watching what Spike Lee does as well. But I also really love this documentary called “Daughters.” I recently saw it at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. It really inspired me to go into the documentary filmmaking arena.
Cannes is such an opportunity. It’s such a unique chance to be able to connect with different people and talk with different people, have discussions and learn from people. I see myself as a sponge, and so everywhere that I go, I take things in and learn.
Ben Bostian, Class of 2026
Third-year film and television major, minor in acting
I grew up as a big 80s kid. I was a big lover of vintage things. I started just watching a ton, a ton of movies, and I fell in love with a local legend from where I’m from in New Jersey — Kevin Smith. He’s an indie legend. He said, “If you love movies so much, you should just make one.” I was in high school drifting about not knowing what to do, and I thought of that, and said to myself, “Oh, why don’t I just make a movie?” So that’s how I got into film.
I like how some directors are able to switch from genre to genre, like that, and, with each film, makes something very different while keeping their same style. My favorite of all time is Hal Ashby. Him and Robert Altman are my two ‘70s legends.
The best part about SCAD is the connections and how the professors go ground level with you. They have a lot of knowledge and experience, but they treat you as professionals. They treat your sets seriously, and they encourage you to be on as many sets as you can. I’m an acting minor as well — I’m getting a lot of experience with casting offices (SCAD has the only professional in-house casting office in higher education). I have always loved acting. I love films. So I came to SCAD because they have great programs for both.
Cannes is the greatest film festival in the world. But I also sleep outside to wait for tickets at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. And the biggest thing with the SCAD Film Festival is everything that does well there, and all my favorites there, all start at Cannes. I’m really just excited to be here and experience it. I saw “The Left-Handed Girl” this morning. Sean Baker is one of my favorites. He’s my hero, and he produced and edited the film, and it’s very much a Sean Baker film, but Taiwanese, and that was my favorite so far.
I’ve already made some connections here at Cannes, which is one of the most important things. Hopefully I’ll be back here someday with my own films.
Charlie Luther, Class of 2026
Film and television major, with focus on editing
When I was growing up, I was interested in the directorial and writing side, and I found I was taking any video I could find and editing it together. That slowly became something that I was good at, something that I had a niche for. Then I went to SCAD and fell in love with editing. Now I’ve worked on a bunch of student projects, editing and post production, and I really like having a leadership role in that.
The editor I admire is one that I just met at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival: Myron Kerstein, the editor of “Wicked” and “In the Heights” and all those musicals. Before I went to SCAD, I would say that the industry was very daunting to me and I wasn’t sure what steps to take. By learning that those steps are actually possible, SCAD has helped give me more opportunities and connection. I have also learned how to talk to people, how to establish connections and keep them for a long time. That’s probably the most valuable thing I’ve learned.
For me, being in Cannes means meeting people, making connections, experiencing new things. Whether that’s meeting a new connection or seeing a film that introduces a new idea I never thought of before, or realizing that my little niche group at SCAD is one part of a huge puzzle, and hopefully one day I can start putting that puzzle together myself.
Colleen Ryan, 2024 Graduate
BFA in film and television production, with minor in producing
I had the opportunity to go to Cannes this year as a recent alum of SCAD. Being here, I’m hoping to develop a better understanding of the way the business side and market of the film industry works. I heard that there’s a lot of really great opportunities to hear about that side of things, meet people in that world and develop a better understanding here at one of the biggest film markets.
I’m hoping to direct and produce in the long run. Currently, I’m hoping to just get more experience working on projects that are more mission driven, about causes and things that I care about and believe in, in whatever capacity is possible at this level. Being a student at SCAD, I was able to gain a lot of real world, hands-on experience that I don’t think I would have been able to get at any other university. It was very immersive in terms of learning through doing, rather than just in a classroom, and I think that was super valuable for someone like me that didn’t really know what they were going to do going into school. And so to be able to jump in head first, with the guidance of so many professors that are also working industry professionals, was a super helpful way to really develop an understanding of the filmmaking process, practically as well as conceptually.
I love Sean Baker, who won the Palme d’Or last year. Greta Gerwig as well, who I believe was on the board of deciding that last year. And one of my biggest inspirations is Emerald Fennell as well. I think just a really powerful female storyteller who branches outside of what the traditional female lens looks like.
I produced my film out of the country in Panama for my SCAD senior thesis, which was super special, because I really felt like SCAD had equipped me with the proper facilities to be able to execute something like that at such a young age with a team of other students. My most recent project was directing for SCAD their premier backlot film called “Take Two” that we are currently finishing up and hopefully about to enter into the festival circuit. But that film was the first film that SCAD sort of produced on their own through their new Hollywood style backlot. And it was a very exciting and cool opportunity to do a production on such a large scale as a student. We had stunts, professional actors. It’s a period piece and a time travel movie. It was very cool to be able to do that at SCAD as sort of my last thing before graduating.