MISSOULA — FastCoast Productions started nine years ago in Hamilton, and is now offering weekly classes for high schoolers and adults.
Christian Ackerman is the founder, teaches media classes at Corvallis High School.
He decided to start FastCoast Film Academy, an offshoot of the production company, where high schoolers can take free classes and make full length movies.
Students learn all the necessary skills, from lighting, sound, acting and directing.
Sofia Frongillo, a student, said she loves how the program can lead to many outside opportunities.
The group has now made two movies, and is working on more.
The film "Scarlet" took four days to film and 10 months of post production. It was shown at the Pharaohplex Cinema in Corvallis.
Students said it’s a great feeling to see all their hard work finally on screen.
"Scarlet" is the first film the class made. It is available to watch on YouTube and will be on Amazon Prime soon.
Jacob Flowers is a student, and wants to be an actor or director after high school.
Flowers said, "it is a really cool process and something I am really happy to be a part of."
The group also works with other production companies and adult actors and producers.
John Nillis has a production company in Missoula, and makes the trip to teach the kids how to handle studio equipment.
Nillis said, "Christian is an amazing teacher because he brings the energy of a child with the experience of a vetern, and he combines the two and you can tell when you watch that the kids are having a good time and they are learning."
The second movie they made is in post production and will be available soon.
Ackerman said," seeing the kids create these skills that they can use outside of making movies, that is really what it is. The movie part is awesome, that is just icing on the cake it is those intangible things of those relationships we get, that purpose that we get."
Weekly classes for high schoolers start next month, every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Adult classes will be on Tuesdays, also from 5 to 8 p.m.
For more information you can go to their website here.
