Lights, Camera, Action! Max Melton stands behind the camera as Bowie and Akins High School students set the scene with their phenomenal acting and behind the scenes work. Max Does Film, the Youtube channel of Max Melton, a junior at Akins High School, is the platform where Max posts all of his incredible films. His journey through passion finding, film-making, and collaborative work is quite inspiring and opens doors for many students.
Melton thoroughly enjoys the beauty of storytelling and found it easiest to express his storytelling skills through film making.
“I’ve been inspired to make films by a constant drive to create and tell stories since I was six or seven years old.To my own ability, film is just one of the very best creative mediums to tell a story through,” Melton said. “’I’m passionate about films and filmmaking I think partially because, as a child, rather than pushing me toward sports or academics my parents decided I needed to be versed in as many aspects of pop culture as I could be. Filmmaking as a concept is such an astonishing culmination of so many art forms that, since I picked it up, I’ve never been able to put it down.”
Collaboration is a key to success and working with a diverse palate is extremely beneficial and amazing for resume building. Melton has made the creative decision to incorporate Bowie actors into his films.
“I decided to collaborate with Bowie studies because between STC and STS, Bowie theater kids have some great work ethics and even better ability,” Melton said. “I think, as a creative in a quickly diversifying creative climate, it is crucial to find ideas and solutions through collaboration.”
Typically, Melton recruits Bowie students to express their acting talents on camera. Some Bowie students including junior and Treasurer of the STC, Starlight Theatre Company, Adam Hart, sophomore and member of the STC Klaus Kuhlmann, and junior and Board Member of the STC Clover Campbell have taken a role in multiple films including “Tuned Out” and a current work in progress “What Happened The Summer of 2000”.
“I’ve been working on films with Max since December, most recently as an actor,” Campbell said. “In his most previous film “Tuned Out” I played a character named Harley who was one of the main friends of the film.”
Aidan Schexnaydre, the Vice President of the Starlight Theater Company, has taken a lead in the in-progress film “What Happened the Summer of 2000”.
“I play the part of Daniel, who is not only one of the main characters, but also the videographer of most of the film, since it’s found footage, and all filmed in a camcorder,” Schexnaydre said. “Daniel is very sentimental, and has his head stuck in the past, which, as seen in the film, is both his greatest strength and ultimate flaw.”
This is his first film and he has not only learned beneficial qualities but he has had a bundle of fun. He has taken the collaboration skills and film-acting techniques and can now apply those to his everyday life.
“My favorite part of acting on film is how realistic the acting feels. I love how intimate it feels to have a camera up in your face, it allows you to capture so many more raw emotions than other types of acting,” Schexnaydre said. “Collaboration is absolutely important when doing anything. You can’t produce a film by yourself. You need a crew, actors, directors, and so many others in order to get a well-produced final product.”
Although many Bowie students have acted in these films, Bowie students have also taken many other crucial parts in the film making process as well.
“My Akins peers usually fall into the behind the scenes roles because I’m more familiar and comfortable with their hands-on abilities,” Melton said. “Though, I’m currently creatively collaborating with Clover Campbell on my largest project ever and Klaus Kuhlmann has served several roles on set for me before such as boom mic operator and production assistant.”
Collaboration is important and was a key takeaway from this experience for both Bowie and Akins students but Melton believes that while the skill is important, having fun and building those relationships with his friends is the best part.
“To me, the journey and success are matters of constant pursuit. There is no finish line, even after a big win. More so, don’t stop when something doesn’t work. I’m going to be plagiarizing the final quote of one of Daphne’s films here, but Socrates said it best: “Falling down is not a failure; failure comes when you stay where you have fallen,” Melton said. “If we set our minds and wills to make something, people will see it and love it. To quote one of my favorite movies of all time: “people love what other people are passionate about.” That sentiment continues to ring true for me now.”
