Beyond the Camp: Conversations with Darryl Christmas Jr, and Nina Villani
A few weeks ago, we sat down with Emmy and Telly Award-Winning Producer, Director and Executive Director of Signify TV, Alahna Lark. Lark spoke about the Film In Action Camp:America Through the Lens.
As a follow-up, we were fortunate to connect with Director of Photography, Darryl Christmas Jr, and Writer and Producer Nina Villani. Both Christmas and Villani were featured experts at The Film in Action Camp: America Through the Lens.
Atlanta Film and TV: Now that the Film in Action Camp: America Through the Lens has ended, what would you say is the best thing about the experience?
Darryl Christmas Jr.: The best thing was being alongside the experts who are also very close friends who came out to pour into these kids! Community and relationships are everything to me and I expressed that this is the way we grow to the camp.
Nina Villani- At the end of the camp, I could see this glimmer of accomplishment in the students’ eyes. They were happy and grateful, but more than anything, they were walking away with confidence in their own abilities. To me, that was the most rewarding part of the experience.
Atlanta Film and TV: What surprised you the most about the students' creativity?
Nina Villani - In the film industry, the only thing that is certain is change. For beginners, I was really impressed by how quickly the students were able to take what they had learned, combine it with their own creativity, and adjust to the challenges that came their way. They were learning while actively making something, which is really what filmmaking is.
Atlanta Film and TV: Can you share a moment during the camp where you saw how meaningful the experience was?
Darryl Christmas Jr.: There was a moment when I spoke to Bianca and she told me how fulfilling it was to pour into and mentor a student named Zuri. Zuri resonated with the little girl inside Bianca that was once in Zuri’s shoes. Traveling with a supportive mother to build the craft of acting. All of this made me emotional.
Nina Villani: During our writing session, a mother mentioned that she and her daughter had traveled from Miami just to attend the camp. That really stayed with me because it made me realize how important an opportunity like this can be for these students.
Throughout the camp, I also recognized emotions in them that I’ve felt at different points in my career: fear of failing, self-doubt, wondering whether you’re capable of doing something. Instead of allowing them to get stuck in those feelings, all of us as leaders pushed them forward in our own ways.
Those are the kinds of moments that stay with a person. The next time they face something difficult on their own, hopefully they’ll remember, “I was afraid before, I pushed through it, and I succeeded.”
Atlanta Film and TV: What was it like introducing students to the technical side of filmmaking?
Darryl Christmas Jr.: Teaching the tech side of filmmaking was amazing! My favorite thing to do is to ask what their favorite movie is and then look up what camera was used. 99% of the time it’s an Arri and that's what we teach! The excitement on their faces when they realize they are using the same tools that created their favorite film is always a highlight.
Atlanta Film and TV: Do you see Abundance Content Studios continuing to serve as a space where emerging filmmakers can continue perfecting their craft. If so, how?
Darryl Christmas Jr. : Absolutely! We host Acting workshops for all ages. We will be having Screenings for the independent community and a space where dialogue can happen.
Atlanta Film and TV: As a storyteller, how did you help students take their ideas into something to life on screen?
Nina Villani: Ideas are easy; structure is hard. I wanted to give them the freedom to use their imaginations while also teaching them how to work collaboratively, how to structure a story, and how to use the tools they need to communicate that story professionally.
My goal wasn’t to tell them what their stories should be. It was to help give them the foundation to turn their own ideas into something they could actually bring to the screen.
Atlanta Film and TV: Can you share something you noticed about the stories students wanted to tell?
Nina Villani: I noticed that many of the students were drawn to stories that had some kind of deeper meaning or purpose. They were interested in social issues, climate concerns, culture, and giving visibility to people or communities that are often marginalized or overlooked.
That was exciting to see. They weren’t only interested in making something entertaining; many of them were already thinking about what they wanted their work to say and why it mattered.
Atlanta Film and TV: What is your hope for the students who attend the Film in Action Camp?
Darryl Christmas Jr. : Simply create, and for students to use their voice and creativity in a way that promotes positive ideas and action!
Nina Villani: I hope they continue pursuing their ambitions in the film industry. It isn’t an easy industry, and there is always a certain level of uncertainty that comes with it. But if they continue working on their craft, stay curious, and keep showing up for themselves, I believe they can build meaningful careers.
More than anything, I hope they leave knowing that they belong in these spaces and that their ideas are worth pursuing.
Stay connected with Atlanta Film and TV for more conversations with the movers and shakers shaping Atlanta’s entertainment industry.
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