CMU School of Drama


Thursday, April 13, 2017

In “Rehabilitation of the Hill,” Filmmaking is a Community Project

The 412 - April 2017: Pittsburgh has a history as a hotspot for film, from “Night of the Living Dead” in 1968 to “Fences” in 2016, and Pittsburghers delight when famed actors and actresses explore the Steel City while filming in the area. But for those who want to work behind the scenes, big films are often beyond their reach. Instead, filmmakers bring their own crews to Pittsburgh, depriving locals of the chance to work on a professional set.

1 comment:

Emma Reichard said...

Breaking out into the entertainment industry is hard. No one wants to hire unexperienced crews, and you can’t get experience unless you’re hired. It’s also true that working in the entertainment industry requires a certain amount of privilege. It difficult to make a living, the work is inconsistent, at least until you’ve gained experience and networked. This makes it hard for those of a less secure financial background to become a part of the industry. So this project is clearly needed, especially here in Pittsburgh where the entertainment positions are few and far between. Mentorship, practical experience, a big name credit, these could all shape someone’s career. And that opportunity is being provided to not only college aged students, but high school ones as well. It’s very important, and I don’t think the quality of a film has to suffer for it to be a teaching film. I admire the work of “Rehabilitation of the Hill” and I hope this encourages future filmmakers to adopt ‘teaching film’ mentalities as well.