The AR Martin Luther King Commission, a division of the Arkansas Department of Education, in conjunction with the Theatre Arts Department at Sylvan Hills High School held a Non-Violence Youth Summit and Film Festival in the Performing Arts Center Thursday, Sept. 7 from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The Commission welcomed Romeo Miller: a rapper, actor, and television personality who played in Madea’s Witness Protection, Jumping the Broom, Growing Up Hip Hop, along with several other films. He talked about his experience as a youth and how working in film affected him. He encouraged scholars to pursue their dreams, and “[i]f you feel passionate about it, go for it!”
Romeo Miller’s perspective as a child in the acting industry pointed out that it takes a special type of kid to be able to work amongst adults. Romeo made points about how being a child in the film industry is equivalent to being a baby cheetah in the wild without a parent.
Several students attended the event, including students from other PCSSD schools. The Sylvan Hills Kizazi Performance Group sang the National Anthem at the event and other student leaders shared the 6 principles of nonviolence. Workshops included:
- The Anatomy of a Film Shoot – See a scene filmed on stage! (Ato Camara Kenyatta, Tiffany Vineyard, Christian Caballero, Matt Molden, Terreon Cole)
- The Crew – Learn about the crew positions for a film. (Jackie Richardson, Jr.)
- Storytelling – Learn how film stories are created. (DeAndre Lewis)
- The Actor – Learn how actors prepare for roles on film. (Char Dupins)
Keynote Speaker and Panel Discussion included:
- Romeo Miller – Actor, Producer, Entertainer
- SeJames Humphrey – Actor, Filmmaker
- Lisa Mayers – Actress
Ato Camara Kenyatta – Writer, Producer, Filmmaker
Twelfth grader Zeke Taylor, who attended the event, had this to say: “[t]he youth summit was very informative for me, and I learned a lot about production and filming movies and television series. I enjoyed the experience and felt as though it left a great impression on me.”
