May 23, 2015
MARSHALL, Texas (5/19/15) - Do you know where "Hollywood South" is? If you ask the question to former Miss ETBU Kelly Mills she knows the answer. Mills has been working in "Hollywood South" which is the nickname given to the state of Louisiana after state offered financial incentives in 2002 lured movie makers to shoot their productions in the state. In 2014, the state of Louisiana was tops in film production edging out perennial leader California.
Mills graduated from East Texas Baptist University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications and Theatre Arts and was crowned the 51st Miss ETBU in 2007. She is the daughter of ETBU Professor of Computer Science Dr. Bill Mills.
"I am an independent contractor based in Shreveport," said Mills "Over the past five years I have worked on a large number of high and low budget films, television series and commercials in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Arkansas, Los Angeles and The Bahamas."
Mills has also worked as a professional stage hand in Shreveport with Stage Hand Union (I.A.T.S.E. local 298) as a carpenter, electrician and props hand. The Blue Man Group is just one performing act she has worked with.
From 2002-2012, the film making industry created over 14,000 jobs in Louisiana - half of the jobs were between 2010 and 2012, according to the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. The 2013 Feature Film Production Study from FilmL.A., shows 18 of the 108 films released that were produced by the major studios and the five biggest independents were shot in Louisiana.
What does the Marshall native do in the industry?
"Currently, I work in the Art Department, specifically in the Set Decoration Department. We do the research necessary to remain period correct on period films and decorate the sets as well," Mills said. For example, a scene of a movie set in the 1960?s would not have an actor answering a cell phone but a rotary phone sitting on a table or desk.
"What I do is very similar to interior design, except we have to keep the camera in mind as well as the general look to a set."
"A film crew is broken down into many departments that work hand in hand to produce a movie," explains Mills. "If one department is unable to perform its function, the entire crew comes to a standstill."
One of the recent productions Mills has worked is as a set dresser for the soon to be released movie about Hank Williams titled "I Saw The Light." She also worked as a set decoration coordinator on the current television series Salem. In 2013, she was a production assistant for the movie "Olympus Has Fallen" and was a grip on the set for the movie "God?s Not Dead" in 2014. "The Maze Runner" and "The Town that Dreaded Sundown" are two other movies she has worked on. She has been a crew member on reality TV shows "My Big Redneck Family" and "Duck Dynasty."
Mills has some advice for future ETBU graduates who would like work in the film or theater industry. "The best advice I can give is to stay humble. The jobs that you start out in are hard, exhausting and seemingly menial with extremely long hours. There is no job beneath you. Show a little initiative, pay attention to set safety and work hard," she said.
A contact by Mills to ETBU Dean of the School of Fine Arts Dr. Tom Webster led her to perform with the ETBU Choir in April at the Longview Symphony Orchestra Concert "Freedom Rings A Celebration of America" held at LeTourneau University. Dr. Webster was the guest conductor for the concert with choirs from both ETBU and Wiley College performing at the Belcher Center.
"I had contacted Dr. Webster and asked him to send a casting notice to the ETBU theater students for a short film I was producing in Shreveport," Mills said. "He invited me to be part of the choir for the performance which would consist of current ETBU choir members along with alumni and friends of the choir as well."
"Performing in Longview was a little nerve racking because I had not picked up sheet music since I was in high school," shared Mills about the experience. "My brother, David, was playing viola in the orchestra and lent a lot of moral support. It was an honor to be back on stage with my family and the ETBU alumni."
"Dr. Webster's encouragement during my time at ETBU was unrelenting, upbeat and inspiriting," remember time as a student. "He continues to keep track of my 'adventures' and lends a hand wherever he can."
While a student at ETBU Mills performed, built sets and served as a stage hand for many theatre productions. The experience gained as student has served as a stepping stone for her to work professionally doing the same.
The next time you watch a movie or television production shot in "Hollywood South" take the time to watch the credits at the end. You might see on the screen the name Kelly D. Mills listed as a grip, set designer, or even as an actress.