The SCAD Savannah Film Festival had its opening ceremonies this past Saturday, Oct. 27. In attendance was John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Millicent Simmonds — just to name a few. The Connector had the chance to attend and meet a few of the stars who were receiving awards at the festival.
On Saturday, one of the bigger events was a screening of “A Quiet Place” (2018). After the screening, Krasinski, Blunt and Simmonds went on stage for a Q&A session. The cast told many stories about being on set. Krasinski also shared with the audience of the difficulties he encountered while directing.
That night, Krasinski was lined up for the Vanguard Award, and Blunt for the Icon Award. Before the ceremony, we spoke to them on the red carpet. As leading actress for “A Quiet Place,” Blunt explained how past performances have impacted her acting in the film. “I feel that they don’t necessarily impact who I’ve played. I think you try and play characters who are not similar to each other and so in some ways one doesn’t influence the other,” said Blunt. “But, it’s all a journey and so, you gain confidence as you go through this business and you learn so much about acting and what translates on film. What works, what doesn’t and I think through life experience is what has impacted other characters I play but not necessarily one character to the other.”
We also had a chance to ask Simmonds questions about her own performance and career. “I really want people to know that we are all one big family. That we need to support each other and inspire and support in difference and not just get the spotlight for yourself,” Simmonds says. “A lot of people are an inspiration for me too. My parents, brothers and sisters, John and Emily are huge. Everyone I’ve worked with is just amazing. The directors, authors, the writers, script makers, they really inspire me.”
Also on the red carpet that night was Elsie Fisher, the protagonist of “Eighth Grade” (2018). We asked her what her experience on the set of the film was like and what she hopes audiences take away after watching it. “My experience on ‘Eighth Grade’ was the best I’ve had on a set. I feel very lucky to work on a script that was so close to me, personally,” said Fisher. “I truly hope for people to take what they feel most. People have taken away so many different things from the film. They’ve related to Kayla, the dad or the mean girls. So, I mean, if you can take away anything, I think that’s the best thing.”
Gyllenhaal was also at the film festival for her new Netflix film, “The Kindergarten Teacher” (2018). Gyllenhaal not only played the lead role, but also produced it. She said,“I think the feeling a lot of women right now are having is waking up to the feeling that there is a cost and a consequence for having twisted ourselves into pretzels and bent over backwards for so long to fit ourselves into a culture that isn’t really designed for who we actually are. Which is really what ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’ is about.” Gyllenhaal was also awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Acting and Producing award that night.
Lastly, on the carpet was SCAD Alumna Kayli Carter. Carter received the SCAD 40 Prize — an award created for the school’s 40th birthday. The award is given to graduates who give all of themselves in their work. “I feel too young to have received an award. I love being here, though it’s any excuse to come back and to talk to students and to feel the energy of this festival,” said Carter.
“This is a business and that’s a big part of it. A lot of theater schools want you to focus entirely on the acting, but the truth is, you have to get the job first. That’s a such a big part of it and I feel SCAD prepared me for that more than any other place would have,” said Carter, regarding the performing arts program at SCAD. “They told me how to navigate this business without having to lose my mind and that served me very well.”