West Fargo residents offer TV, film acting and production classes for kids
Fargo – Lynette Burgan and Jessica Wayne offer a little bit of the Hollywood experience in Fargo.
Burgan has a master’s degree in theater production from the University of North Dakota, but she’s pouring her energy into coaching kids in the art of film production and acting.
The two West Fargo residents have other jobs, but they are working to build the TV and film school into a permanent school for aspiring filmmakers and actors.
What do you do on daily basis?
Lynette Burgan: I guess I would call myself more of an acting coach or a director for lack of a better term.
In essence, we take the kids in and teach them how to act on film, produce film. Jessica is a filmmaker, so she teaches the kids how to …
Jessica Wayne: Run the camera, adjust the lighting, how to work the camera with the actors, editing, anything that’s sort of in the production aspect.
How did you get into film, and how do you find people who are interested in going into this field?
L.B.: I saw a need, I really did. I’ve been an acting coach and a director and a theater producer for a good 20 years. … When I moved back to Fargo I did a little bit of children’s theater. Children’s theater has always been my specialty. … Theater is kind of covered in this town, though, they got it.
We have such an active film industry, but it’s so behind the scenes and not for kids, so I really saw a need. … Kids want to be Hollywood stars, but here in Fargo they don’t have the opportunity to know what that’s like.
What’s the most rewarding part of getting to work with children?
L.B.: I think the most rewarding thing is watching the kids really gain self-confidence. We make it a really nurturing environment where it’s always OK to make mistakes.
J.W.: I think it’s an awesome feeling. I think the fact they are more tech savvy means you can focus more on the artistic part of things. You can focus more on angles and the lighting and work with the actors.
Kids today have a lot to do. How do they find time to do these film classes?
L.B.: A majority of it is during the school year, but we do have summer classes as well. Throughout the year we do offer classes at different times so the kids who are always busy during the week have classes they can take on weekends.
Are you hoping you will be able to expand this business?
L.B.: One of the long-term future solutions is to build a more permanent school. We’d like to have the ability to, on a regular basis, play with different genres. … I just want to be a big Hollywood studio here, having fun, teaching kids the ins and outs, because they’re not going to get it anywhere else.
Are there advantages to having a film production and acting school in a smaller market like Fargo?
J.W.: With us being smaller and in a smaller community compared to Hollywood or other areas like that, we have more one-on-one contact with them, more of a personal relationship.
L.B.: These are skills that businesses need, so a kid who has no intention of moving to Hollywood and becoming a star has skills that the digital age absolutely requires.
Have you had any kids that have gone on to film school or pursued film after your classes?
L.B.: I have had a number of kids get in commercials. The commercials are statewide or regional commercials.
When you see them, what’s your reaction?
L.B.: I brag. I’m like “Oh my God, that’s my kid!” I share them on Facebook, I go find them on YouTube, I’m totally a proud momma.
Info
To contact Lynette Burgan about class offerings, call (701) 412-1533, email theatertales@yahoo.com or visit http://theatertales.com to register for the classes.