Introducing…PMA STUDIOS, a new collaboration of students, faculty, staff and guest artists to write, produce and direct a professional movie production! We invite you to join us on this exciting journey to movie magic!
What is 1611: PMA Studios? PMA Studios is a production company, a class and an event. Led by three professionals of the field, Jeffrey Palmer (Producer, Director, Documentarian), Doorim Kim (Independent Filmmaker), and Carolyn Michelle Smith (Actor), students will develop, cast, and shoot a short film written by one of their peers. Along the way special guests will illuminate the inside of the studio system, from production to photography to post-production.
Students will focus on one aspect of the production but will gain knowledge of the entire process. We are looking for students interested in all aspects of movie making: Actors, Directors, Assistant Directors, Producers, Directors of Photography, Grip and Lighting, Sound, Set Design, Production Assistants, and Writers.
Important Information!
This class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5pm – 8pm, starting Wednesday, January 22nd and ending Wednesday March 26th. Film Production will happen the weekends of March 15th-16th and March 22nd-23rd. Students MUST commit to these times to participate.
PMA Studios Script Contest Winner
We are thrilled to announce the winner of the script contest!
Congratulations to Audrey Pinard '25, whose script titled "Milkshake Kiss" has been selected as the winning submission. The PMA Studios team is excited to begin production on this fantastic script in the Spring semester.
Stay tuned for updates as we bring "Milkshake Kiss" to the big screen!
Guest Lecture Series
PMA Studios presents three distinguished guest speakers who will share their invaluable expertise and industry insights. The students will have an exceptional opportunity to learn from leading professionals in the film industry.
Featured Speakers:
Becky Korman [Producing]
Ellie Foumbi [Acting for Camera]
Otto Piboon [Cinematography]
PMA Studios Film Screening
Friday, May 2, 5:00 pm, Kiplinger Theatre
Join us as we celebrate the premiere of Milkshake Kiss, the first film by PMA Studios! This exciting new collaboration brings together students, faculty, staff and guest artists to write, produce and direct a professional movie. Don't miss this special screening as we showcase their incredible work!
From empty space to movie magic! ✨🎬 Watch this amazing timelapse of our PMA Studios students and staff transforming the Flex Theatre at the Schwartz Center into a film set of a diner.
PMA 1611 PMA Studios Faculty Spotlight
Jeffrey Palmer is a PMA Associate Professor and an award-winning filmmaker and media artist. His first feature film, N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally on the PBS series, American Masters. In 2020, the film was nominated for an Emmy. He is currently working on his second feature film Ghosts and completing a project for the Barack Obama Foundation and the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Doorim Kim is a PMA Lecturer and works across various media, including film, video, and animation. Her films have been showcased at prestigious festivals like the Mise-en-scène Film Festival in Korea. As the director of TOFU Studio, Doorim focuses on the interplay of image and sound, creating works that invite introspection through symbolic imagery and rich soundscapes. Her debut feature film A Whale Who Drinks a Fishbowl highlights her storytelling vision.
Carolyn Michelle Smith is a PMA Visiting Lecturer, actress, and producer from Washington, DC. She stars in Paramount+’s The Chi and the upcoming season of HBO Max's And Just Like That. Her TV credits include Russian Doll, House of Cards, and Law & Order, with film roles in He’s Way More Famous Than You and Familiar Touch. As an educator, she co-directed Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab. As a founding member of Juilliard's Black Alumni Association, she advocates for diversity and empowerment within the arts.