By: Suri Mowji, Grade 9
At our last workshop of the school year, Amy Schatz spoke about her experiences in the film industry. As a movie director and eight time Emmy-winner, Schatz works hard to understand people’s stories which allows her to turn them into visual experiences. From documentaries to children’s films, Schatz is able to educate, engage, and inspire her audiences.
During the workshop, Schatz led an activity where girls designed opening scenes for their favorite stories. They thought about colors, themes, music, and more; then they turned their ideas into four different scenes. From the Lorax to Green Eggs And Ham, the girls created some opening scenes for movies that could definitely win some Emmys!
Not only does Amy Schatz have good storytelling skills, but she also has confidence. At the very beginning of her career she knocked on another director's door and asked for a job. She explained that she got to where she is today by persevering and taking risks.
Here are 3 takeaways from Amy Schatz’s talk:
“You don’t have to be loud and extroverted to be confident, being a listener is a powerful strength.”
Schatz found that being quiet and introverted is what helped her succeed in a career that required her to listen to other peoples’ stories.
“Even if you are doubting yourself and aren’t feeling confident, sometimes you just have to start and take risks to begin.”
“There is both power in overcoming insecurity and also facing the struggle and questioning yourself.