Featured photo courtesy of Mykaela Walker
Story by Daniel Sheehan
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When it comes to movies, Mykaela Walker disagrees with the idea that being “good” is a necessary pre-qualifier for one’s favorites. Some of her favorite movies, she admits, are not “good.” They don’t feature profound writing or revolutionary technical achievements. Still, she has a personal connection to them and that’s enough for her.
Walker learned that her opinion was unpopular when she got into Middle Tennessee State University’s film program. Classmates teased her for liking movies that they deemed corny, namely 2013’s “Kill Your Darlings.” When her taste was called into question, Walker stood her ground.
“Having any sort of superiority complex about film is so stupid,” Walker said. “If a movie affects you in any way, that’s all that matters.”
Despite her defense of subpar filmmaking, Walker exhibits technical and artistic expertise in her own work. She recently directed an arthouse short titled “Solace,” MTSU Film Guild’s submission for the 54 Film Fest. The film was nominated for 21 awards and won for Best Student VFX and Best Student Sound Design. The strict time constraints of the festival prompted Walker – and her crew – to work harder than ever before.
Competitors have 54 hours to make an entirely original short film based on prompts given by the festival’s organizers. For “Solace,” the Film Guild was tasked with making an art film that included a ball and the line of dialogue “I wish you were here.” After the writing team completed the script at 11 p.m. on the first night, Walker created a shot list and schedule with director of photography John Pardue. Eight hours later, Walker was on set to start shooting.
“It might not always be fun in the moment,” Walker said. “But when you look back on it, you’re proud of it.”
The dark mood of the film marks a pattern for Walker’s body of work. “Consume,” her first effort as a director, uses cannibalism to examine gender roles. While these movies adhere to the conventions of genre, Walker does not see herself as a horror director. However, she thinks that the genre allows beginner filmmakers to create quality work without extensive resources.
“Even if you’re working with inexperienced actors, they can scream,” Walker said. “They can get covered in blood and look scary. It’s a lot more accessible to make a low-budget horror movie than an action or drama.”
Students in MTSU’s film program often serve as the cast and crew for one another’s project. But there’s one role that Walker refuses to play: an actor. She’s infinitely more comfortable behind the camera. She got her start on the technical side of filmmaking in her high school AV club in Mt. Juliet, producing student news segments. Even back then, she had no interest in acting for a camera or on a stage.
Walker admires actors for their ability to conjure emotions on the spot, but she recognizes that her strengths lie elsewhere. As a director, her main responsibility is working directly with actors to make them comfortable. She does this by curating moods and relationships on set. Knowing how to work as part of a team is a key part of being a leader.
Before “Solace,” directing someone else’s script was uncharted territory for Walker. She’s accustomed to connecting to her own characters, rather than working in service of someone else’s idea. This was a major hurdle for her when shooting the short. She made last minute cuts and revisions, an intimidating choice considering the time crunch.
“I liked the story, but we had to get rid of an entire subplot,” Walker said. “It was a very challenging decision.”
The best part of working on extracurricular projects, such as the 54 Film Fest, is that the people who sign up are typically the most passionate, Walker said. While many students are part of MTSU’s film department, Walker often finds herself working with the same group of people. She believes that those who care about the craft more than course credit are always searching for outside opportunities.
While MTSU has provided a close network of crew members, Walker expressed disappointment in the program itself. She believes that film production is a low priority for the university, with most of MTSU’s attention and resources going toward the recording industry and aerospace programs. She wishes that there were more collaborations between departments that utilize their different skill sets to create the best possible final products.
Passionate professors, however, make a world of difference. Professor Edward Bowen, who teaches a variety of courses in the program, is the “gem of the film department,” Walker said. She believes that instructors like Bowen have the power to change the environment of the department and create a space that prepares students for life after graduation.
Walker is still uncertain of what that will look like for herself. She’s hoping to use the technical skills she’s learned at MTSU to get a job as a production coordinator, while making her own films in her free time.
To contact Lifestyles Editor Destiny Mizell and Assistant Lifestyles Editor Shamani Salahuddin, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com. For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, or follow us on Instagram at MTSUSidelines or on X at @MTSUSidelines.
