Aspiring filmmaker Garrison Clough already has one movie to his credit and while he hopes to pursue his passion professionally, he spent part of his summer helping others learn the art of filmmaking.

The Red Ledger’s Nathalie Kroll sat down with the senior to talk about his experiences as an intern at Kamp Hollywood.

The Red Ledger: What did you do this summer?

Clough: “This summer, I interned at a place called Movie Institute. Where I was formerly a student, I went there for seven years and that’s how I got into filmmaking.”

The Red Ledger:  When did you start finding an interest in filmmaking?

Clough: “In the sixth grade or the fifth grade, I went to a place called Kamp Hollywood wanting to be an actor. But then I was like, “Hmm… I think I want to direct.” So I started directing at Kamp Hollywood, which is through Movie Institute. And since then, they have gotten their own studio and everything. I’ve been keeping in contact with everyone and this summer I became an intern. And I basically taught these kids how to make movies.”

The Red Ledger: And what was that like?

Clough: “I liked seeing some of the kids – because I am too a nerdy film kid – and I saw myself in a lot of the younger nerdy film kids. And it was cool, because there were like three kids that came up to me and were like, “Hey I’ve watched all your stuff on Vimeo.” And it felt really cool because I always looked up to the interns when I was their age. So it was cool to come back and be what somebody else looked up to.”

The Red Ledger: How did those interns make an impact on you?

Clough: “My whole thing with film started because one of the interns showed me how cool film was. And its cool to show someone else the beauty of film.”

The Red Ledger: When you were younger you posted a lot of videos on YouTube with your friends…

Clough: “Yeah, I posted a lot of videos. It was a lot of embarrassing videos and I wish I would have saved them.”

The Red Ledger: Why’s that?

Clough: “Well, the first series I did in 2005, called ‘Newsman’ and I dressed up in a tiny superhero costume that was way too small and I ripped it every time I put it on. And I would run around my neighborhood and film myself with super powers. And then I would get on MovieMaker and I would add transitions. And then eventually, I would get into the storyline of it [laughs] and I would have my friends from school come and act in it. I even had a website and stuff that I posted my videos on.”

The Red Ledger: How did making those videos help create your new work?

A: “They were really the foundation for me making movies, I guess. Back then, it was easier to make stuff for myself. I would go and make a video and I wouldn’t care how many views it got or anything. I would just make it because I wanted to make a video. But now, its more that you have to make a film for a specific audience, you gotta make a film for a festival or something like that. Back then you had a lot more freedom to experiment. And everything I know now is kind of built off of each thing that I’ve made. You also kind of find your style when you’re running around as a little kid with a handheld SonyCam. Those were the days man!”

The Red Ledger: What do you plan on doing in the future?

A: “Well, Movie Institute told me I could use their studio whenever I want. I have a free production office for all of my new films. So yeah, in the future I’m wanting to direct a film called ‘The Chamber’ and I’m going to shoot fairly soon. And that will be the biggest movie I’ve ever tried to make. And then, after that, I want to go to Austin Community college for two years and live with my sister to save money. And then try and go to NYU or wherever life takes me at that point. Eventually I want to open up my own studio! I just want to make short films.”

The Red Ledger: Tell me about ‘The Chamber’.

Clough: “It’s about a girl and I’ve been writing this since freshman year, but it is about a girl who is born into something she doesn’t believe in and she tries to escape it. But she ends up, y’know getting bit in the rear end by it. That’s what the movie is about, about how you are not defined by the past or by something that has happened to you or something that you can’t control or losing someone. It’s about looking forward, always.”