On Friday, January 24th, Jenna Kanell visited the MFA Film program for a special screening of 2 of her short films, and a discussion on their experience both in-front-of and behind the camera.
Known for her acting and stunt work in film and television like the Terrifier (2016) franchise, WandaVision (2021), Renfield (2023), Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), among others, Kanell has also worked in freelance directing, producing, writing, and 1st assistant directing.
During the visit with MFA students, Kanell screened her first short film Bumblebees (2015), created as part of the 48-hour Disability Film Challenge and screened at over 30 festivals worldwide, followed by their upcoming short Spray Bottle (2025), set to premiere this year. The screenings featured a talk-back of the journey between the two projects, both in the logistics of production as well as the vision and goal behind the films.
After the screenings, the session opened up into a Q&A with students and alumni, where Kanell discussed the importance of gaining a well-rounded production experience as a writer or director, valuable insights from the SAG Acting side of filmmaking, and finding your voice as a creator and storyteller.
Photo by Yaruq Faisal