Today we’d like to introduce you to Keilee Bentley.
Hi Keilee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For a time while I was at Palomar Community College, I had trouble deciding what I wanted to study. Eventually, I had a slow epiphany after watching two different documentaries about film: “The Story of Film: An Odyssey” and “This Film is Not Yet Rated.” Realizing my love for movies and going to the movie theater often led me to deciding to get a film degree.
I started at California State University, Fullerton, in the fall of 2016, aiming for a bachelor’s in cinema & television arts. I feel this is where my filmmaking career and experience really started. I was involved with CSUF’s film club, Film and Media Arts Association, and eventually was made Director of Membership Opportunities. During my time at CSUF, I was involved with at least seven short films: some were directed by USC students, some by CSUF students, and another was an independent short film. The amount of experience I had by the time I left CSUF allowed me to continue working with USC students on their short films, as well as working with Jennifer A Davis on our award-winning film “The Dinner Party.” I even got to PA on the set of Netflix’s popular baking show “Nailed It!” the summer right after I graduated.
I have always had a passion for producing, realizing quickly my leadership skills were best put to use as a producer. Throughout my time on sets, it dawned on me that one of the things I really loved about producing was helping others make their film a reality. My ultimate goal is to become a producer and help others develop their feature films, from the very beginning of the development process to the very end, winning awards!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road. I moved to Los Angeles right after graduation but was not always able to keep a steady job that paid well. I worked at a virtual reality store full-time and on a beignet truck on my days off. The VR job started to really wear me out, so I left without having anything else lined up. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find another full-time job and had to move back in with my parents in San Diego County in Feb. 2020- exactly one month before the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world. Looking back now, I would say moving back in with my parents was a blessing in disguise. I knew there was no way I would have been able to stay in Los Angeles by myself during the pandemic, living off of unemployment and stimulus checks. I was able to move back to Los Angeles in Oct. 2021 and found a job right away, working as a talent coordinator at Ken Lindner and Associates. It can be tough to be patient, but sometimes it’s worth it in the end. You have to keep goals in mind and find ways to work hard in order to achieve those goals.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as a producer, and I love it… As a producer, my job is to help through all stages of production on a film. In pre-production, I bring together a crew, help with the casting process, create schedules and any paperwork necessary, breakdown the script, and help with anything else that may be needed in order to bring everything together by the time we start shooting. Many times, I have had friends reach out to me when it comes to needing to put together a crew to help film or simply ask for advice. I love the fact that I am able to be there to help put together any missing puzzle pieces or even just offer advice about the kind of paperwork that may be needed.
I am most proud of the recent short I did with my friend, Jennifer A Davis, called “Cemetery Games.” In a short amount of time, we were able to assemble together a crew, a cast, and an amazing location that served all our needs. It was the first time I did not have to pull double duty as a producer and a first assistant director. The pre-production process went so smoothly, as well as filming. There were many times when I sat at my desk or was on set, and I almost felt useless! Everyone on the crew was getting their work done, so all I had to do was take a seat back and simply supervise. It was a great feeling knowing we put together an amazing team where everyone could trust each other.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to keep producing, and keep producing, and keep producing! I am in the process of writing my own scripts and would love to direct those scripts as well. It may take a while for me to get there (directing my own films), but as I mentioned before, patience can really pay off in the long run. In the meantime, I can keep writing and save up the money needed to film. I also plan on learning more about marketing for social media, learning how to fundraise, and maybe take another class in film development and marketing.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://kbentleyca.wixsite.com/canary-wings
- Instagram: @canarywings
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keilee-bentley-ca/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8214920/
Image Credits
Elise Medelez
Jennifer A Davis
Erin Serfass
