By Sabrina Simms

NATCHEZ — Shantel Berry is not only a first-place winner in several film production contests, but she also is part of a group of students her teachers call the Hall of Famers.

Instructor Laveria Green said the Technology Student Association at Fallin Career and Technology Center is full of shining stars in the future Hall of Fame and calls Berry a leader among them.

Berry is a senior and is the drum major of the Natchez High School band. Berry said she has always loved music.

Berry discovered she could combine this love with her film assignments at Fallin and found a brand new passion, film editing.

“I actually thought (music) was going to be my passion, but it turned into film production,” Berry said. “Being behind the camera, editing the videos — I just love it.”

Berry said she found her love for film editing three years ago when she joined Green’s digital media technology class.

“I was in her class for two years,” Berry said. “(Green) was the one who actually told me that I had a gift for (film editing).”

Fallin instructor Mark LaFrancis said he met Berry in the spring of 2017 in Green’s class.

“(Berry) was a leader in the film team creating competition films for the Technology Students of America (TSA) regional and state competitions,” LaFrancis said.

“I worked with her and the team to advance their film production skills and to create the project concepts which they later turned into two separate films, both of which won first place in the district competition. … They placed second in the state, making them eligible for the national competition, but they did not go.”

Green said members of Berry’s team continued to create films for contests after they finished taking her class in their senior year.

Berry said she and her team — Markell White, Joshua Harvey, Morgan Banks, Kaneisha Jones and Zachary Barnes — won first place at the district TSA convention again this year with a film about making films.

Berry entered her project called “How We Reach Success” in the state PTA-sponsored Reflections contest in film production earlier this year.

Berry was given a list of raw clips and pictures to edit and create her own story to fit the theme of the contest and won first place.

Fallin director Daisy West said she is very impressed with the work her students have done.

“They work very hard and work detailed and in-depth with any projects that they do,” West said. “They get to show what they know, and they’re very passionate about it. (Berry) is an awesome student with amazing talent. If you give her any project, she is going to do it with a smile on her face.”

Berry said she plans to major in film production at the University of Southern Mississippi when she graduates from NHS. She is the daughter of DeTrica Berry.

Her instructors agree that she has the potential to succeed with her career choice given the success she has already shown and continues to show.

“Shantel is a terrific student and person,” LaFrancis said. “She is a true leader and is respected by other students and faculty. I am impressed with her film development and production skills, and I know that she could have a great career in film if she chooses. She has a marvelous ability to remain calm under pressure, as well as maintaining a high level of dedication to completing the projects.”

Green said she believes Berry will have a successful career with any major film company she chooses.

“In five years, I hope to see Shantel working in media,” Green said. “I expect to see her making a positive difference as an up-and-coming editor in a major film production company.”