Oscar winner lends guidance to students

Academy Award winner Cecilia Hall has taken on the task of overseeing the production of Michael Reyes' "Hard Press" as part of the "Emerging American Voices" showcase taking place in the Haugh Performing Arts Center Nov. 8-10.

Hall grew up in St. Louis, Mo. where she majored in art history but had friends who attended a film school and had a interest in film editing.

She moved to California and attended California State University of Long Beach for a semester.

Hall then enrolled at Washington University before she moved to London where she took classes at the University of London.

Although she never graduated or earned a degree, Hall attributes what she knows to taking any job she could get, despite not having a formal film instruction.

In 1978, Hall began working at Paramount Pictures and became the vice president of post production sound, working on films such as: "Top Gun," "Terms of Endearment," and the first three "Star Trek" films.

Later, in 1987, Hall was the first woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for best sound effects editing for her work in "Top Gun."

In 1991, she was nominated again for best sound effects editing, for her work in "The Hunt for Red October," and won the Oscar.

"The highlight of that whole experience was really that my mom, who is still with me, was there both times," Hall said.

Hall said her mother, who is a fan of foreign films, is her biggest inspiration.

"She was always a very independent, successful, single working mom," Hall said.

"She is the ultimate ‘Jill of All Trades.'"

Most recently, over a glass of wine, Hall was asked by professors Neil Weiss and Cherie Brown to be part of the "Emerging American Voices" production at Citrus.

"This was a new experience for me. Even though I've been in film for years, doing something on the stage was something new and I've learned so much from it," Hall said.

"The kinds of stuff they are doing here and the projects that they're developing for the kids is really like graduate school.  I don't think there is anything like this at an undergraduate program."

The students have taken well to Hall, who is not an instructor at Citrus.

Brown, director of the Citrus College theater arts program, said, "It's terrific for the students to work with a professional."

"They are able to see the next step after Citrus," she said.

Andrew Cano, 18, who plays "Flaco" in "Hard Press," said it's fun working with Hall who "knows what she wants and gives directions by demonstrating it herself."

"It's very good to get a different perspective from the directions that our teachers usually give us, because she has worked on different projects," Cano said.

Hall's advice to students is that it is "important to have a rounded education so you experience life."

"Have values that you have developed so you can decide what to do with your life and how to move forward."