Who We Are

The SCREENFX ACADEMY® executives, staff and faculty are all television, theater and filmmaking professionals with years of experience creating, performing, packaging and delivering entertainment, education and training to audiences and learners world-wide.

What We Do

SCREENFX ACADEMY® combines cutting edge technique with cutting edge technology, training students, from beginners to working professionals, both in acting and filmmaking. We provide a fun and exciting “immersive method of teaching”, through on-going classes, summer camps and workshops. Students learn to professionally create television shows, personalized movies and TV commercials, innovatively sharing them online with friends, families and industry professionals.

SCREENFX ACADEMY® helps its students to “get noticed” by exposing them to the production of a working television show aired weekly, beginning in the fall of 2012. This show, Behind the Screens, is produced and cast by the students themselves while working alongside television and filmmaking professionals. Behind the Screens provides a stepping stone to other productions and bigger opportunities, allowing the student to earn much-needed experience in order to compete in the highly competitive entertainment industry!

Career bound or not, study at SCREENFX ACADEMY® improves one’s self confidence, develops communication and creative thinking skills and has a lifetime of value.

Students of all ages have the opportunity to be involved in the Behind the Screens television show and to share their videos online with family and friends and with professionals in the industry through their very own personal website, hosted by SCREENFX ACADEMY®.

The SCREENFX ACADEMY® staff and faculty supports and encourages each student to reach deep within and learn who they are and what makes them unique. We strive to make great learners by teaching how to follow instruction, listen, communicate and adapt. Becoming successful with these and other behavioral skills allows students to flourish personally and professionally.

Why We Do It

At the core, our goal is to effectively realize opportunity for actors and filmmakers not otherwise available, as they learn first-hand the real expectations involved in television and movie production. We expect the best from our students as they experience the pressures of deadlines, the gratification of results and the disappointment of incomplete efforts. Our students are motivated not only by our faculty and staff but by the opportunity to boldly proclaim their dreams, perfect their skills and perform on screen.

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FOUNDERS

Carolyn Johnston

Over the past 30 years, entrepreneur, Carolyn Johnston, has created, developed and commercialized three "Concept to Completion" ventures, which included a feature length, direct-to-video movie, Dreams in the Attic® which she wrote and executive produced, starring Shelly Duvall, Mary McDonough, and Haley Duff. Her next project was a nationally syndicated television show, Teen Talk™, which she created, produced and syndicated to 182 markets coast to coast.

In addition to media ventures, Carolyn was a franchisee for over 25 years for a regional chain, which she grew from a single store location to 9 operating stores within a 5 year span. Her special blend of retail, media, and practical consumer product savvy has perfectly equipped her for her most important venture, SCREENFX ACADEMY®, where she will help "kids of all ages" live their very own "15 minutes of fame".

Mike Mooney

A seasoned media professional, Mike has served as head of operations for notable successful companies such as EWTN the Catholic Television Network, ACTS- now known as Family Net, Westcott Communications, Primedia Workplace Learning, Ninth House Network and CliniComp International. At Westcott Communications, Mike designed and guided the technology and operations of the company through hundreds of crew members which produced over 10,000 TV shows per year across 23 vertical market networks to millions of daily viewers.

The technology behind this large-scale digital television network, with tens of thousands of subscribers, later became the infrastructure backbone of DirecTV. More recently Mike has provided Broadcast Consulting services to companies such as WizetradeTV, SplashMedia and Prestonwood Baptist Church, each investing millions of dollars into new applications of high-definition digital media and software, creation and deployment.

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FACULTY

Eleese Lester

Eleese Lester owns and operates her acting school, Lone Star Actors Studio, in Houston, Texas, and has been coaching film, commercial and voiceover actors since 1989. She estimates that since 1989 she has worked with well over 3000 actors. Many are now working actors in Houston, New York and Los Angeles including Leven Rambin, teen star and two-time Emmy nominee of the daytime soap opera All My Children. Eleese has been a working actress for the past twenty-seven years with credits in both film and broadcast. She has worked opposite such stars as Dennis Hopper, Elizabeth Pena, Chuck Norris, Joshua Jackson, Jason Priestly, Mickey Rooney, Kyle Chandler and Adrian Pasdar.

She has performed in such films as Lone Star, named as one of the ten best films of 1998 by New Yorker magazine, under the direction of legendary director John Sayles. Her most recent appearance has been on the NBC hit show, Friday Night Lights and she is currently in production in the movie, The Book of Ruth, playing the role of Naomi. She has performed in hundreds of corporate training videos, national and local commercials and voiceovers for television and radio. Before starting her own school, she taught for over 16 years at the prestigious Houston School of Film and Theatre and served as its Executive Director for many tears.

In 1995, Ms Lester created Authentic Communication, authentic-communication.com, a unique media-coaching firm in which she applies acting principles and communication skills to help serve the business community. She has become a top Houston media coach working with corporations like Compaq (HP) and Conoco as well as coaching business and civic leaders such as Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, former Miss Texas and film actress, Nicole O'Brien and Dallas Fox TV news anchor, Krystle Kaliszewski.

Ms. Lester credits her success as an acting coach to a love for the vulnerability and courage of actors and a desire to give them the tools that she wished she had in the beginning of her career.

 

Ben Ryan

Ben Ryan has over twenty years experience with film, music and animation in the entertainment and advertising industries. He has worked with many top entertainers including Shania Twain, Collin Raye and Brooks & Dunn, as well as producing and directing television commercials for top companies such as McDonald's, Wells Fargo and Sara Lee. He has won many awards both in the Houston and New York Film Festivals and the coveted Nashville Addy and Parthenon Awards. As a Director, Ben specializes in capturing humor, heart, kids, and fun in high-energy settings.

 

Nicole Leigh

Nicole Leigh was born in Boulder, Colorado the eldest of four daughters. Her father is a watchmaker and mother an artist each contributing to Nicole's passion for the arts. Her father's unique profession lead Nicole and her family through worldwide moves in support of his career. Nicole now attributes her well-rounded knowledge of the arts to the wide range of cultural experiences she encountered at a young age. Throughout all the changes in her life, her passion for acting remained constant. Nicole now resides in Dallas, Texas with her two boys, Diego and Gabriel while pursuing excellence in her career. Nicole plays the supporting leading role in the 2012 Sony Pictures release of "Home Run," directed by David Boyd and Nicole may also be seen in the leading role of the soon to be released David Jetre film, "Shroud".

 

 

Kathryn Seay

Kathryn Seay has been an actor, director and teacher for over 20 years. Her teaching credits include Acting for Animators at the Art Institute of Dallas and for the animators on the film "Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius." Kathryn directed over 30 theatrical productions in Philadelphia, New York and Dallas and served as the script editor for the film "CRY." Kathryn has been a producer, talent coach and scriptwriter for numerous corporate videos and a full time video producer since 1998. Kathryn now serves as the Vice President of David Seay productions.

 

Melody Brooke

Melody Brooke was raised in the wings of a theatre as her mother directed plays for the local high school. Writing and acting out plays with her brother and sister became the platform for Melody’s later work as she went on to study Acting and Directing at the University of Oklahoma, later graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas. Melody's acting experience centers in film, television, commercial, voice over and industrial work. Melody also holds a degree from the Texas Woman’s University and practices as a Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. Melody is a published author of the books, “Cycles of the Heart: A way out of the egocentrism of everyday life”, “Oh, WOW This changes everything”, "The Landmines to Goldmines Play book for couples” and “The Oh WOW Healing Guide”. Melody and husband Mike Henricks are the founders of The D/FW Film Lab.

 

 

Todd Terry

Todd Terry, a native Dallasite, began his career in television, film and theater over 20 years ago. He has studied at The National Youth Theater of Great Britain, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco and Professional Actors Conservatory in Los Angeles. He has performed in theaters from Texas to Europe, including the Dallas Theater Center, Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, Jeanette Cochran Theater in London and the Alliance Theater in Holland. He has appeared in commercials for Cooper Tires, Showtime, Blockbuster, TXU, Service King, Brookshire's, American Airlines, Pepsi, Braum's and Regus Office Centers. He has worked in such films as Arlington Road, Fissure and Walking Tall II. In 2010, Todd completed filming the lead role in an independent film, Beyond the Farthest Star, with Renee O'Conner and Barry Corbin slated to be released in late 2011. Todd has co-starred in three network television movies of the week: Cadillac Jack and Ponder, In the Name of Love: A Texas Tragedy and The Year Without Santa Claus. He has co-starred or recurred on such shows as Breaking Bad, My Generation, Chase, Walker-Texas Ranger, Friday Night Lights, and Wishbone. He served as the President of the Dallas/Ft Worth branch of the Screen Actors Guild in 2001. Todd has been married for 14 years to his best friend, Anna, and has two boys, Austin, 13 and Conner, 7.

 

Vicki Hutson

Vicki Hutson has been in the industry for more than 25 years. Experience includes hosting talk radio, anchoring and reporting news for CBS and hundreds of radio and television commercials, both on camera and behind the microphone. She is the voice of American Airlines and often the recorded voice you love to hate when put on hold with your bank, hospital or utility company. Sorry about that one!

Other clients include Johnson and Johnson, Harley Davidson, IBM, Sprint, Burger King, Zig Ziglar, Alcon, the National Cosmetic Surgery Network, Electrolux, EDS, Texas Instruments, Pier One, Mary Kay, Grandy’s, Gordon’s Jewelers, Quaker Oats, Kraft BBQ, NASDAQ, IPad, Nokia, and the New York Stock Exchange.

Vicki specializes in live, interactive events, both on stage and in studio. She recently hosted a live televised worldwide business ethics event that featured Donald Trump, Suze Orman, Rudy Guiliani and Steven Covey. She has been a working actress, spokesperson, show host, and voice talent based in Dallas for long enough to know there’s room for everyone in this market and welcomes YOU to jump in too!

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PARTNERS

Locked Out Comedy

Locked OUT Comedy® is Dallas' premier improvisational comedy troupe that produces clean improv and sketch comedy through classes, workshops and shows. They are known state-wide for high energy, interactive formats that are clean, fast and fun live entertainment for all audiences, often quoted as "the only entertainment funny enough for bachelor parties and clean enough for youth groups". Many companies, such as Frito Lay, JC Penney and University of North Texas, continue to benefit from Improvisational learning concepts taught by Locked Out Comedy's seasoned professional Improvisers. Companies know that, anyone who faces an audience or looking to improve sales, motivate a crowd, or take negotiation skills to the next level, an improv class can help give you the tools to fear nothing on stage and in life.