In this episode of The Student Storyline, we sit down with Indigo Lovett, a Savannah Technical College graduate whose journey from a production assistant student to working on major film projects is a story of determination, creativity, opportunity, and turning a lifelong passion into a career. Indigo studied through the Savannah Film Academy, completing the Production Assistant program and gaining hands-on experience in areas including production, scriptwriting, locations, casting, food styling, gripping and gaffing, lighting, and production design. For Indigo, Savannah Tech provided the foundation she needed to begin navigating the film industry. With guidance from her instructor, John Grace, she learned not only the technical skills needed on a set, but also how to find opportunities and build relationships within Georgia's film community. After completing the program, Indigo used resources such as ProductionHub and industry networking opportunities to find her first major paid production. Her willingness to take on different responsibilities helped her quickly move beyond the traditional production assistant role and into assistant directing. Indigo also gained experience through internships and spec projects, including a Tiffany & Co. spec ad, where she worked in production design. The project allowed her to use skills she had developed outside of the classroom, including an eye for styling, set design, lighting, and creating the visual details that bring a production together. Her advice to anyone trying to break into the film industry is to be willing to start at the bottom and take advantage of opportunities as they come. Indigo emphasizes the importance of following industry resources, connecting with organizations and film communities, and being willing to work in different roles—including production assistant, talent, crafty, and other entry-level positions—to build experience and relationships. She went on to work on the feature film Holy Ghost, a thriller filmed in the Augusta and Lincolnton areas. Indigo assisted with casting and hiring talent and crew while also taking on responsibilities that allowed her to put her Savannah Tech training into practice. The experience taught her valuable lessons about leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and what it takes to keep a production moving. Indigo also helped bring additional Savannah-area talent and crew into the production, including SCAD students and other local professionals. When production challenges arose, she relied on her network and the connections she had developed through Savannah's creative community to help find solutions. One of Indigo's biggest challenges came before she ever entered the industry. When she began her Savannah Tech program, she had a six-month-old baby and was balancing school with motherhood. She traveled from Hinesville to Savannah for evening classes, often attending from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., while also managing her responsibilities at home. There were times when she wasn't sure she could make it to class, but with support from her instructor and determination to finish what she started, Indigo completed the program, earning her certificates as well as her OSHA certification. For Indigo, the hands-on nature of Savannah Tech's training was an important part of preparing for the real world. She says students gain practical experience with equipment, lighting, camera work, script formatting, protecting talent, and the many responsibilities that come with working on a production set. Today, Indigo is taking her filmmaking journey even further. She is writing a screenplay inspired by two of Flannery O'Connor's short stories, with plans to combine them into one film. Drawing on her love of Southern Gothic storytelling, she hopes to film much of the project in the Statesboro area and bring the story's settings and time periods to life on screen. Indigo plans to be involved throughout the entire production process, from writing and directing to working with the cast and crew. One of her biggest goals is to secure enough funding to properly compensate everyone involved and create the film she sees in her imagination rather than settling for a version that feels incomplete. Her advice to aspiring filmmakers is simple: start at the bottom, stay in your lane, work hard, and make sure people remember you for the right reasons. Every opportunity can become another step toward the career you want. Looking back, Indigo says Savannah Tech gave her something she had wanted for much of her life. She had always written and created poetry, but she never expected that taking a production assistant class would open the door to a career in film and give her the opportunity to turn her hobby into a profession. For Indigo, the journey is still being written—and her goal is to keep putting that passion on screen. Start Your Next Chapter Are you ready to launch a new career or take your current skills to the next level? Your success story starts in Savannah Tech's classrooms and labs. Apply to Savannah Tech today: savannahtech.edu/apply Share Your Storyline Are you a Savannah Tech alum who has navigated a major pivot, overcome an obstacle, or launched an incredible career? We want to feature your journey! Pitch your story to be a guest: savannahtech.edu/student-storyline-podcast Connect with Savannah Technical College: Facebook: facebook.com/SavannahTech Instagram: instagram.com/savannatech LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/savannahtech Website: savannahtech.edu Podcast Production: deedanielsmedia.com Episode-Specific Links: Featured Student: Indigo Lovett Featured Program: Savannah Film Academy Program of Study: Production Assistant FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:36 Meet Indigo Lovett 01:06 Breaking Into Film 02:00 Skills Learned Fast 03:34 Spec Ads And Design 05:18 Finding Gigs And Networking 07:06 Big Project Holy Ghost 10:17 Balancing School And Motherhood 11:48 Why Start At Savannah Tech 14:02 New Script And Southern Gothic 16:32 Funding And Creative Vision 18:05 Climbing The Ladder Advice 19:08 Final Reflections And Wrap Up 20:43 Subscribe And Next Steps