Today we’d like to introduce you to Matison LeBlanc.
Hi Matison, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a self-made creative professional who prides herself on the ability to adapt, overcome, and take initiative. I recently became a first-generation college graduate from the Savannah College of Art and Design, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Film and Television and a minor in Dramatic Writing. I was born and raised in the small town of Morgan City, Louisiana, but I am currently based in Atlanta, Georgia.
I actually began my journey at SCAD with the intention of majoring in painting. I had only ever dabbled in the fine arts up until that point, but during my second quarter as a freshman, I decided to take a film class on a whim, and it changed my life forever. I fell in love with the art of filmmaking and the beauty of so many different creative professionals coming together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. During my time at SCAD, I had the absolute privilege to be able to write, direct, and produce six different projects, including both short films, proofs-of-concept, and commercials, receiving accolades from various festivals and competitions, such as “best female director,” “best horror screenplay,” and “best student film.” As a lifelong horror fanatic and freelance special effects makeup artist of over six years, I also had the amazing opportunity to be a part of the SFX makeup department for the filming of Season 8 of Fear the Walking Dead during my senior year.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to get to where I am has not been an easy one. I come from a lower-income household in really small town with limited opportunities for the arts. I knew that if I wanted to pursue my creative passions, I would have to eat, sleep, and breathe my work, so that’s exactly what I did. I’ve luckily always been a very self-motivated go-getter. I graduated top of my class from Morgan City High School, where I was involved in over ten clubs and organizations, holding office in at least half of them. I was also awarded the honor of being named the St. Mary Parish Student of the Year during my senior year. I managed to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design after being awarded quite a few scholarships that enabled me to do so, but I really owe everything to the hard work and unwavering support of my parents. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA and the honor to be able to call myself a first-generation college graduate.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’d like to consider myself a jack of all trades, but my primary career focus is in writing, directing, and producing for film and television. Beyond that, I still dabble in commissioned fine art and freelance HMU work from time to time. I also have experience as a content creator from when I worked under contract for Facebook back in 2021, creating reels.
My biggest project to date has undoubtedly been my senior thesis film. “Ada and the Doc” a historical fiction dark drama with a Southern gothic aesthetic: “In 1927 southern Louisiana, subversive housewife Ada LeBoeuf is put on trial alongside her alleged lover for the grisly murder of her husband in one of the most explosive sex-murder trials ever reported.” It’s a 15-minute proof-of-concept film for a feature I wrote based on the true story of a murder scandal that took place in my hometown that has been all but lost amongst the history books. This scandal led Ada Bonner LeBoeuf to be the first woman to be executed by the state in 1929.
We filmed over the course of a year in two different states (LA and GA), bringing a crew of over 30 SCAD students back to my hometown with me to film in the exact places this story took place in almost a century ago. We have recently completed post-production and are fundraising for distribution of the project to get it into the festival circuit and hopefully get it picked up to be turned into the feature film that this enticing story deserves to be told! Although it happened nearly a century ago, this story contains themes that are unfortunately still very relevant today, such as women’s role in society, a critique of the death penalty and our justice system, political corruption, the hypocrisy of the conservative South, and how small town gossip can kill.
If you’re interested in learning more about the project or following our journey, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook @AdaandtheDoc. Me and my team were recently given the honor of being interviewed by SCAD’s Visual Media team for a piece they are creating on an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. On September 20th, we are holding a local premiere and fundraiser in my hometown for the film, which includes a jambalaya dinner, a screening of the project, and a Q&A with the cast and crew.
As far as what sets me and my work apart from others, I’m very passionate about telling local stories by local artists, which is why most of the film was shot on location in Morgan City with Louisiana-based actors to ensure the project would be infused with the local flavor it so desperately needed to be told authentically. I want to create worlds that people can get lost in, and I want to tell stories that matter. As an artist, the number one goal is to make people feel something, and I can think of no better way to achieve this goal than through the immersive art of filmmaking. As a passionate and motivated professional, I’m constantly striving to improve my techniques, expand my skillset, and find new opportunities to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.matisonleblanc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mxttie_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matisonsmakeupandart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matison-leblanc-7931821b8/
Image Credits
BTS – “Godsend” and “Dirty Laundry” – Photographed by Anthony Pedroza BTS – “Ada and the Doc” and “Doppelgänger” – Photographed by Wyatt Junnila
