Set Teacher Interview Series: Michelle Bohlen
We’re thrilled to be continuing our Set Teacher Interview Series! After our conversations with set teachers Stacey Hirn, Margaret Cox, and Wissam Nasr, we’re thrilled to be introducing Michelle Bohlen, who has worked in Atlanta and internationally with On Location Education.
About Michelle: From the time she would play school at the chalkboard in her mother’s classroom, Michelle knew that she was going be a teacher. Trained in both the Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate programs, she taught French for 24 years and holds additional teaching certificates in Social Studies and ESOL. Believing that learning isn’t limited to the classroom, Michelle led student trips and exchange programs to France and Italy and shared with her students a love of different cultures and new experiences. She loved creating opportunities for students to learn French through using French and enjoyed the challenge of developing relevant and motivating lessons for her classes. As education tended to lean toward standardization, Michelle began looking for other ways to work creatively as a teacher. Set teaching has been exactly what Michelle had hoped to find!
Michelle became a studio teacher through a strange set of circumstances. In 2015, when she had the chance to be cast as an extra in a movie being filmed in Atlanta, she was fascinated to see what happens behind the scenes on a production. Later, when OLE reached out looking for a French teacher to work with a student coming to Atlanta for a television production, Michelle knew this would be the perfect opportunity to bring her love of teaching into an ever-changing, diverse environment. Since then, Michelle has earned her California (CA) Studio Teacher license and has worked with students on both international and local Atlanta projects in theater, television and film. Her best day is when a student gets excited about learning something new!
Before working with OLE, you spent many years teaching in schools. What has the adjustment been like to both a different environment and type of teaching?
Adjusting to a new approach to teaching has been one of the most interesting parts of working as a studio teacher. Because of my expertise in the subject matter and methodology, it’s easy to teach French – it’s familiar and comfortable. However, since I’ve been a studio teacher, I’ve taught students studying topics ranging from geometry, to constitutional law, to Chinese dynasties! Since these topics are not as familiar to me, I needed to change my approach to teaching. Now, teaching is less about being an expert in the subject matter and more about being an expert in learning. I teach how to ask the right questions, search for the necessary information, and apply it to the lesson at hand. I love the collaboration that comes from saying to a student, “This is a really interesting topic; how can we learn more about this? How can we find the answer to this question?”
What inspired you to become a CA Studio Teacher after years of teaching French on set?
When I decided to teach full-time on set, I wanted to be eligible for any opportunity that presented itself. Since CA minors can work only with a CA Studio Teacher, I knew I needed to earn this credential. I could, then, work with any young actors who come to work here in Georgia. But really, it was also a goal that I had set for myself, almost from my first introduction to teaching on set. When I first heard the term “California Studio Teacher”, I was unfamiliar with the title, but I noticed people referred to these teachers with the same respect afforded to “master” teachers. I knew that if California Studio Teachers represented the best, then that was something I would aspire to be. I’ve been fortunate in that the California Studio Teachers I’ve worked with really have lived up to that reputation – they have all been experts at their craft, and I’ve learned a lot from working with each one of them.
What does a typical day on set look like for you as a CA Studio Teacher? Is it a challenge balancing both the education of your students in the classroom and their welfare on the set?
This question makes me laugh because, from my experience, there isn’t any such thing as a typical day! Between filming, rehearsals, fittings and hair and makeup sessions, with school taking place in a myriad of locations, from a production office or a trailer on location, to a room just off of a set, in a historic home, an office building in the city, or a farmhouse in the country, every day is unique! I haven’t yet found it to be a challenge to balance the education and welfare of the students – to me, the two go hand in hand. It is occasionally challenging when there’s a tight production schedule, but I’ve learned how to protect the education and welfare of my students, while finding flexibility to work with production. For example, I worked on a project where two young actors played siblings. Our days were full with school and work; however, production also wanted to schedule “bonding time,” so that the acting coach could observe their interactions. We found a compromise in organizing PE for both students at the same time, meaning the kids could meet the school requirement for PE and have time to play together. It is very satisfying, when I can walk off location at the end of the day, knowing that I’ve been able to support both my students and the production.
What is the most rewarding part of being a CA studio teacher?
For me, the relationships have always been the best part about teaching; working as a CA Studio Teacher, that’s even more true. Because CA Studio Teachers are responsible for the welfare, as well as the education, of minors, we accompany them throughout their whole day on set, not just in the school room. I love collaborating with students in the classroom, watching them work on set and seeing them joke around with their friends and families. With so much time together, we get to know each other well, and it helps me to be a better teacher for them. I’ve also enjoyed the relationships with the “other adults in the room,” parents and colleagues alike. I’ve found it to be a very supportive environment, and I’m grateful to have met a lot of people that I’m honored to call friends.
What is the most unique job opportunity/experience you've had as a result of attaining your CA Studio Teacher license?
There have been some awesome experiences so far, but the most unique was my first full-time CA Studio Teacher job. Thanks to my background, I was hired to teach a talented young actor, who attends a French immersion school, while she was working in the UK. I enjoyed using French to teach not just literature and history, which I did every year with my IB classes, but also math and science. Negotiating the differences between a French school and an American school was fascinating - and challenging. Students can have up to 12 different classes, so that meant I was doing a LOT of prep every night! It was totally worth the effort though, and I got to spend my weekends exploring London. I worked with two other teachers, who were very supportive, and I learned so much from them. I have to say that I found one little detail to be the coolest part – the production I was working for was the same company who gave me my very first experience on set, years before.
We’re thrilled to have Michelle and our global community of teachers who are making education possible during this pandemic. Whether we’re sending teachers to sets around the world or setting them up for virtual learning, OLE remains committed to fostering high-quality academic experiences that are always customized for the specific needs of our students.
Are you in need of educational assistance or seeking new solutions for the fall? We’re here to help. On Location Education and The School for Young Performers are thrilled to mobilize our stellar roster of teachers like Michelle and offer the following virtual learning services:
ONLINE SUBJECT-SPECIFIC TUTORING (The online equivalent of “after-school tutoring”)
ONLINE CORE ACADEMIC TEACHING (Teacher guided “homeschooling”)
ONLINE ACADEMIC COACHING (Academic support and organizational guidance to aid your child’s studies)
FULL PRIVATE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (A customized private education through The School for Young Performers)
To learn more about these offerings and how we can help you and your family navigate the months ahead, visit our virtual learning offerings page.
We continue to wish you health and happiness throughout these difficult times.
-The team at On Location Education