SCAD students share special moments with Mark Hamill, Spike Lee

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - In just a few short days, the curtains will close on the 28th annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival.

Students and Savannah film lovers will surely remember snapping photos with and grabbing autographs from their biggest inspirations.

It is a dream for many people to be in the same space as their celebrity idols, like Spike Lee and Mark Hamill.

Fortunately, both entertainment legends were in Hostess City this week to receive awards for their work at the festival. The cool thing about these award ceremonies is that Savannah College of Art and Design students get to participate in them.

Junior acting major Kaya Martinez-Heath presented Spike Lee with the Legend of Cinema Award Tuesday before the screening of his film “Highest 2 Lowest.”

Wednesday, SCAD senior Drake Aasen gave Mark Hamill the Lifetime Achievement Award prior to the showing of his movie, “The Life of Chuck.”

Martinez-Heath says she spent the week leading up to the moment preparing not only to meet Lee, but also to capture the filmmaker’s awe-inspiring career in her introduction speech.

Both award recipients spoke with the aspiring young actors one-on-one before and after their award ceremonies.

Martinez-Heath shares she got to connect with Lee about a few things--the main one being her working-relationship with his son, Jackson. The SCAD student currently interns at Jackson’s marketing agency, INDIGO212, which Spike was excited to learn.

“I think him being interested in who I was really stuck with me. I think that’s something like someone authentically wanting to know who you are even if like you’re not necessarily on their stature or level,” said Martinez-Heath. “Yeah, I really liked that, like just genuine people. He’s just a genuine person.”

The students were selected by school leaders for the special moment.

Aasen says it was an honor to be chosen. Hamill is not only one of his legends, but also his father’s. The two bonded over Star Wars, which is a fact that Aasen shared with the older actor when he met him.

The SCAD senior says that while Hamill is widely known for his role as Luke Skywalker, his career beyond the Star Wars franchise has been extraordinary. Despite his Hollywood status, Hamill was caring and down-to-earth.

“He takes time with you, and he listens, you know, to what you’re saying and offers his own insight. He offered, like, advice when I needed it, and it was really personal and really special,” said Aasen, SCAD acting major. “And God, he’s an actor, so he’s a great storyteller, but he’s a really remarkable like personal storyteller.”

Both students say they will never forget meeting the stars and presenting them with their respective awards, sharing that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity made possible by their journeys at SCAD.

The SCAD Savannah Film Festival runs through Nov. 1.

Stars like Oscar Isaac, Tessa Thompson and Dylan O’Brien are scheduled to walk the red carpet on Broughton Street in the coming days, as well as receive their own awards presented by more SCAD students.