Kane Kettering, a creative force behind the camera and a 2023 Columbus State University communication graduate, has become a vibrant part of the local film scene since relocating to Columbus in 2016. Having honed his skills through the Georgia Film Academy’s program, Kettering has embraced the city not just for its educational opportunities but as a canvas for his film production endeavors, blending his passion for storytelling with the rich tapestry of experiences found in his new home.

“One day after a [Georgia Film Academy] class, I hung around and watched a bit of a video production class,” Kettering recalled. “I immediately realized the knowledge and access to the equipment I would need to learn to start making films were all localized in this department. I believe that day I registered for my first class at Columbus State, and I have never looked back since.”

Cutting-edge equipment and technology may have attracted Kettering to the program, but he quickly discovered that the Department of Communication faculty and the hands-on experience they would provide would become the secrets to his success.

“[They] were so important to the development of my career and academic grounding,” he said, citing specific contributions by current Communication faculty members Chris Robinson and Dr. Adam Bova, and former faculty member Dr. Bruce Getz. “They saw my passion and the degree to which I was willing to work to achieve my goal. I will always appreciate the time, effort and belief they had in me as a student and as a creative. [Without them], I would never be able to consider myself a filmmaker as I do today.”

When Kettering isn’t on location somewhere, juggling multiple film projects as the owner of a growing production company, he still dedicates time to improve his skills in the classroom while pursuing a master’s degree in communication.

“Truthfully, the reason I came back for the master’s program is that if you want to become a filmmaker or a content creator or a producer of anything at any level, you have to actually do those things before you are good at them,” he explained. “Having the opportunity to fail and learn why your project failed is infinitely more powerful than having some random success you are unable to recreate.”

Kettering pointed to his classroom assignments and the space his faculty mentors have provided him with to experiment and to fail. This safe space and guidance have fostered in him the confidence that he carries into his professional life.

“Having the freedom and support to fail constructively gave me the confidence I needed to begin making art in a meaningful way. […] it was the classes and the assignments that pushed me in ways that helped me grow,” he said. “It made me realize that, for creatives, your projects, reels and films will only be as good as you allow them to be. You will never find what those limits are or what they are not if you never take them to that point of failure.”

From intern to producer

Kettering’s confidence developed in the classroom helped transform an undergraduate screenwriting internship into his first film industry job, collaborating with local director and producer Ty Manns. During the summer of 2023, he traveled to Arkansas to serve as a production assistant on a film he contributed to writing. He soon advanced to manage the locations department. 

“That was kind of a real flip,” Kettering said. “My first film job, I was managing a department, and I was telling people what to do. And I would constantly be asking producers, ‘What do I do?’”

He described it as an incredible experience. Since then, he has returned to Columbus and has been creating local independent films through his production company, MetaModern Films.

One of these films was “Project Lazarus,” which received a $5,000 grant from the Columbus Local Filmmakers Grant Program in 2024. Kettering said that receiving this grant allowed his production team to film with a much larger budget than they were used to, which also helped them to establish the credibility needed to secure other funds for the project.

“The local community is so open and willing, and the arts community here is so strong, too, and prevalent,” Kettering added. “So, there’s just a want and desire for film to happen here.” 

The team spent roughly $8,000 in Muscogee County and hired a local crew, which was primarily Columbus State students. For Kettering, compensating people for their work carries real meaning.

“Being able to pay people, something like that, is empowering for them too,” he said. “It makes it a real thing, a real job, and it legitimizes everything everyone’s doing in a really cool way.”

“Project Lazarus” has elements of comedy, suspense and thriller, according to Kettering. It is set in Nowhere, Georgia, on Christmas Eve, where the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy are working as detectives to solve Santa Claus’ murder. 

The film had a very long post-production cycle because it featured all in-house music recorded by a local musician. Updates on the project will be posted to MetaModern Films’ Instagram accounts, including details on festival selections, nominations and wins.

Another film produced by the production company is “Everybody Eats!” The short film was released last year, and Kettering describes it as a “weird, experimental film” that doesn’t follow a coherent story, with about four lines of dialogue and surreal elements. The project is currently available on YouTube following its festival run, during which it received several awards and nominations across multiple categories.

“It’s horror in nature and not really funny at all,” Kettering added. “But it’s very interesting and cool.” 

Kettering says one benefit of doing projects in Columbus is the community’s support. Before moving to the area, he handled location management for various films in Atlanta, noting that factors such as traffic and business needs make filming in the capital city challenging.

“There’s a confluence of things here in Columbus that aren’t in other cities,” he added. “The beautiful locations and the buildings, the landscape. You have different sorts of environments. […] You have the country, you have the river, you have everything here.”

Another benefit to filmmaking in Columbus is that there’s money in the city, and people here are willing to put it toward films. He added that businesses are willing to help filmmakers and artists make things happen for their projects as well, and there’s a plethora of local talent available.

Kettering is currently working on his next project through MetaModern Films, which is slated to begin shooting sometime this May or June. He describes it as a futuristic, dystopian American society that’s post-government and primarily corporate-owned, set in Columbus.