In March we got an unexpected and unusual request from Swiss documentary filmmaker Richard Dindo. He needed a small boy to appear in a documentary about author and Knoxville native James Agee. While filming in Knoxville, Dindo wanted to shoot scenes depicting the young Agee in a piano lesson. Frank Graffeo agreed to meet the filmmaker to discuss his proposal.

After getting all the details, Frank asked Julie Carter, our director of music education, to identify a boy based on Dindo’s request. Valentyn, a young JoMS piano student of volunteer teacher Mary Beckley, fit the bill perfectly.

Fast forward to September: Dindo was back in Knoxville filming on location with costumes, makeup, lights, cameras and … action! Valentyn played, literally, his part and had a successful day of shooting, just like a Hollywood star. The production company compensated his family, and now we simply await the premiere. Stay tuned!

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