A picture-perfect teenager from an affluent family, shockingly takes a teacher hostage in Director Tamika Miller’s thriller, Honor Student.
Miller’s film tells the story of a scholar at an elite Washington prep school, who takes matters into his own hands and seeks to teach America a lesson it will never forget after losing his twin brother in a mass shooting.
On December 10 after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Miller discussed the making of Honor Student during a Q&A moderated by DGA Secretary-Treasurer/Past President Paris Barclay (Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood).
During the conversation, Miller revealed how they tackled the difficulties that arose during the shoot because of the topics it explored.
“It was a tough shoot in some ways given the subject matter. But I was very mindful in creating a set that was supportive. I actually had a therapist on set with us. Not just for the cast, but also for the crew because the subject matter can be very triggering. So, if anyone wanted to break away in a private room and just have a conversation with the therapist, she was there.”
She also revealed how she opted to change the scripted ending.
“I don’t think in my storytelling I need to hit people over the head with what the expectation is in terms of the ending. I want us, I want the audience, to use our/their imagination. The ending is interesting because my co-writer, Joe Rechtman, leaned into showing carnage, more carnage. And I said, ‘No. That’s not necessary.’ We’re living in this ‘carnage,’ if you will. We see it all the time. It was important to me that Mrs. Hill didn’t win in the end and that we can use our imaginations as to what happens next.”
Honor Student is Miller’s theatrical feature debut. Her other directorial credits include the movies for television The Christmas Lottery, Back to the Goode Life and Sarang Song; and episodes of the series Quantum Leap, The Equalizer and Station 19. She joined the DGA in 2021.