NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans native and Emmy-winning filmmaker Jay Duplass will return home on Saturday, May 30, from 1 – 4 p.m. to lead a free, community-wide filmmaking masterclass hosted by the Full Armor Conservatory.
Created by writer/director/producers Frank Monteleone and Kathleen Monteleone – founders of Full Armor Studios – the Conservatory is a bold initiative designed to bring world-class film education directly to Louisiana artists, free of charge.
The afternoon will begin with an intimate, guided conversation with Duplass, followed by a live, on-stage masterclass where he will workshop projects and questions from 3–5 local filmmakers, offering direct, unfiltered insight into the creative process.
For Duplass – whose work has helped define modern independent filmmaking – the event represents more than a workshop; it’s a return to the community that shaped his voice.
“Growing up in New Orleans has had a huge impact on my creativity and my desire to be an artist,” said Duplass. “If I can share anything that helps filmmakers here stay rooted in their voice and build something real, then that’s worth coming home for.”
For Full Armor, the moment is part of a much larger vision.
“We built the Full Armor Conservatory to eliminate the idea that you have to leave home to become a great filmmaker,” said Frank and Kathleen Monteleone. “New Orleans is one of the most culturally rich storytelling cities in the world, yet access to high-level training has historically existed somewhere else. Our studio’s mission is simple but ambitious—to bring the full creative engine of filmmaking here, not just production, but development, marketing, and distribution—while respecting the city’s strong production foundation. We want to open doors that have traditionally been closed and create a permanent creative home where artists can train, collaborate, and build sustainable careers. Having Jay come back to New Orleans to share his process is exactly the kind of full-circle moment this Conservatory was built for.”
The Full Armor Conservatory operates on a transformative belief: world-class storytelling education should be accessible to all, not limited by cost or geography. Through free workshops, speaker series, and immersive programming, the Conservatory is building a pipeline for Louisiana artists to develop their craft at the highest level.
EVENT DETAILS
Cost: Free and open to the Louisiana film community
Who: Jay Duplass
What: Free Filmmaking Masterclass + Live On-Stage Workshop
When: Saturday, May 30 | 1 – 4 p.m.
Where: New Orleans (Location details upon RSVP and space is limited)