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Scholarship from Filmmaker Kevin Smith is sending Wyoming County woman to acting school

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Wyoming County woman will soon be chasing her acting dream to Vancouver, Canada.

Jamie Leigh Reichert, a Pineville native and graduate of Westside High School, is the winner of a full scholarship from Kevin Smith, an actor, writer, producer and filmmaker, to attend the Vancouver Film School this year and study acting for film and television.

Jamie Leigh Reichert

She’ll get started on what’ll be a one-year intensive acting program at the end of April. Working with an experienced acting coach like those at https://actorsgrouporlando.com/acting-advice-for-people-who-are-just-starting-out/ could be extremely beneficial for someone in this position, as it can help them to refine their technique and gain valuable insights and feedback.

“I’m really excited. I’m just ready to go now. I’m ready to pack my bags and go,” Reichert, 28, told MetroNews.

“I’m ready to go and learn everything that I can.”

This winter, she’s working at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in Pocahontas County.

It was last fall when Reichert submitted her application for the Kevin Smith Scholarships for Acting, Writing and Film Productions which turned out to be one among hundreds from around the world that were considered.

Smith, a Vancouver film school alum whose filmography includes “Clerks,” “Mallrats” and “Chasing Amy,” personally selected one winner for scholarships in three disciplines: acting, writing and film production.

This year’s other winners come from Seattle, Washington and Boston, Massachusetts.

“I’m very humbled by everything,” she said.

Reichert’s audition included selections from a book she wrote herself.

“Kevin Smith picked me out of over 900 people. To see potential in me, I’m going to work my hardest throughout the year and I hope he’s just proud of me and I hope everyone in the school’s proud of me and, hopefully, my town is too.”

The 2018 West Virginia Coal Queen, Reichert previously appeared on the E! reality show “Chasing Kelce,” a dating show involving NFL tight end Travis Kelce, and has participated in an online competition similar to “Big Brother” that’s called “Sequester.”

Her initial steps into film and television came when she was in a couple plays in the 3rd grade.

When she was 13, Reichert’s best friend died and she turned to writing for comfort.

Her writings became a play that she showed to a high school teacher at Westside who recommended staging it.

That play would go on to win 3rd place in a state competition with Reichert recognized as ‘Best Actress’ in the company.

“That’s when it just really kicked off,” she said.

Reichert’s scholarship to Vancouver Film School is valued at $50,000 to cover tuition and school supplies.

It’ll be up to Reichert and her family members to come up with the estimated $10,000 needed for room and board. A couple of fundraisers were being planned.

Overall, the three scholarship winners were selected based on creative potential and with consideration to personal and financial hardships “they’ve had to overcome in pursuing their creative dream,” according to school information.

Thirteen other finalists will share in $250,000 total for partial scholarships.

“I’m hoping that by the end of it, I’m working as a full-time actress and getting paid to do what I’ve always dreamed of doing and that’s working in the film industry,” Reichert said.





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