Student Spotlight - Jailen Boehm

Student Spotlight: DHS Junior Jailen Boehm
Posted on 03/11/2022
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DeSoto High School junior Jailen Boehm has been accepted to two major projects for the summer of 2022!  First, he plans to attend the Summer Pre-College Program at Brown University, where he will study political science and history.  Then, he will attend the Tisch Summer High School Filmmakers Workshop at NYU where he expects to build upon his current knowledge of filmmaking.  

Boehm began working as an actor at an early age. “When I was 7 or 8, my mom enrolled me in an acting class at KD Studio,” he explained. “I had never acted before, but after auditioning for a local production company and landing a role in a Doritos commercial as part of a contest they were entering, I made the connection between what the people on my favorite Disney show did and what I was doing. The experience had a lasting effect and sparked my interest in the entertainment industry. In 2019, my mom and I relocated to Los Angeles, where I had the opportunity to gain more industry knowledge and witness large television productions in action.”

His current resume is enviable, having appeared in episodes of ABC televisions “Black-ish” and Disney’s “Upside Down Magic,” Boehm has also produced a short film titled “77 Tabitha Wrights.”  He was also afforded the opportunity to visit ARRAY, an independent distribution company launched by Academy Award nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay.  During this visit, he met and was photographed with Ms. DuVernay.

“My passions are scriptwriting and directing,” he stated. “My favorite project to date is “77 Tabitha Wrights,” which was written and directed by my mother. In this role, I oversaw budgets, hiring of crew, casting, and location scouting, to name a few. It was quite a learning experience. The film is now in post-production. I credit my time spent on the set of “Black-ish” as a defining moment. It solidified my desire to make films.”

After high school, he plans to attend NYU, Brown, Harvard, or Columbia universities, and major in history and minor in art, film, and visual studies. After completing his undergraduate degree, he hopes to pursue his master and doctoral degrees, fulfilling the requirements of a professorship to teach history at the highest level while creating historically accurate films and documentaries.

As a student, he is also active in the community. Boehm serves as co-historian on the executive board of the DeSoto Teen City Council and participates in the film club sponsored by the library.  “Having the opportunity to meet and create lasting friendships with other students who share my passion is something I look forward to too,” he expressed.

 

Continue to watch the headlines for Jailen Boehm, DHS Class of 2023.  He is going places!