I’ve wanted to act since I was young, but I was struggling to get into plays at school. I ended up taking Ted’s summer acting workshop before my senior year. Even though I had this acting side to me, I was pretty shy.
During that workshop, he made me feel more comfortable with myself — that I could really do this and not be afraid of being weird, funny or wacky in front of other people.
The next year I got into the school play and the musical. Ted always fostered an environment of no judgment. He’s such a positive force. He’s opened doors for others who are trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Ted’s been very supportive of me. When I told him I wanted to act, he said he had faith in me and thought I’d do well. It meant a lot, especially since I’ve chosen an industry in which there is so much rejection.
— Jennie Taber ’98
Mr. Walch prepared me for every class in film school. After my first year at USC, I realized I already knew a lot because I’d taken his classes. That says something about Harvard–Westlake in general.
But it’s probably more that Mr. Walch doesn’t know he’s a high school teacher. For him there are no boundaries. He’s totally there for his students. Lesser teachers would put on a movie, leave, come back and hand out an assignment. Mr. Walch engaged the class and made sure that we were engaged with the movies.
He was the first person — and most influential person — to explain to me why making movies is so important to society, and what makes them artistically so valuable beyond simply an entertaining Saturday night. More specifically, he told me why I should make movies. Since then, my confidence has only grown. Even now, I still meet with him. And that’s astonishing, because I can’t imagine meeting with any of my college professors.
— Chris Groban ’03
|