Mary Moriarity

Senior Lindsey Hacker, freshman Alex Volz and freshman Jack Vaughan shoot two films with different styles in front of the school. The first film featured Vaughan as a crazy man visiting a shrink. “The second one was a musical about Jack, as the original crazy man, roaming the streets thinking he’s completely sane,” Volz said.

Within only a few minutes, a story can be told that leave a lasting message. Although one short film can take weeks to write, film and edit, theatre students still took on the challenge.

“The film project is a culmination of what the students have been learning about play structures and theatre so far,” theatre student teacher Ashley Gist said.

The groups were given four weeks in class to create two films. Their projects will follow genres they learned in class, including tragedy, comedy, musical theater and opera.

“We have to write the film, come up with the camera angles and then we have to film the whole thing and present it to the class,” freshman Colin Murray said.

Each group filmed throughout the school.

“My group’s film is a comedy spoof on Jeopardy called ‘Jeopardy Rejects,’ and our horror film is about multiple kidnappings,” freshman Casey Bruner said.

The groups made two films with different styles to tell one whole story.

“This is a creative license that they were able to take since they have done the work for every step,” Gist said.

Once the students complete their films, they will present them to the class so they can receive feedback on their work.

“We hope to see confusion and suspense from the horror film, and we hope to entertain the class with our comedy,” Bruner said.

Throughout the weeks of planning and filming, the students in the theatre arts class will leave with new knowledge of camera angles and the process of filming.

“I think this class will help me get the idea of being on film to help my dream to be an actress,” Bruner said.

As the four weeks come to a close the students will be ready to present their work to their class.