Lights! Camera! Action! Students across the district are created digital stories at their schools thanks to fully equipped state-of-the-art mobile media labs.
Article by Levi Gwaltney
Photo by Levi Gwaltney
From kindergarten to 12th grade, students are using tripods, cameras and computers to create broadcast videos, providing a sense of school community and ownership through morning announcements and streaming platforms.
This year, more than 200 student produced films and broadcast videos were submitted for the Tell the Story LCPS Film Showcase. The theme for this year’s showcase was Motion Picture Roundup.
The film showcase committee selected more than 80 films/broadcast entries to be shown on the big screen at Cineport 10, Allen Theatres. Judges from the committee reviewed each film looking for high scores in story/plot, continuity, character development, entertainment value, creativity, editing, sound, lighting, directing and acting.
Aside from the Motion Picture Roundup, teams representing area schools competed in the Tell the Story LCPS Film Showcase , a contest divided into two competitions, the 168 and 48-hour film competition. The 168-hour film competition is exclusive to LCPS filmmakers at the elementary and middle school level, while the 48-hour film competition was reserved for high schools. The challenge is to come up with a storyline, write, act, film, produce, and edit their movies all within the 168-hour deadline. On top of that, each film must incorporate a prop selected by the committee.
This year, the required prop was a map, and the film was required to have the line of dialog: “How did we get here?”.
The three winners of this year’s competition were:
Elementary Level (168-Hour)
Escape
Hermosa Heights Elementary School
This cinematic romp treated the audience to audio jump scares, special effects and great camera work.
Middle School Level (168-Hour)
The “A” Team
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy
Very creative way to use stop-motion action taking us to the Jurassic period.
High School Level (48-Hour)
Detention
Las Cruces High School
Judges enjoyed the beautiful camera work, and heartwarming letter at the end. In all, this homage to John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club” was an insightful glimpse into how modern teens deal with detention, rebellion and adventure when removed from their phones and handed a map on paper.
The film festival was a delight to attend, and all of the filmmakers should be proud of their accomplishments.
