Middle school film fest wraps it up

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Feb 1, 2004 by Tiffany Erickson Deseret Morning News

PARK CITY -- No glitz, glam, fur or frills were spared as Treasure Mountain Middle School student filmmakers strutted across the red carpet before presenting their masterpieces to friends and family.

Dressed as celebrities, students got star quality treatment as they participated in the school's post-Sundance second annual iMovie Festival Thursday night.

The event was the brainchild of Danielle Clarke and Iris Durfee, two English teachers who want to take literature to a different level. Students were assigned to read and adapt short stories into mini-films as a way to incorporate the eighth-grade core curriculum into a challenging project.

For many students the effort was that and then some. Some said it took several weeks to shoot and edit a five-minute film.

In the beginning stages of the projects, students read classic short stories, looking closely at conflict, character, plot and mood. Then students chose what pieces they would adapt for the "big screen."

As a crash course in filmmaking, students read parts of a book on adapting literature to production. Also, two professionals from the film industry visited as guest speakers to offer advice on camera angles, makeup and editing.

Then they were turned loose.

"They wrote their own scripts and we taught them to edit and do makeup," said Durfee. "But with the films, we haven't done anything except sit with them and give them ideas."

The students staged choreographed sword fights, rousing chases and suspenseful horror scenes, complete with era-appropriate costuming, accents and musical scores and credits.

"It's a lot of work and the kids have put a lot of time into it, but it has such a payoff," said Clark. "Living in Park City they (students) already have an interest in filmmaking . . . so we just capitalize on that for learning."

Among the films were adaptations of "The Tell-Tale Heart," "Gift of the Magi" and "The Highwayman."

Students said the productions involved businesses, families and even local police.

"I almost got arrested on Main Street for having a fake gun and a sparkling cider bottle," said Kasey Coyle, 14.

Besides making the films believable, students said other hardships were "doing a love scene with a guy you don't like at all," and "having your brother be your boyfriend," eewww.

Clark said she plans to continue the festival for years to come because of how much the students take away from it.

"We . . . were tricked into learning and practicing reading, listening, viewing and speaking skills willingly," said eighth- grader Mia Pennels in an opening speech to the audience.

This week the school will hold an awards ceremony honoring outstanding films.

E-mail: terickson@desnews.com