EagleVision film has begun filming for the UIL film contest. They are working on seven different films that will be published on the EagleVision YouTube channel in late January.
“What’s interesting about this program is that it really allows kids to not just tell stories but to use technology to do it,” advisor Neda Morrow said. “It really covers all of the different elements that we want in education from a use of technology to critical thinking skills to working with clients.”
One of the first films the class began working on is centered around Holly Snow and her baby girl, Wynter. This documentary tells the story of Wynter’s many surgeries and days in the hospital. The primary theme of the film is to show other mothers with children battling illness that they can make it through. It is directed by Sophomore Sydney Hines.
“Hearing the stories is the most interesting thing,” Hines said. “Working the cameras is cool, but at the end of the day when I get to stand there and first hand get to hear this woman’s testimony about her whole journey with her child, it’s really crazy to hear. Everyone was crying.”
The other documentary features the story of Tommy Mallory, director of Lindale’s print shop. Mallory has been working for Lindale for 50 years and is one of very few people left in the area who can still work the offset presses in the print shop. The film highlights how the machines work as well as Mallory’s work in Lindale.
“Documentary is more where we interview and listen to people’s stories,” junior Ben Soares said. “We try to connect to the heart strings of the people watching.”
Aside from documentaries, the class is working on two narrative films with the help of the theater department. Theater will write the script and provide the actors for the narrative while the EagleVision team will set up the cameras and film and edit. . One the narratives features a story of a dancer who relies on the use of pills to cope with her failing career. This film is directed by Soares and will be shot between September and November. The second narrative is set in the 1950s and features an interesting twist. It is directed by Kylie Gorman.
“It’s gonna go great and I feel like the plot is really good,” Soares said.
The final films are a claymation piece set in an elevator, a classic hand-drawn animation film about animals, and a Lego ‘brick’ film.
