LHS Film Festival

Students screen 13 films at Lexington Venue
By Lily Barrett | Email the author | May 25, 2010

Inside the Lexington Venue on Monday night, the smell of popcorn wafted through the theater as the Lexington High School film club held its first festival, screening 13 student-made works.

Sam Ruocco, an Emerson College film student and LHS alum, emceed of the event, hosted May 24 by the Lexington Venue, LHS TV Production and LHS's Tunnel Vision Film Club.

"I know some of you were going to watch the Celtics game tonight," Ruocco said. "But this is much better."

The Tunnel Vision Film Club was founded at LHS in September 2009 by seniors Rae Aggerwhil, Kevin Choi and Mark Woit, with television production teacher Mary Pappas. The group meets Tuesday afternoons, offering students interested in making films a chance to do so outside of the classroom.

"The club provides a common ground," Choi said. "While LHS offers many classes in acting, TV production, and film theory, it was surprisingly lacking in outlets for students who wanted to actually make films."

Not long after Tunnel Vision found its footing, the students began looking for an audience, and in January started planning the film festival.

The 13 student-made films screened Monday varied in style and genre, but each touched on personal inquiries made by teens today. Some students employed humor in their work, including freshman Daniel Laikhter, who created an endearing animation film, "Turtles."

Ms. Pappas and Kevin Choi

Also adding comedic value was "Dear Mr. Mistake" by juniors Ally Engelberg and Julia Friedman - a love story gone hilariously wrong when a girl exchanges letters with a boy, then meets him in person and realizes he is not whom she expected.

Other students used adrenaline as inspiration, as in the action-adventure film "Final Days" by senior Mark Woit, which follows two students as they hatch an elaborate senior-prank plot at LHS.

Senior RJ Darabant's assassin short "One Man, One Destiny" made good use of sound effects, while senior Kelly Miao's "Spheres of Fury" depicts a water-gun war.

Other films covered more somber topics. Senior Leo Gaskell adapted Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" for the screen, and senior Kathryn DeSimone's "Spare Some Change" reveals the fate of a boy who refuses to help the homeless.

Choi's film "Marco" tells the story of a lonely Hispanic boy who resents working in his grandfather's antique shop. With the help of a new friend, Marco overcomes his loneliness and comes to appreciate the memories stored within antiques. The characters speak Spanish, with Choi providing English subtitles.

Other students pursued non-fiction subjects, as in sophomore Tyler Vendetti's "Fire!" which reveals what goes on behind the scenes at the Lexington Fire Department. Junior Cam MacNeil's "Hong Kong" centers on The Comedy Studio at the Hong Kong restaurant in Cambridge's Harvard Square. MacNeil interviewed owner Rick Jenkins and comedians Tom Morello, Lamont Price and Steve Macone.

Students shot their films in a range of locations, with sophomores Eleanor Rask and Lauren Buschini setting the whimsical "Debonair" in a field. Senior Magdalena Bermudez situated "Cold Girl" on a rocky beach, and senior Mohammad Matinnejad shot "The Life of A Book" in Lexington Center and Burlington.

The films were judged by LexMedia executive director Florence DelSanto, Colonial Times Magazine editor Laurie Atwater, and LHS teachers Steve Bogart, Nathan Johnson and Sean Hagan.

Choi's film won first place, and a Walden Media internship, for his compelling, well-scripted film, "Marco." Laikhter was awarded second place and $150 for "Turtles," while Rask and Buschini took third place and $50 for "Debonair."

"Debonair"

All 13 films will run on LexMedia.

"When you're famous, you must come back and premiere your films here at the Venue," owner Peter Siy told the students.

LHS Film Festival

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Lexington High School Film festival - Lexington Minuteman

Friday, June 11, 2010

LHS Film Club Holds First Festival - Lexington Patch Online Newspaper

Lexington student filmmakers shine at Venue (WITH VIDEO) - Minuteman Newspaper

Thursday, June 10, 2010

LHS Film Festival 2010 --A Great Success!!!