Connor Spellecy
Contributing Writer
Reel Film Club plans to host its short film festival in the Jerry R. Knight Auditorium on May 1, at 7 p.m. Entry is free.
This is the club’s second film festival of the school year. The first was held at the end of last semester. In the weeks leading up to the event, students work together on short films. Students can work on many different parts of their film, such as the writing, sound or makeup. Students can also direct their own film or act in a film.
During the festival, 10 of what the club considers its best films from that semester are then shown at the festival in an hour-long presentation. Club members also get to speak about the making of their films on stage, and free popcorn is also given to audience members at the entrance.
“It’s generally just our payoff day for the club. It’s the whole accumulation of all the months of preparation and work up until that point… making 10 movies is a lot of work, but we usually make that deadline,” senior Will Roche said about the festival.
Senior Roxanne Flood shared a similar sentiment to Roche.
“Getting it done is a big part of it, but I think just figuring out stuff during the editing process and getting through hurdles is, I’d say, the most rewarding part. I think just seeing it all pay off is pretty interesting. I’d say it’s just a big relief after all that stress of getting everything done,” Flood said.
Both club members and Bo Roche, club sponsor, also look forward to the festival, because it relieves the stress of needing to finish each film before the deadline.
The films shown at the festival cover multiple different genres, ranging anywhere from comedy to drama. Comedy is the most prominent genre at most of these festivals, especially last semester’s, according to Flood.
“The best part of a festival is very similar to theatre or standup. It’s when that moment you know is coming lands for the audience, and you get that laugh, gasp or big reaction you were hoping for. It’s incredibly validating and makes everyone feel connected for a moment,” Bo Roche said about his favorite part of the festival.
Leading up to the festival, the club participates in lectures and labs to build inspiration for new projects, while also creating a setlist for the festival. However, the club not only serves as a space for people interested in filmmaking to hone their skills, but also fosters a sense of community.
“It’s a natural oasis of creative, nice, and funny people that want to work together and want to make their ideas work using other people’s talents, and that’s what’s really been valuable to me,” Will Roche said about the club.
This sense of community is also felt by not only the students, but the sponsor as well.
“Storytelling has been my passion for as long as I can remember. It’s great to share that with students and to help them see and understand the storytelling tools they experience every day,” Bo Roche said about being the club’s sponsor.
Feature Photo: Seniors Jacob Riefle, Noah Weihl, Luca Giordano and Jack Eveker host the second annual Reel Film Festival on Sat. April 1, 1923. Photo by Ruby Coalier
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