Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Emma Ojeda, 11, hand writes the title for the film Wake Up as Mountain View students put the final touches on their movie.
MOUNTAIN VIEW MOVIE/from the previous page All of the scenes were shot on iPads, using
The whole theme of the movie is mysterious, iMovie. Nico Bonilla was part of the camera team, a
sixth grader Alanna Eskandari said. It kind of ques- role toward which he was naturally inclined. Im
tions reality. kind of usually holding a camera and taking pictures
wherever I go, he explained.
I
n Wake Up, six girls are stuck in an The creation of the credits underscores the often-
unsettling dream world haunted by improvisational nature of filmmaking.
four spirits. Along with Dali, the We used an app called Notability and we typed
what everyone did in the movie. We used a black
students also drew inspiration from an backdrop and white type, Katie Offill-Jackson
etching by another Spanish artist, Fran- shared. Then we filmed the iPad using another iPad,
cisco Goya. The sleep of Reason Pro- taking shots of me scrolling through the text. We put
paper over it so there would be no glare.
duces Monsters shows a dreaming man, When Amina Fejleh saw the final product, she was
tormented by flocks of bats and owls. surprised. Everything looked like we were profes-
We basically thought that, when you do things sionals, she said.
that are unkind to people, when you go to sleep at COURIER photoS/Steven Felschundneff With their films in the can, Mountain View upper
night those things weigh heavy on you. This film is Sixth grade teacher Jacque McElvy applied for graders are looking forward to screening the short
so symbolic. Its so inspiring to me, Ms. McElvy grants from the Claremont Educational Foundation films for families and friends later this month at the
said. and the Claremont Chamber of Commerce to help Laemmles Theatre.
Lots of solid work went into creating the cinematic fund the film Wake Up, which her class made with Attendees will watch Wake Up as well as two
fantasy. the assistance of artist Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca. other films, both about five minutes long. Mr. Vil-
Mr. Vaca utilized the frant money to purchase through CUSDs music program, also funded by lelas class has made a movie called Dont Press
equipment for the films, including cameras and light- CEF. Asked the difference between the two instru- Five. Mr. Jacobs students will unveil a production
ing, and then students were assigned various roles. ments, Victoria had a ready answer: The viola has a called The Substitute. The screening will be fol-
Maya Salgado was one of the students charged with C-string, and the violin as an E-string. Also, the viola lowed by a discussion panel featuring Mr. Vaca and
makeup. We used a lot of liquid eyeliner on their has a lower tone. student filmmakers.
lips and eyes and had dark makeup to make them Diego Hara created a tune using the program Until then, the students are keeping mum about
look bruised, she said. GarageBand, employing digital piano and string in- their project. My mom asked me how the movie is
Maya and her peers hadnt used much makeup be- struments, while Olivia Washington lent her vocals going. I said, Youll see at the movie premiere,
fore, but Bailey Bermudez, who played one of the to the soundtrack. I sang Twinkle Twinkle, but it Alanna said.
spirits, was impressed. Sometimes I felt like a dif- was in a creepy mood, Olivia said. Ms. McElvy noted with enthusiam that Mountain
ferent person, she said. Ms. McElvys class created a couple sets in their View gets to keep the equipment funded by the grant
Bailey also took part in making music for the film, classroom, a living room with a fireplace and an an- money. We get to do it again next year!
playing the violin while Victoria Acevedo played the tique armchair and a bedroom, and a family who Sarah Torribio
viola. lives near the school let the kids shoot exterior and storribio@claremont-courier.com
The girls have been studying their instruments interior shots of their home.