At the beginning of the year, the practicum group in advanced audio and video was assigned to make a short film to enter in the Dallas International Film Festival. They had to come up with their own idea for the movie plot line and create it. They soon settled on a concept about humanity and the consequences of toxic behavior. It ended up taking about four months to create the actual film. The students had the guidance of their former teacher Mrs. Kristen Gallegos, who trusted them to let their creativity soar and inspired them to go after whatever they wanted to do.

“I can’t imagine this short being made under any other instructor,” senior Eliot Teinert said.

The film was the perversion of society shown through a series of images that grow from innocent behaviors to violence, substance abuse and other destructive acts. It focuses on a young girl giving a monologue on life while obtaining  mysterious bruises as the world progresses into darkness. They named the film Serenity to symbolize the girl’s personality against the cruel world.

“We came up with the idea because Eliot said ‘let’s make a movie about walking’, which then turned into a movie about a little girl lying down as a representation of innocence,” senior Ethan Sattler said.

Once the film was submitted, they waited for the response.  The students received the news March 7 and to their surprise, they got in and will be able to work with professionals and other students from different schools to further their knowledge about films.

“It was pretty shocking,” Teinert said. “I thought Serenity would exist more as a happy memory for everyone involved; we didn’t think we would make it into the film festival. I’m proud of the work we put into it, and I’m glad it’s getting recognition.”

This was a big deal to the group of kids because they did not make it into UIL. They were not optimistic for their movie but it ended up pulling through. Serenity is currently unavailable to be shown to the public but should be out after the festival. Seniors Camryn Woodson, Lauren Harris, Eliot Teinert, Ethan Sattler, Kelsey Howell, Jacob Hernandez and junior Elijah Sattler are now going to the Dallas City Performance Hall, along with over 40 other schools in North Texas, to show off their film and to engage in workshops to better their careers in movie making March 31.