Media Class Final Films!

In our fair school of KDSS, there are many fantastic places in which magic and wonder rule absolutely. The art room has brilliant works put out every semester from kids of every grade, the writer’s craft class puts together some of the best written work in the school and the drama students unleash dazzling performances with the utmost confidence.

But there is one room in which a different sort of greatness takes place. This is room 32, belonging to none other than Mr. Keith Colley. This is mainly the English media room, where films are analyzed, written, produced and yes, sometimes in black and white. 

I speak as a student of Mr. Colley’s class and for many others this year, who strived to create an assortment of well produced films (Okay, most of us did). More specifically, our Final Films. These are the movies that we create for our culminating project. They are usually left up to our imagination for the most part, while incorporating things that we have learned over the course of the semester. I’m still not sure if this is brilliance on Mr. Colley’s part, or laziness. As a student, I am inclined to go with the former.

Right: Zombie themed final film by Mickey Collins - Forever

There were 9 films created in total for this project. 8 of them were viewed on opening day (exam period). As it turns out, the single film not shown was by none other than Andrew McFadyen and his partner, Tawny Robinson, who are arguably the best editor/director combo ever and for certain in the class. In fact, their “super film” is to be shown this Friday and is sure to be a fantastic piece of work.

Creating a Final Film is no easy task and is generally more stressful than an exam, as I’m sure many of my classmates would tell you. Almost anything can and will go wrong while you are filming and even if you make it through all of that alive, you must do a solid editing job to make your movie presentable. 

You need to find actors, but enough actors that will make your film seem legit and yet without so many that it’s impossible to keep track of them. Not to mention everyone else had exams at the time. You must learn to deal with the weather, which can change from rain to snow in an instant and ruin the continuity of a project. Depending on how much footage you have, you will need to also take all of that and first chop it down before actually starting to use it. 

And those are minor details. There have been many sleepless nights over media assignments and I’m sure there will continue to be. Everyone I know who drinks coffee drinks at least 3 more per morning during editing time. And if someone cannot find the song they need for the scene they are putting together, then there will be pandemonium. 

But let’s not forget the fun parts during these camera-filled times. The blooper reels that come out of these classes are some of the most hilarious things ever caught on tape and would undoubtedly reach a million hits on YouTube if ever placed there. During long nights of editing, taking a break and going out for dinner with your friends is one of the best feelings ever and always leaves you rejuvenated. Sometimes there are even those idyllic moments when your scene and music match up perfectly without you even having to touch it. And then of course, there’s that special feeling when the film is finished.

Magic.

In short, these are just a few of the things experienced during my time as a student in room 32; a room I will likely never enter again as one of the names on the attendance sheet. The other students and I had a spectacular few weeks producing our Final Films that will live on in time for anyone to witness. However, I’m sure those who will see some of the greatest works out of the classroom, such as Chinzilla (see video left), will only get a small time to drool over them before Mr. Colley barks out one of his favourite sayings:     

“Let’s go! We’re burnin’ daylight!”

Written by Grade 12 Student Joshua Howe