After weeks of brainstorming, script-writing, acting and editing, a handful of WJ students gathered at Cabin John Park on Sunday, May 26 for a showcase of their creative talent and filmmaking abilities.
The Film Club Oscars is a yearly opportunity for student filmmakers to create and share short films as a final project for the WJ’s Film Club. This year’s selection included living mannequins, schizophrenic hallucinations and colorful daydreams, all through the lens of impeccable cinematography and careful lighting.
Gathered around a laptop under a small pavilion, club members were invited to see and comment on each other’s hard work. Although only three short films were shown, two of which were submitted this year, the significant amount of care put into each unique movie was clear.
“We’re way better than the real Oscars because we have so much more personality,” club secretary Delina Palma said.
Highlights included juniors Vanessa Summers and Olivia Korita’s cinematography in “Reverie,” a movie inspired by the feeling of daydreaming. Vividly colorful shots were intricately stitched together to create a unique feeling of nostalgia. Advanced camera techniques were a common thread throughout the Oscars, with one shot in WJ graduate Ishaan Ramola’s “Remember Me” reportedly having taken 3 hours to film due to the camera’s placement on a lazy susan.
The movie’s plot elements and writing were also on point, especially in senior Ada Hillman’s “One Day in May at Walter Johnson High.” In the film, a main character who worries about being alone on prom night encounters a living mannequin in the art department’s closet. After befriending her in a makeover montage, the mannequin betrays the main character, turning her into a mannequin and taking her spot as a student at prom.
Plot twists weren’t uncommon at the event, with “Remember Me” ending in the revelation that the main character is schizophrenic, and that his conversations with other characters were actually hallucinations. On top of the 3-hour lazy susan shot, Ramola’s color grading skills were also showcased throughout the film to create an unreal atmosphere, which contributed to the ending’s big reveal.
It’s no secret where these students found the inspiration for their creative ideas. During the year, Film Club met every Friday at lunch to discuss a specific movie which they had selected a week prior, as well as any other movies members had watched recently. These movies ranged from serious classics like “Dead Poets Society” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” to intentionally bad productions like “The Velocipastor” and “Evil Bong”.
“This year was fire, it’s a great community. My favorite movie we watched was Dazed and Confused. I wasn’t really watching it because I was brining a turkey, but it was still super good,” senior Sawyer Chism said.
Even with limited resources, the club’s officers went out of their way to ensure that the event was as decadent as possible. Guests were treated to Flippin’ Pizza, Caprisuns, and Funyun-flavored chips brought by freshman Ephrem LeCannu.
“It was pretty fun…The energy was nice and the food was great,” LeCannu said.
Despite the celebration’s simplicity, club members seemed satisfied with their conclusion to the 23-24 season. Film Club will continue its Friday meetings for the rest of the year, and is currently making plans for the future.
“Hopefully we’ll watch a bit more movies next year. I think that [the club] has a bright future because there are still plenty of younger students who will be able to rise up into leadership roles,” LeCannu said.
