Middle school film festival showcases local young talent

PRODUCTION MATES- The cast and crew of "The Case of the Missing Lip Gloss," written and directed by student Savanna Brown, center, gather for a group photo. The movie, part of Medea Creek Middle School's recent film festival, earned awards for favorite film and best acting. Back row, from left: Maddie Adams and Monica Straunch. Front row: Hannah Rinkov, Paige Chisholm, Erica Rosenberg, Brown, Sloane Griffin, Jen Maholchic and Alyssa Scott. Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park conducted its first film festival earlier this month and several students earned awards for their efforts.

Seventh-grader Savanna Brown wrote the screenplay and directed "The Case of the Missing Lip Gloss." A comingofage tale of the ebb and flow of friendship, the film won two of the top four awards.

"It was about how eight girls, who have been friends their whole lives because their mothers' friendship, begin to branch away from each other," Savanna said. "No matter how many times the moms would try to help them get back together, it would never work."

Savanna said the moms in the movie never gave up on their daughters and arranged for the girls to spend a weekend together. When two of the girls lose their favorite, strawberryflavored lip gloss from Victoria Secret, they rally together to hunt it down and in the process discover "their true friendship with each other," she said.

"The Case of the Missing Lip Gloss" won Favorite Movie and Best Acting awards.

Savannah wrote and directed the film. Actors included Hannah Rinkov, Paige Chisholm, Monica Strauch, Maddie Adams, Alyssa Scott, Slone Griffin, Erica Rosenberg and Jennifer Maholchic.

Social studies teacher Steven White oversaw the program which, was launched by the Associated Student Body committee, and spearheaded by students Brandon Camhi and Nicole Kawamoto.

Thirtyfive students participated in the festival. Most films were between five and 10 minutes long. Several genres were presented, including "dramedy, a comedy, a documentary and a "couple of thrillers," he said.

"We opened four or five teachers' rooms and invited all students to watch the films over two days at lunch," White said. "They were judged by a panel the week before and awards were given for favorite film, editing, sound, and directing."

The film, "The Day of the Vermin," captured an award for best directing. Students Chris Claxton, Matt O'Connor and Josh Bock accepted the honors.

The Best Special Event award went to Faiyez Khan, Yolan McCullough, Isaac McCullough, Brian Gelfound, and Mayra McCullough (Issaac's mother) for their work on "Idiots in Action."

Savanna said she wrote "The Case of the Missing Lip Gloss" scrip in "about four days.

"One night it was about 11:45 (p.m.) when I woke with the idea of my first scene, (and) then never stopped," she said.

She used a video camera she received as a gift in third grade, the year she showed an interest in movie making. The movie took one day to film, and eight hours to edit.

"When I get older I plan to go to film school and then to become either a director or producer or editor, really anything that involves working with movies," said Savanna, who appears to be on the right track.