[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb8izYHPVE]
For the second year in a row the Kings High School Digital Media Arts department finished their shot-for-shot recreated movie trailers. After only two years, the project is already gaining reputation as a fun and challenging assignment that students can look forward to.

Students recreated trailers for blockbusters like Silver Linings Playbook, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Napoleon Dynamite (above). 

“Students must work in teams to recreate a 1 minute movie trailer of their choice shot for shot,” said DMA teacher Kelly Shields.

Students had a lot of items to prepare for before beginning the project. They had to choose groups, decide on the trailer they would recreate, and come up with locations and people that accurately portrayed every individual shot of the professional trailer. Junior DMA student Ryan Dilts, whose group recreated The Perks of Being a Wallflower, explained that a lot of thought went into deciding what trailer his group would portray.

“We decided on Perks of Being a Wallflower because the original filming was mostly done in places we had access to, and involved all teenagers, so none of it looked too ridiculous,” said Dilts.

After deciding on the movie, the next step is planning and filming. Junior Emily McCarthy, whose group portrayed Silver Linings Playbook, said that it took about three weeks to produce the final product, working outside of school with her group often.

“We had a pre production week, film week, and post production week to get the project done,” said McCarthy.

As expected, the students ran into some troubles with their group while working together for almost a month.

“It was hard getting all the shots perfect and the way everyone liked it,” said McCarthy.

However, the assignment also came with its rewards.

“My favorite part was actually cutting all the footage into a minute long trailer. We had hours filmed, and that needed to be condensed. . . seeing the trailer slowly come together was really enjoyable,” said Dilts.

Shields agrees that the students’ humbling experience opens their eyes to all the hard work that goes into making a minute long movie.

“Students. . . have a greater appreciation for how much work goes into a film after working so hard to create just 1 minute.”

Visit the Digital media Arts YouTube page to view more videos.

By Haley Frye: The Knight Times