SHS students bring Hollywood to the Gila Valley

SAFFORD — The next wave of American auteurs showed their art on the big screen Thursday.

The Safford High School Student Film Festival took place at the David M. Player Center for the Arts.

“A lot of these (students), especially the upper-level students, are editing to the last second. Even past the last second of the due date, but they want it to be perfect,” said instructor Chris Murphy. “I tell them all the time, ‘There’s no such thing as a finished film.’ ”

Instructor Chris Murphy, left, presents Kaderen Lines with the Dr. Frankenstein Award. Looking on is Hayleigh Cundari.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

The 180-minute showing featured work by both Level 1 and Level 2 filmmaking students, with the highlights being “Sticky Gecko,” a film by Kaderen Lines that was originally created as part of the class’ 48-Hour Film challenge; a live-action/animated hybrid by Jesse Zipperer entitled “Play-Doh”; and “Lawless” by Josefina Barron, an epic Western about the search for a ring and revenge that featured the event’s most striking visual — three actors walking in silhouette against the setting sun.

“Editing was definitely the hardest, but also getting around people’s schedules,” Barron said. “A lot of us had jobs and no time to film, besides like on Sundays. So it was a little difficult.”

Barron, a senior, said she wants to continue studying film in college, but said she might take a gap year first to try to find work in the industry.

Chris Murphy, right, presents Conrad Villegas with the In Focus Award and a mug in the shape of a camera lens.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

The festival featured the work of a number of students in sound and music, creating new audio experiences for videogame trailers. And the original instrumental piece “The Oracle” was created by student Joshua Macri for the introduction to the festival.

There was also a video tribute to filmmaking alumnus Duncan Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident last month.

At the Safford High School Student Film Festival, from left, Kyra Gentry interview student filmmakers Audranique Ellis and Aurelia Smith for the Safford Bulldog News Network.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

Work from the students can be seen every school day on the Safford Bulldog News Network YouTube channel. And the students have live-streamed a number of community events, including Safford High School football games, the Sheriff Talk: Drugs Beyond the Border event in February and the funeral of Safford Mayor Jason Kouts in January.