Lights, Camera, Action!: High School Students in Madison County Create a Feature Film

Madison County High School Students Bring Hollywood to Alabama

In Madison County, Alabama, high school students are proving that Hollywood isn’t the only place where movie magic happens. A group of dedicated teenagers from the film class at James Clemens High School are undertaking an ambitious project: the production of a full-feature film entirely created by them, under the banner of their school production community, JETSpress.

JETSpress, More Than Just a Class

Clay Combs, the advisor for JETSpress, speaks passionately about the program. “JETSpress is not a class, it’s a community,” Combs said. “All our students share a love for movies. What’s exciting is that they’re now creating their own.” The movie they’re creating is called ‘Tomatoes and Marigolds’, a touching story about a young boy who, in hard times, creates some unlikely friendships. The narrative will unfold through stages, each representing a stage of grief.

More Than Just Learning: A Platform For Careers

The director of the movie, Joshua Watkins, a senior student at James Clemens, credits the program as being instrumental in both his high school period and his future career direction. “I feel blessed. Not every school offers these facilities. I am thankful that we do have this. It has helped me shape my future,” Watkins shared. He is set to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design to pursue a degree in film and TV, thanks to the opportunity provided by JETSpress.

Making Movie Magic: From Idea to Screen

Every aspect of the movie, from the conceptualization to script-writing, and onto filming and editing, is led by the students. But they aren’t limiting their dreams to the schoolyard; they have plans to premiere ‘Tomatoes and Marigolds’ on the silver screen in a few theaters across the county this summer. “It’s just like watching your child grow. I can’t express how proud I am of them and what this program means to me, to them, and I believe, to the community,” Combs echoes the sentiment of his students.

Towards Greater Glory: Eyeing National Festivals

JETSpress has made a mark on high school film festivals across the country, garnering numerous successes. Their ambitions, however, soar higher as they plan to scale up and compete in illustrious platforms such as the Sundance and Tribeca film festivals.

Conclusion

In a world where technology is readily available, the students at James Clemens High School are leveraging this advantage to pursue their dreams in the film industry, proving that you don’t need to be in Hollywood to make captivating films. Their dedication, and the community offered by JETSpress, serves as an inspiring story for young filmmakers across the globe.