Jesuit Stage & Film, known for its many exciting one-act plays, had to make a very hard decision this past year. They have decided to replace the Spring One Acts with the first-annual Jesuit Film Festival, which will take place over two weekends in the month of May. They believe that in the future, they will completely remove stage acting from their curriculum and replace it with other film-based classes. This shift has already manifested itself in the inclusion of a new course available for students to take this year: Filmmaking 1. Mr. David Myers, the Jesuit Fine Arts Co-Chair, said about the new implementation, “I think it is important that we continue to modernize the arts on campus, which means making some hard choices with curricular offerings.”
Jesuit student actors are very excited about this new change in curriculum. This new course also opens many new doors for the Jesuit Stage & Film team. Not only does this new course spur the first-annual Jesuit Film Festival, but also since everything can be shared online, it lets the team submit films to other non-local competitions as well, such as the high school division of the South-by-Southwest Festival in Austin and the TXU Energy Student Film Competition.
Mr. Myers, confident in his student actors, stated, “When Jesuit students are properly resourced and properly managed, they tend to win. Look at debate. Look at robotics. Look at The Roundup last year. I’m hopeful that in the coming years, UIL Film at Jesuit will become just as successful. We now have unparalleled technology, and we have a substantial curricular component — namely Filmmaking 1 — to support the program.”
Some may be asking themselves this question: “Why begin participating in UIL film now?” Jesuit Stage and Film has immensely improved their film program this year; they have done a very good job recruiting new, exciting actors and expanding their program with improved equipment and classrooms. With the creation of the film lab built over the summer, Jesuit Stage & Film will be able to participate in UIL Film and many more competitions like it.
Jack Durham ’16, Sports Editor for the Roundup and a student enrolled in the course, said, “With how advanced the new technology we have is, and all of Mr. Myers’ experience, I legitimately think a couple of our videos will have a good shot at winning state.” Jack, believing in this team, thinks that Mr. Myers has turned an average high school theater program into a stage and film powerhouse. Having just joined the team, Jack is looking forward to this year; when asked about what he eagerly anticipates during the upcoming year, he replied, “I really look forward to learning how all the applications and cameras work so that I can make good videos for the film team and also The Roundup.”
Stage actor and film student Robert Morris ’15 recently joined theater. Describing his reason for joining, he commented, “Over the past few years a lot of people had told me that I would do well in theater, but I could never really get myself to give it a try. But recently, at the requests and encouragement from some friends of mine, I gave it a try. I’ve always enjoyed acting out characters and doing voices, so now I get to really explore that part of my interests.” With all of the new technology and resources that the Jesuit Stage & Film team has, Robert’s dream is now no longer unattainable. Like Jack, Robert is also really looking forward to this year; he believes that with the talent they have, they have no limitations. Robert also mentioned that the atmosphere of the Jesuit Stage & Film commons makes being the new guy so much easier, stating, “They all have been really welcoming and kind in showing a newcomer the ropes.”
Mr. Myers and his staff have introduced many new and great opportunities for student actors and the Jesuit Stage & Film team as a whole. He will continue to put in unmeasurable hours for the sake of the team going forward.
For anyone interested in becoming a part of this special organization, the Jesuit Stage & Film team is open to anyone that is dedicated to putting in hard work for the benefit of the program. Not only does one have to be committed, attending at least four sessions per week in the film lab, one has to be eligible, just like in any other UIL sport. This is a full time activity that requires a large commitment; to join, student actors need to stop by Mr. Myers’ office or attend one of the Stage & Film meetings.
