Earlier this February, parents and students alike gathered in the auditorium to watch a collection of short films produced by members of the Lockport Drama Club, Club Create, and Video Club. After spending over a semester worth of writing, filming, and editing, eight teams of student directors were finally able to release the top-secret projects they’d spent so much time on. Each short film was capped at five minutes, yet the stories the directors managed to tell were creative beyond belief. Even with such a short frame of time to work with, the directors and actors managed to tell full stories that enraptured the audience at every second.

The films spanned a range of genres, from pure comedy to genuine horror. Despite their limited resources, the directors showcased incredible talent, utilizing smooth camerawork and distinctive lighting to establish the tone and voice of their piece. Special effects and clever use of camera angles created engaging stories, where the audience became emotionally invested in the life of an apple or the safety of a chronic hand-washer. The story about grief and mental illness drew real tears from the audience, and the abandoned high school horror film made several viewers close their eyes. One abstract film illustrated the story of a girl with psychic abilities and her internal journey to make peace with it, and yet another featured dogs performing an opera. All of the films conveyed deep messages or lighthearted humor, but either way, every single one delivered outstanding applause.

Already students are talking about the next one, full of anticipation for the endless creativity of the student directors. The Drama Club is one of Lockport’s most distinct extracurriculars, but the excitement drilled up from the first annual film festival and the other participating clubs, is something special. Next year’s is bound to be an enormous hit, and I for one can’t wait to see what the directors come up with next.