School theater club is set to release its most anticipated production of the year – Caesar.
The Mount Carmel theater club, better known for live theater performances, decided this year to produce a film. Though the club has previously produced other brief pictures, most notably several “School Wars” episodes in May 2007, this is the first time the Knights have completed a full-length feature film.
“We’re always trying to take the club to new levels,” MCS principal Galvin Guerrero stated at a recent shoot. “The first
Romeo and Juliet that the club produced was kind of an easy one, but the second time we did it, it was a period piece set in 14th century Italy. So with this, [the Caesar film production,] it’s a way that tests to see how far we can go.”
Since Caesar’s pre-production in December 2007 the theater club has put in over 60 hours in rehearsals and shootings, with each session lasting approximately four hours. Caesar is a five-act production and is expected to run from 60 to 90 minutes.
Students involved in the production expressed high regard for Caesar.
Kristian Aquino, who portrays the main character, explained how the production was most fun when the cameras weren’t rolling. He also briefly described his character, and told of how his experience as Caesar has benefited him.
“When I first heard about the film I heard about the gunfight. I auditioned just to be part of the gunfight, and ended up getting the main character.”
“He’s a people’s person,” Kristian said of his character. “He’s a good guy in the beginning, and later on he gets too much power, and as with any human being, he later becomes bad.”
“Doing something like this made me more confident,” he added, “because I’m not an actor. I’m actually a basketball player. It helped me to be more confident in being involved in other new things.”
When asked if he would participate in future film productions, Kristian instantaneously replied, “No doubt.”
Mount Carmel School senior, Ruby Venus, plays Caesar’s right hand in the much-anticipated production.
“I play Mark Anthony. Mainly I’m the person everyone thinks is ‘good’ but really… I’m not.”
Ruby conveyed her perception of the ups and downs of being part of Caesar.
“It’s really a great experience. Filming is fun, plus everyone gets closer when they’re working together. But it gets really stressful sometimes, especially when you have a lot of lines to memorize.”
Ruby encourages the public to watch the film “because it’s rare to see a feature length film created mainly by students. It’s Shakespeare and its full of action, deceit, and conflict.”
Compared to the club’s usual live theater productions, MCS’s principal said that creating films is more challenging.
“At a first glance people might think it’s easier to do film. In live theater if you mess up a line you can’t say, ‘Cut, do another take.’ But there are more variables that are harder to control in film production. It’s easier to do live theater, though it is a little more risky because it’s less controlled,” said Guerrero.
Prior each recording during Caesar shoots, students were responsible for ensuring that cameras were properly angled, that microphones picked up clean and audible sounds, that proper markings were made, and that actors were in their proper places, among other heavy tasks.
Because Caesar is a predominantly student production, Guerrero says that the public can “expect the unexpected.”
“While I may be the director, I’m the only adult there,” Guerrero explained after the production’s final shoot on Tuesday. “It’s always important to me that all our projects are mostly student done. This was made not by Hollywood professionals – this was made by high school and middle school students, and I think people will be pleasantly surprised with the quality of the final product.”
The Mount Carmel Theater Club was established in 1996, with its first production Romeo and Juliet. The club re-did the play on its 10th year anniversary. On Wednesday, the Theater Club held a film festival where it re-launched “School Wars,” improved with the special effects seen in the “Star Wars” series.
The public is invited to watch Caesar this Friday and Saturday at the American Memorial Park Visitor’s Center. Admission is $5 per person.
