The Digital Cinema II class have been practicing for months in preparation for the annual film festivals approaching. Their skills are finally being put to the test this week during their first film festival of the year.

The Artists Alike High School Film Festival allows student filmmakers to go through the whole process of making a film.

“The hardest part about making a movie was finding a group that works good together because when a group doesn’t get along with each other the film will not turn out good,” said junior Nicole Ranere.

The first step in the process is to form a group and gather ideas. With their ideas, they will write a script and eventually shoot their short film. Student filmmakers at HHS have already started the process and will submit their finished projects on February 2, 2015.

Mr. Gary Joseph, the Digital Cinema teacher explained how the contest deadline pushes students to perform better.

“Since there is a time limit and a chance to get a day off of school to go to the selected films screening, my students have more urgency to produce a quality film.”

HHS Digital Cinema II students will be participating in the experimental category. This category is open-ended, using many different shooting and editing techniques, special effects and sounds to express its message. Experimental films can explore and expand the current limits of film language.

“I entered my Digital Cinema II classes into this film festival so they could acquire real world experience in cinematography,” Joseph said.

Once student filmmakers complete and submit their short films, selected judges will look over the films and pick which ones are to be screened at a movie theater in Egg Harbor Township. Judging will be based on technical and aesthetic merit including the following: lighting, frame composition, camera technique, editing technique, audio technique and image quality. If a group’s film is selected, cast and crew will attend the screening of all the selected high school films. Only the top scoring videos will be aired the evening of the Film Festival.

After the Artists Alike Film Festival is completed, all student filmmakers of Hammonton High School will prepare for the biggest high school film festival in New Jersey, known as the 10 Day Film Challenge.