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Abrams and Moe shoot comical films with friends

Abrams+and+Moe+shoot+comical+films+with+friends

He crouches in an awkward position to capture a low-angle shot. He works tirelessly on iMovie with sound effects and editing techniques. He creates a finished product, a masterpiece.

Seniors Jack Moe and Aaron Abrams pursue their passions for filmmaking, creating short videos and sharing them via YouTube.

Moe and Abrams both became interested in filmmaking class in middle school, and then picked it up again sophomore year with the documentary project.

“It started as just a way to have fun with friends, but then I realized I liked creating short films,” Abrams said. “Ms. Smith, th
e film teacher, gave me a lot of creative freedom to do what I wanted.”

Piedmont Middle School film teacher Anne Smith said she has wonderful memories of Moe and Abrams in her classes at PMS.

Smith said it’s so much fun to encourage the creativity that a film class environment can bring out in the kids. Students use skills involving creativity and collaboration that will apply to all aspects of their lives, not just film, she said.

“Every day I get to work with talented and enthusiastic students. How fortunate I am!” Smith said. “Then after being in film class at PMS, it’s wonderful to have former students come back to visit, be T.A.’s, or work in the film room when they’re doing projects for PHS classes.”

Moe said he learned some filmmaking techniques in middle school, but mostly taught himself.

“I taught myself how to edit, and learned cinematography through replicating shots in movies,” he said.

Smith said she feels so happy when students develop a passion for filmmaking.

“Many filmmakers today remember seeing a film or making a film when they were 13 or 14 that sparked their desire to work in film,” Smith said. “I have always loved film and photography starting when I was in middle school.”

Both Moe and Abrams make their films outside of school with friends, and Abrams is in his second year of heading the PHS Film Club. Abrams is also a T.A. in Smith’s film classroom.

Abrams said he plans, writes, and then over the weekend or summer films and edits.

“My first short film was filled with continuity errors and the editing wasn’t great,” Abrams said. “But from each one I learn and now I like to think my films are well-edited with few continuity errors.”

This summer, Moe applied to California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA). To apply he had to make a movie or screenplay and write a few short answer essays. Once he got in, he spent four weeks in Valencia, Southern California, and made five films. He did film history, film theory, learned how to use different programs and cameras, did film on Super 8 cameras, and developed his own film.

“It was just as much technical stuff as watching movies and talking about them,” Moe said.

Abrams submitted a film called “Boot” to the Danville International Children’s Film Festival in eighth grade and won best teen film. Just recently created a film called “Arbor Day” for a contest for St. Vincent DePaul of Alameda.

“They wanted a film about environmentalism, so I made a flasher film that included environmentalism,” Abrams said. “I have also made films for school for Spanish lip syncs and the chemistry ice cream project.”

Moe said he normally makes videos of people he hangs out with who have free time. He has recently been making videos with seniors Billy Ireland and William Meredith for their independent projects in acting.

“I prefer to do comedies,” Moe said. “It’s hard to pinpoint inspiration, but I watch a lot of sketch comedy on YouTube, like the Whitest Kids You Know.”

Moe is about to start a movie that arose from jokes between he and his friends.

“I like all the goofy things we film in between actually filming,” Meredith said. “It’s our weird sense of humor.”

Moe said he made a film of a bunch of shots from his filmmaking career and put it to the song Man on Fire by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

“It’s a unique way to have memories with my friends,” Moe said.

Meredith said Moe’s passion for filmmaking leads to creativity. He said Moe is laid back, but still loves what he’s doing.

“He’s always improving,” Meredith said.

On the other hand, Abrams said he’s a big fan of dark comedy, absurdity, and violence. Visually, he likes having a moving camera that’s rarely parallel to the ground, he said.

Abrams said senior Nick Smith has been his writing and producing partner.

“He’s basically my second-in-command,” Abrams said. “As for people I like to star, I usually use my friends who have free time.”

Abrams said the only thing he wants to do is be a filmmaker, whether it be director, cinematographer, editor, or all three.

“I’m going to try and study in southern California, because that’s where all the work is,” Abrams said.

Abrams’s has really enjoyed the last three movies he’s made, which are Arbor Day, and the two ice cream project videos.

Moe said he will probably study filmmaking in college, whether that be as a major, minor, or hobby.

“I want to make movies all my life even if it is not professional,” Moe said.

Moe’s favorite films he’s made are his application video, which got him accepted to CSSAA, and his Thesis Movie, which was the final film he made at CSSAA.

Moe’s films can be found on YouTube via the username itsjack007. Abrams’s films are under the username wartadoo.

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