Film editing and design, a class taught by Shane Fairbanks at Billings Central (BCCHS), premiered their yearly film project, Wax Paper Airplanes, this May. The film stars were Jacob Jewett, Ella Fairbanks, Milana Michalsky, and Patrick Hermanson. The film was about a man named Nixon, played by Jacob Jewett, forming a band to compete in the “Battle of the Bands.”
While the main event, Wax Paper Airplanes wasn’t the only film featured at the premiere. Students’ personal projects, commercials, short films, and music videos, were shown preceding the feature film. “Everyone thought they were funny and really good,” said senior, Madeleine Prill. Mr. Fairbanks also played movie trivia and if you got a question right, you got a treat. Many people like watching the movie the best. However, for Mr. Fairbanks, it was about seeing the finished product of what the kids in the class had worked so hard on. “I love seeing people’s reaction to it, the film, especially the students who are part of it because when we are actually doing the filming and the production, it’s very fun, but it’s a lot of work. I always have the idea of that when it’s done it will all be worth it, and it always is,” said Fairbanks.
Every year the film class has a new film to show the students, faculty, parents, and everyone else in the BCCHS community. This year, it was about a band coming together and competing at a competition, but who knows what the future films will have in store for us. “Every year we use a format to go off of, but every year is a new idea and a lot of it is based on what kind of students are taking the class. I do this because I want it to be something that they are passionate about. Half the fun is getting excited about it and making it come to life,” Mr. Fairbanks said. The film premiere is a chance to showcase all the hard work and dedication that the film class puts into making the film, and then they present it for everyone to see.
