Precursor Events

HELP! (MUSIC VIDEO)
Spring 1993

Before making my VHS documentary on East High's "Me and My Girl" production, I got some "editing" practice by putting together this music video. What I did was make an edited version of the first-ever "Superman" cartoon (the Max Fleisher one from the 1940's), and set it to the Beatles' "Help!". The end result seems a little more well-timed in its editing than it should, sort of like "The Wizard of Oz" when Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is played over it from a certain point.

ME AND MY GIRL: TOGETHER AGAIN (DOCUMENTARY)
Spring 1993

This was my "behind-the-scenes video documentary" of the East High School Spring 1993 production of "Me and My Girl". It was made during my Junior year at East High School. I made the film because I was looking for a project to keep my mind off of how much school and my social life sucked, as well as the passing of my grandmother (on my mom's side).
There are actually two versions of this documentary. The first one was about 40 minutes, and the second one is a shortened version of the first one (but with footage added as well) and lasts about 33 minutes. The latter version is the "official" version that I show people. The first half of the film consists of footage of crew members painting and constructing the set, and the second half shows scenes from the show's final dress rehearsal. A highlight of the film, for me, was a back-and-forth segment in which crew members Emily Savino and Natasha Bonham give conflicting views as to the plot of the play: Emily says it's about a poor guy who inherits a fortune, while Natasha insists that it's "a big orgy-fest".
I was so into the filming of this project (as well as the production of the play itself), I was inspired to create a special cassette case for my documentary, as well as a cardboard model of the play's set. The case and the model together won me 3rd place in a Corning art contest. The film itself was to have been shown during the art show at which the contest was held, but was not because someone in the film says the word "bitchy". I later lent a copy of the film to Judy Cross, the play's director, who eventually returned it.
The film turned out to be a mostly-positive experience, and because of it, I got my first real stage role in East High's "The King and I" one year later. And so began a long string of onstage roles, as well as a long general interest in theater.