Port Townsend’s students have been through a lot.

Whether it was remote learning from the pandemic or the challenges of returning to the classroom after a year away, the road has been anything but smooth for them.

But within those COVID years and after, students in Port Townsend High School teacher David Egeler’s media classes have risen above to continue making captivating art.

Now, the community will have the opportunity to view the short films, music videos, and other media forms for themselves with the Student Film Showcase in the Port Townsend Film Festival’s Balcony Theater.

The event is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12.

Those interested in attending can buy tickets and get further details at ptfffocus.eventive.org/schedule/638a80627dafd10045572e9a.

MEET THE MAKERS

Speaking with The Leader, four students with works submitted in the showcase discussed their art showing in the theater, future projects, and their potential futures in the world of film, voice acting, and a wide range of arts.

“Since I started this class in my sophomore year, I’ve really found pursuing a film career as something I really want to do,” said Port Townsend High student Charlotte Capel. “Right now, I’m looking into hopefully directing and I’d love to focus on documentaries … definitely filmmaking as a career.”

Capel will be showing a surrealist film and music video in the showcase.

“That was based on dreams and a reoccurring nightmare I had, very loosely based on that,” Capel said of her surrealist film. “That was a very fun project.”

Regarding her influences, Capel enjoys anything from post-apocalyptic thrillers like “A Quiet Place” to Hollywood classics such as “Jurassic Park,” though she’s found a lot of influence in the surrealism space.

“I think I find a lot of my inspiration in surrealism films and that kind of genre; I feel like I can really express myself in it,” Capel said. “Anything that’s out of the ordinary and really takes creative liberty to create something new that’s never been seen before.”

Capel has big plans, too, and is currently working on a stop-motion film to submit for the upcoming Port Townsend Film Festival as well as a big-time dream of creating her film spin on “Lord of the Flies.”

Port Townsend High’s Devon Helman plans to bring a truly unique interview with voice actor Keith Silverstein.

“That’s pretty much the biggest project I’ve made,” Helman said of the 60-plus hours of editing that went into his submission.

Helman’s goal is to become a voice actor and the student has already began cutting his chops with local radio station KPTZ.

“I’m working hard at getting things out that I can do voiceover work for to build my résumé,” Helman said. “I get a lot of inspiration from what other people have done on YouTube that looks fun to me.”

“I’m going to try my very best to get a résumé going so when I’m out of high school I can just go into the job immediately and not have to pay for more schooling,” Helman said.

Ezra Kikue Cook of Port Townsend High will show multiple different works, from short films to comedy sketches in the showcase.

“I’ve submitted some of the films I worked on last year. I made my first film in the beginning of last year around February called ‘Waking Up,’ and it was a surreal film inspired by early Surrealism and talking about coping with things in the form of dreams,” Cook said. “I will also be showcasing a music video I made to Frank Ocean’s ‘White Ferrari’ last year, and might see a couple little comedy sketches in there that I did for final projects.”

Cook traces their influences to acclaimed filmmakers Wes Anderson and Tim Burton, smaller directors for short films, and even brings a long background in the performing arts with Key City Public Theatre. 

“Our screening is not only just letting the community in to take a peek at what we’re doing, but it’s an excellent opportunity for the community to support us,” Cook said.

After high school, Cook hopes to study creative direction, producing, and screenwriting.

“Right now I’ve applied to several colleges and am trying to go into a creative producing and screenwriting program elsewhere,” Cook said. “For this year, I’m working on projects — they won’t make it into the showcase — but maybe potentially into the film festival next September.”

Port Townsend High’s Tallulah Sebastian will be showing multiple works, from surrealism to comedy.

“One of them was a short surrealist film that won an award from Peninsula College. Me and my sister filmed it late at night and it was kind of a nightmare where things didn’t make a lot of sense,” Sebastian said. “The next piece was a comedy commercial that I created from a concept that my dad had come up with for a product a couple years ago.”

Sebastian’s inspiration doesn’t lie in any particular director’s realm, but rather the styles and shots from a variety of media that can convey certain feelings or emotions.

“I’m not quite sure if I want to go into filmmaking or the entertainment industry when I get older,” Sebastian said. “I have some interests in completely different areas like with the Coast Guard or environmental sustainability and conservation; that’s something I’m really passionate about. But I’ve had a lot of fun doing this class so I might keep it as a hobby when I get older.”

CREATIVE ENERGY

While the creative works formed in Egeler’s media classes belong to the students, many of their films and pieces would be much harder without his support.

“Teaching these classes here at the high school has been something that I’ve wanted to do since I first became a teacher more than 20 years ago,” Egeler said. “I’m having the most fun I’ve had in my 22-year career as a teacher.”

With a deep background and career of his own in film, Egeler’s expertise and education style elevates it from being just another class. Whether it’s the ample movie posters surrounding the walls or the creative energy flowing throughout, the vibes are perfect for young creatives to unleash their imagination.

“Everything all put together, I think that there’s going to be some really mind-blowing work and people are going to be surprised at how much quality work is coming out of the students here. And when you see it you’re going to feel the energy and the vibe that’s flowing through the media lab here,” Egeler said of the showcase.

HEADED FOR SEATTLE

Beyond just the Student Film Showcase, Egeler and his class are hoping to head to Seattle this year to give the teens firsthand experience with the regional film and audio scene of Seattle.

The class hopes to travel and experience a wide range of media-related spots from Robert Lang Studios to the Museum of Pop Culture.

“A lot of my students have never been there, so I think that will be a fantastic experience,” Egeler said of potentially visiting MoPOP.

As fun as it sounds, travel is costly and the advanced media class is trying to fundraise to make the trip a reality.

“The goal is to find some pieces of the industry closer to home where we can explore careers right here in Washington state,” Cook said. “I think it’s a really good opportunity for as many students as we can bring, and the more funds we get from the community the more people we can involve in the trip.”

The local community can help out in a myriad of ways, whether by attending the showcase or sending donations. Egeler said he is working with the school district to figure out a way for donors to send monetary gifts and make the Seattle trip a reality.

“These kids are so excited, and I just want to do whatever I can to support them,” Egeler said.

To learn more about the showcase and Port Townsend Film festival, go to ptfilmfest.com.