Seniors grasp last movie-making chance

Amanda Edwards • February 16, 2010

With Night of the Stars (NOTS) just around the corner, the seniors prepare to showcase their final movie. After the departure of the class of 2009, who won ‘Best Picture’ three years in a row, the class of 2010 aims to start a new legacy with their film, Dodgeball.

Led by directors Paige Powell and Tyler Duerr, the seniors are in preparation to show their final project at NOTS, Feb. 20.

The annual formal, which has been facilitated by FC for over 10 years, will be held at the The Grand 1401 in downtown Fresno, with pictures and dinner followed by a showing of all four class movies and an Academy Awards-style ceremony.

“Making the movie is a very big and stressful job,” Powell said, “I’m hoping other people will step up this year. It is very hard, but I have done it every year in high school so far. I consider it a tradition.”

Powell says filming will span many locations in order to complete a professional product.

“We will be filming in several locations,” Powell said, “This includes the school gym, George Brown’s Sports Club, and several students houses as well.”

There are three main characters for the film: Peter Le Fleur, played by Tyler Combs, Kate Veatch, played by Heather Lichti and White Goodman, by Nick Methgen.

“I was most excited about seeing everyone playing their parts,” Combs said. “I feel as if everyone was casted perfectly for their role. I can’t wait to be able to relate to the actor of the NOTS movie, to the actors of the genuine movie.

After losing ‘Best Picture’ to the class of 2009 three years running, the senior team, including Combs, have high hopes for the project.

“I have attended NOTS every year for the past four years,” Combs said, “I have seen our class and directors pull off some truly amazing works in many different spans of time. I am confident that whatever we manage to create it will be great.

Methgen says he is looking forward to the comedic aspect of the movie as well as making memories for his senior year.

“Filming has been great so far,” Methgen said, “My favorite part of would be getting my head bashed into the wall [while filming a dodgeball scene]. We did so many re-takes I ended up blacking out. It was something I will never forget.”

Due to other priorities, Lichti has been restricted from taking a movie role in the past. This year she says she aims to make up for lost time.

“I am very eager to be in the movie this year,” Lichti said, “I have been unable to participate the last three years due to vacationing to the coast. Luckily that will not be the case this year.”

Powell, who has taken the helm on each of the class’ movies, says her last one has induced conflicted emotions.

“It is truly bittersweet,” Powell said. “It is the last time to have a successful movie for our class. In a way I am glad it’s over — there have been so many sleepless nights as well as zero beauty sleep. However, it is something I will treasure and remember always.”

For more information about NOTS class movies, read the Feb, 12 article, ‘He’s the Chick’ plots comic relief, the Jan. 27 article, ‘The Pacifier’ holds hope for sophomores or the Jan. 26 article, Juniors plot ‘Twilight’ comeback.