“You’re My Dream Girl,” a film written and directed by AVPA’s CTE Film’s Charlotte Sasson, has been chosen as an official selection to the All American High School Film Festival, the largest and most prestigious student film festival in the world. You’re My Dream Girl was chosen from more than 2500 submissions from 50 states and 40+ countries.
“The story of this film was originally inspired by some thoughts I had about how men viewed women and tended to idealize them or hold them to unrealistic expectations and standards,” said Charlotte, who is entering 11th grade at CCHS. “‘From this, the idea of a ‘Dream Girl’ came to mind. Soon the story formed itself into a comedic and light-hearted commentary on this dynamic.’”
Sasson’s dramedy will be screened in October at New York’s AMC Empire 25 Theaters in Times Square, the busiest movie theater in America. Of note, the All American High School Film Festival awarded over $600,000 in scholarships and prizes last year.
“I am elated for Charlotte but not at all surprised,” said Creative Director of AVPA Film Holly Gable. “Charlotte wrote a solid script and had a clear vision for her film. The cast and crew collaborated beautifully under her direction.”
“The most challenging part of making this film was probably finding the confidence in myself to direct my own movie,” added Charlotte. “I felt very inexperienced and nervous, but as the week of shooting went on I definitely gained more confidence. The most exciting part of making this film was how the crew came together and how I got to know everyone so well”.
Additional CCHS AVPA Film students who participated are actors Davey Boss, Neville Schroeder and Anna Eppe, assistant director Flora Woo, producer Gabby Gilbert, assistant producer Violett Hesse, cinematographer Sam Steiner, assistant cameraperson Isla Keough, gaffer Loretta Barling, sound mixers Mingus Schoffman and Delilah Leon, editor Una Finn, and music by Mary Kato.
Ms. Gable said, “We thank Lani Manos and Cat Rotunno of Sony Pictures Entertainment for such beautiful camera equipment. Through their generosity, we’ve been able to compete against the most talented and creative high school filmmakers in the world. Having the opportunity of screening our films on the lot at Sony in their state-of-the-art theater motivates my students to work at an even higher level.”
AVPA (the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts) Film program is part of CCHS’s Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways that train students in trades and connect them to industry and workplace learning. Charlotte said she’s definitely considering film as a future career, “I’m so excited to continue to make films in AVPA and beyond.”
Culver Pride
