We’re excited to share that so soon after the Summer Feature Film Intensive, alumni from the program have already begun using what they learned in their own projects. LHS students Simon Trussell and Adelaide Jones met August Abbott (Mascoma High) this summer while filming JAM’s first feature film Valley Transit, and are now creating their own film called “The Creator.” Read our interview with director Simon below.
How did you all meet?
Both Adelaide and I go to Lebanon High School and are very passionate about film and art. We sort of knew each other just through some mutual acquaintances, but I really got to know her when the LHS Drama Club did a production of Water for Elephants and we shared many scenes together. We both went on a film related field trip to JAM during WRIF, and we both participated as actors and interns on Valley Transit. She signed up to be the assistant director of “The Creator” and will also be acting in the film, playing the Cashier.
We met August during the second session of Valley Transit. August and I look very similar, and as soon as he walked in, Adelaide pointed him out to me and called him, “Evil Simon”. We were still looking for a cinematographer, and since he was one of the few interns who would still be in the upper valley after shooting, I decided to ask him if he would be interested in joining the project. Turns out he’s a great photographer and understands camera equipment way better than I do, and was the perfect person to be our cinematographer!
What is the film about?
A young farm worker named Stagrand, living on the flat world of Nyrath, lands a job at a struggling publishing company and captivates its owner with an imaginative fantasy setting they invent called Earth—a vast, round world. Unable to write himself, Stagrand partners with the talented writer Ravoni to turn his vision into a bestselling book series, but as their success grows, a bitter conflict erupts over authorship, creativity, and who truly deserves credit for bringing Earth to life. Through their collaboration, the fictional world gradually evolves into a retelling of real-world events surrounding the Covid pandemic, while the story explores the relationship between ideas, storytelling, and the nature of creation itself. (Fantasy/Drama)
What are your roles?
I (Simon) am the writer and director, Adelaide is the assistant director, and August is the cinematographer. Adelaide has been one of the most dedicated and helpful people on the whole production. She’s the assistant director, but she does so much more than that. I always ask for her judgment and ideas, because I know her input will drastically improve the film. Having Adelaide on set makes everything so much easier when I’m not trying to manage everything by myself like I have on previous projects, and allows me to focus more on the creative directorial decisions. August has been an incredible cinematographer for the project. This film is being shot with an infrared camera to create the world of Nyrath, which changes everything you think you know about light and color, and August has been handling that so well. He’s had so many great cinematographic ideas as we’ve been shooting, many of which have been my favorite shots of the day. On previous films I’ve been the cinematographer, but by having August here, he can focus exclusively on the camera and I can put more focus into the directing, improving both of those respective aspects.
What’s the production timeline?
We started production one September 26th, and we hope to finish shooting in mid-December. Post production will go from January to the release of the film in May.
What did you learn from the Summer Feature Film Intensive (SFFI)?
As a filmmaker, I have learned so SO much from the work I did on Valley Transit on how an actual production should work. Call sheets, the different department heads, how much time is needed for a shoot, the equipment required, the collaboration between everyone, set lingo, and so SO much more. I think almost every aspect of the production would be so much worse and more chaotic had I not been an SFFI intern, it has truly changed everything I knew about filmmaking for the better.
Other cool stuff?
This film is being shot using infrared photography, making everything we shoot look like an alien world. All foliage becomes yellow, giving us some beautiful landscapes. We’ve been lucky enough to film at the Great Vermont Corn Maze in Danville Vermont, and have gotten some absolutely spectacular shots!
