Schools

First Attempt at Film Festival Makes the Cut

Jake Shore and his friends created the film "Ryan Shea: Security Officer," which will be screened at today's festival.

If you park in the staff parking lot at Staples High School and you are not a member of the staff, chances are Ryan Shea will come after you.

At least, that's what he says in his latest debut as an angry, self-employed security guard in the film, "Ryan Shea: Security Officer."

The film is one of 65 being shown at the Westport Youth Film Festival today.

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Created by Shea, a freshman, with his classmates Jake Shore, Jarrett Goodness, and sophomore Adam Levinson, the film is about Shea and how he knows he rules the school as its lone security officer. From reprimanding high schoolers making out on school property to getting angry at finding trash on school grounds, Shea does not stand for anything and isn't afraid to use expletives to describe how he feels. Much of the film is "bleeped" out.

"He's very possessive of the school and its protection," Shore said. "It's hilarious and it was just a fun project."

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The film-making team created the four-minute movie in a Narrative Film Class at Staples this year.

For Shore, it's an extension of his hobby.

With an older brother who graduated from film school, Shore said he's been interested in making movies since he was in the third grade.

Now a freshman, he makes about one movie a month. Some are for fun. Others are promotional videos for a skateboarding company in New Jersey called Original Skateboards. In exchange for his videos, Shore gets free skateboarding equipment.

Shore's brother also participated in the Westport Youth Film Festival when he attended Staples and that's partly why Shore wanted to take a crack at it himself this year for the first time.

The Ryan Shea: Security Officer film made the cut and even earned acclaim from the WYFF Team, who said on the WYFF blog, "This high school freshman is hilarious in his "Mall Cop" spoof.  We couldn't stop laughing!"

"We were just so pumped about that," Shore said. "That out of 200 submitted entries, they mentioned ours. ... We were really excited."

Shore said he plans to resubmit films to WYFF every year. The reason this one was so successful, he says, is due to the acting of Ryan Shea.

"He's the best actor," Shore said. "He's in Staples Players and he just has a distinct style. He's very good."

Shore said he'd like to pursue filmmaking as a career and hopes to eventually make a feature length film.

For now, he's working on what he can do for WYFF and plans to apply for the WYFF scholarship to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy summer program in Michigan.

Those who would like to see his film can catch it at 2 p.m. today at Town Hall or 3 p.m. today at Toquet Hall.

Just be careful not to park in any reserved spaces — or Ryan Shea just might write you a ticket.


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