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Maine South film club offers reel experience
Maine South's film club (top row from left): Kevin Riley, J.R. O'Rourke, Mr. Garrett Fechner, Gio Miranda, Nathan Pinsky, Joshua Robbins, (bottom from left) Julie Haak, Rebeka Nekalova and Alanna Woods. | Contributed photo
Updated: February 25, 2013 11:38AM
If students love movies and discussing the various aspects of cinema, then the Maine South High School Film Club may just be the perfect club for them to join.
“We get kids from every end of the school,” said Garrett Fechner, who runs the film club.
Fechner said the club attracts students ranging from kids in the drama department to the athletic department.
For other kids, the film club is the only group they belong to outside of school.
Fechner feels the club is a great way for kids to feel like they are a part of something in addition to school.
The students watch a wide variety of genres of films together and then discuss the films and various aspects of the films.
“We talk about those jobs that aren’t the lead actor in the film,” said Fechner. He said they sometimes talk about the score of a film or special effects in a film.
Fechner said that some students are taking related courses, such as a TV broadcasting course, while others are just big fans of the movies.
“We do a little bit of everything,” said Fechner, about the genres of films they watch and discuss. Sometimes the movies are seasonal, such as thrillers during Halloween.
Recently, the group watched movies such as “Taken,” “The King’s Speech,” “Psycho,” “District 9” and “Escape from Alcatraz.”
“Choosing the films is done by both me and the students,” explained Fechner. “If students were to ever choose a film that has a rating of R, then a required parental permission slip is required to view the film.”
The movies are shown on LCD projectors in a classroom or in the auditorium on a big screen. To create a movie theater atmosphere, sometimes the students enjoy popcorn while watching the movies.
Fechner said the club is composed of about 15 to 20 students, with kids sometimes filtering in and out of the club.
“I think what I like most is it’s just a smaller group of us so we can have good conversations,” said Kevin Riley, who said he joined the club because many of his friends were in the club.
“It’s something fun,” said Alanna Woods, who is also a member of the film club. She said she has an interest in films and finds the club to be a good way to relax after school.
Fechner teaches literature and a film course at Maine South High School and he is also a volleyball coach.
