If you love watching films and would love to learn how to make them, then Film Analysis may be the class for you.

In Film Analysis, students learn the history film, the different types of film and how to create and edit short videos.

Publications Adviser Shelly Norden has been teaching the class for three years.

“I wanted to make it a more hands on class,” Norden said. “Rather than spending a lot of time watching movies, we study different genres and then create our own.”

Norden has created the class around the VHSL Film Festival which takes place in Richmond in June.

“When students create their videos, we take a look at them together and then vote on which one will represent Kettle Run in the festival. We just started entering the festival two years ago and have had two videos receive honorable mention.”

Junior Gwyn Newcomb is currently taking the class.

“What I like most about film is that I am free to work on my passion in a space that supports me and gives me legitimate feedback,” Newcomb said. “I absolutely adore the class, and the only thing I would change is possibly getting a Film II.”

Freshman Katelyn Eaves is also in the class.

“I like how we get the freedom to create whatever we want (with guidelines) and how we can be as creative as possible,” Eaves said.

“What I like most about film analysis is being given the creative freedom to film our projects how we want to,” senior Megan Cameron said. Students create five projects throughout the course of the class; a PSA, a commercial, an experimental film, a narrative film and a documentary.

“I liked the PSA on Choice for the Virginia School Board Association,” Eaves said. “I liked how it turned out and it was fun to film and edit.”

“My favorite project we’ve done so far had been the experimental because it was my favorite type of filming, which was not so much acting, but for capturing the moment,” Newcomb said. “I am most proud of my experimental film because it was my own idea, and I filmed, edited, and produced it the way I liked, not based on oters opinions.”

“I thought that Zach and I did an amazing job with the Parental Pressure PSA,” junior Hannah Underwood said. “This is because I feel that the film didn’t drag; it kept others’ attention, and it was fun to put a point across that I felt strongly about.”

Film Analysis is open to all sophomores, juniors and seniors. Freshmen must receive special permission before being enrolled in the class.