Unique summer camp in West Asheville teaches kids movie skills
WEST ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — In a world where news stories often look the same, we were suddenly thrust into the spotlight at Movie Making Camp.
Local kids went Hollywood in West Asheville, learning it takes teamwork and creativity behind the scenes.
"I like to make films, and it's cool to not only just work on a film but find other people with similar interests,” says camper Deacon Perrine.
The plot twist we didn’t see coming involved me and photojournalist Jordan Powell.
"This just in, we are at the scene of a clone outbreak,” I declared, running through lines for my role in the blockbuster movie of the summer camp. More on my part in a moment.
First, I asked for guidance in putting our story behind the story together. Turns out everyone’s a budding director.
"So, it should be about maybe like us making a film,” said Deacon. "If you wanna like throw something in that would be cool. Maybe like a shot of the building."
"Look at our camera, as compared to that camera,” another camper says, sizing up our equipment.
"They seem to love the ability to have hands on equipment,” said Camp Director Lisa Smith.
"I get to carry a fun tripod, woo hoo!" said camper Elena Motley, moving to the next scene and loving every minute.
"They were part of a group that did something larger than what they could do themselves and they made a movie,” Smith said.
Deacon and Elena co-starred in "Clone Shenanigans."
"First of all clones are just really freaking cool,” Elena said.
She’s not wrong.
In the film, we see multiple versions of Deacon, who is cloned by a mad scientist.
"It's like you have me here and then you have me here,” he says. “So I kind of just learned how to do that effect."
"Did you just clone me?” Deacon says in the movie.
“I need to alert the media!” Says the scientist, played by Elena.
"Everybody's kind of spooked because there are clones everywhere,” Smith says.
The’ plot thickens and sci-fi is about to get real.
While coming up with a script on the fly, Deacon envisions a news crew reporting on the clone crisis.
"Welcome to blah blah blah news,” he told his collaborators.
"They wanted to have a news report about clones in the middle,” Smith tells us.
"And he says here is how people feel about the clone crisis,” Deacon adds. “And then we interview you all.”
Then, the moment of truth when the crew approached us.
"Ooh yeah will you be in our movie?” Elena asked.
They didn’t have to ask twice. This was our big news break.
"We now interrupt General Hospital we have a live clone outbreak,” I said somewhat convincingly. “I'm John Le let's talk to witnesses.”
Then, I interviewed witnesses about the clones.
“Yes, I almost caught it on camera but then I realized I don't have my camera,” said one character
"What did the clone sound like?” I said, asking all the tough questions.
“It didn't sound like anything,” an actress says with an almost alien voice.
"I saw the whole thing,” says another camper, playing the role of an elderly lady. “He came into my elderly home!"
“So how did I do?” I later asked Elena.
“You did good. You sounded like an actual person,” she replied. “Like, not acting for a movie.
In a world where the clones are clobbered, there’s a lesson suitable for children of all ages.
"I hope they leave with a sense of empowerment that they completed the project,” Smith said.
"And kind of like cheesy,” Elena acknowledges. “Because we're kids and we're making a movie."
If only we could clone them all.
