The Making of a Sony Film

On the set of “The Break In,” directed by seniors Roxanna Barling and Anna Eppe.

Sony Studios has been a major sponsor for arts education at CCHS for over 30 years, most notably through AVPA (Academy of Visual and Performing Arts). One of the most significant opportunities that Sony offers to CCHS students is the annual “Sony Films” program for members of AVPA Film. The program begins with a Pitch Fest in November.

During Pitch Fest, AVPA Film students present original film ideas, and the program’s students vote to select the top ten pitches out of more than twenty submissions.The top 10 are then presented to the film class as Table Reads, with actors reading aloud from the scripts. A vote narrows this down to a final 6. These selected projects become that year’s official “Sony Films,” which will be featured in a special screening on the Sony Studios lot. The chosen writer-directors then workshop their scripts in an Advanced Screenwriting Bootcamp taught by CCHS Game Design teacher Mr. Darien. Student directors and actors also participate in individual script read-throughs with AVPA Theatre Creative Director Lee Hanson, where they receive guidance on directing actors and refining performances. Everything is coordinated by AVPA Film Creative Director Holly Gable, who ensures that every film crew has the resources they need to be successful.

Each film is shot over a seven-day period, often requiring multiple reshoot days due to weather, and every crew member involved is an AVPA Film student. Editors sort through and assemble the footage over the course of 6 weeks until a fine cut is ready, which is one of the most tedious and technical stages of the production process. The films are finally completed with original scores composed by students from the AVPA/CTE Music Media classes, making the films a fully student-driven collaboration across multiple disciplines.

Slate on set of “The Break In.”

Among the many student filmmakers at CCHS is Roxanna Barling, a senior who recently completed her short film, co-directed with senior Anna Eppe, The Break In. The film follows a teenage boy who breaks into his ex-girlfriend’s house to retrieve his limited edition charger, only to discover that she dated him as a bucket-list item rather than for true love. Another student filmmaker, junior Una Finn, directed a film titled Evanescence this year. The film takes place in a fictional world where the government taxes memories, forcing people to choose what—and who—they want to remember or forget. It follows a girl named Emelia whose best friend suddenly chooses to forget her over the summer, creating emotional tension and conflict between the two girls. Both films will be screened on the Sony Pictures lot this April.

AVPA Film is a highly set-focused program, where the majority of student work and learning is hands-on and revolves around the film set itself. Most films made in the program take one to two days of pre-production followed by a full day of filming. In comparison, filming “Sonys” is a much bigger production. However, since all students in the program pitch in, filming “Sonys” becomes a collaborative process that is the culmination of everything they’ve learned throughout the year. The sense of community within the program is strong, as older students share their knowledge and experience with newer members who are just beginning their filmmaking journey.

Students are given the rare opportunity to present their films in one of Sony’s theaters at a special screening attended by friends, family, and fellow filmmakers. All six films are celebrated equally. Rather than awarding a grand prize, the true reward lies in the experience itself—creating a film and sharing it with an audience.

Afterward, AVPA students often submit their films to film festivals, some of which offer prizes or scholarships. The opportunity to showcase original student films at one of the world’s largest film studios is both rare and unforgettable. AVPA brings people together through creativity, collaboration, and storytelling, proving that it’s never too late to join and discover your potential. For any student dreaming of becoming the next big director, AVPA is a great place to start. And for anyone who wants to watch these films, AVPA Film will host a free-to-the-public Spring Showcase in the Robert Frost Auditorium in June. Check avpa.org for dates.