Recently, most Thomas Academy students got to attend a Cucalorus Field Trip over two days where students watched and reacted to short film’s appropriate for their age ranges, learning about sound engineering, listening to filmmakers talk about their work and even trying their hand at adding sounds to movies themselves. Elementary and Middle School students were first on Thursday, with high school attending Friday. 

Longtime Cucalorus Chief Instigating Officer Dan Brawley guided the elementary and middle school students in how they should consider films as they watch them and explained the technical difference between feature and short films.“I want you to actively observe these films today. Be thinking about what you’re seeing. In addition to how it makes you feel, think about why,” he said. Munching on cups of popcorn from the lobby’s concessions, students watched short films including one about a group of little girls playing astronauts during a sleepover and planning a mission and a black and white movie called The Private Life of a Cat.

After lunch, Cucalorus’ Noah Rosenblatt led the children in a sound workshop where they narrated the cat short film. “What’s dialogue?” he quizzed the kids.“Words somebody says,” one of our elementary students replied.

In groups of two, the kids took turns playing the Mom Cat, Dad Cat or the kittens, and lots of giggling, meowing, slurping and licking sounds ensued.

We want to thank Cucalorus Film Foundation for welcoming us. This field trip was made possible through a “fun grant” with NC Department of Public Instruction NC Public Schools made possible through Title IV funding as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act.