John
Marshall High
Includes details of the many Hollywood productions made at
the school
The BBC is not responsible for
the content of external websites
Commissioner's
Comment Nick Fraser
Storyville Series Editor
For
Chain Camera filmmaker Kirby
Dick handed out video cameras to the pupils of a multiracial
high school in LA. If this sounds like either a project tinged with
sobriety, or a remake of Beverly Hills 90210, don't be deceived.
You will want very much to live in Los Angeles as you watch the
film.
The
high school students are absolutely charming, coming from a profuse
variety of backgrounds (Armenians and Sudanese are there). Like
most teenagers, they are primarily interested in sex. But they are
not cynical and the drug consumption appears to be surprisingly
low.
I
like the film because it is so unusual in tone, and because it proves
that these teenagers are going to grow up to make terrific films
- they may not always know how to spell, but they can shoot film.
It's unusual to find a film so fresh, so uncynical about teenagers
- it makes one feel that henceforth, grownups should not be allowed
to trample on their preserve. Teenagers should tell us about themselves.
