Sisters Ariana and Anaya Lawton are still in elementary school, but they recently saw their work on the silver screen at Marcus Country Club Hills Cinema after participating in making a film called “Modern Icons,” about notable Black heroes.
Ariana, a 5th grader at Prairie-Hills S.T.E.A.M. Academy in Markham, worked on editing and production while Anaya had an acting part in one of the segments. The film featured news and stories about famous athletes and artists such as Simone Biles, LeBron James, Will Smith and Issa Rae.
It was one of four films put together by School District 144 students, teachers and staff and showcased during a Black History Month Film Festival at the theater last week. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade, along with several staff members had been working on the films since November.
In “Modern Icons,” students discussed what they liked about Simone Biles and displayed some gymnastic moves of their own.
“I love Simone Biles and her flips and tricks,” said one student.
“I bet you didn’t know she had 37 medals,” said another.
“The greatest gymnast in the world,” a third student piped in.
The festival’s other films were “Obama Everything” from Nob Hill Elementary School in Country Club Hills, “The Story of Wallstreet Trapper,” from Mae Jamison School in Hazel Crest, and “Whatchu Know about House” from Prairie Hills Junior High School in Markham.
The district’s film festival was the brainchild of Superintendent Kinasha Brown and technology director Leonard Hill, though language arts and reading teachers, media specialists, principals and School Board members also chipped in ideas and hard work.
Brown said the celebration of Black History Month was created as “a space where kids could really showcase their talent” while having the chance to see themselves on the big screen.
Hill, who oversaw the project, said students used iPads to make the videos, attaching gimbals to add stability to the cameras. Some, he said, needed no learning curve to handle the technology.
Hill came up with the idea of the festival but said Brown encouraged him to build on his ideas.
“She’s very inspiring,” Hill said. “She’s a great leader. She gives us ideas and allows us to evolve in our own ways, and I appreciate that about her.”
The goal was to bring to life an “African American hero or chain of events that has some type of inspiration for African American history,” Hill said.
After each film, a district administrator led question and answer sessions, so students could discuss what they learned and what they liked about making the films.
The project also required tight coordination with the theatre. The festival was only open to district families, staff and officials.
Hill said he hopes to repeat the event in future years.
“I plan for it to get better and better,” he said.
Amaris Winters, principal of Markham Park Elementary, also helped coordinate the event and credited Brown’s emphasis on the arts as a guiding force.
“She came in and just changed the culture of our district,” said Winters. “She is pushing creativity and the arts and what is best for kids. This is how we take the time and develop the whole student.”
Sharron Davis, a School Board member and grandmother of filmmakers Ariana and Anaya, said the experience was great for students.
“To let them see their film at a neighborhood theatre … I love this,” she said. “I have not known anyone to do that before.”
Aubry Crain, District 144’s board secretary, said the creativity showcased in the festival has additional benefits.
“Art has always been a good mental health outlet for me,” she said. “Creative minds also do great things,” she said.
For Angela Davis, the mother of filmmaking sisters Ariana and Amaya, the festival “was very exciting.”
“It showed them they could learn different things and be a part of something that is brand new,” she said. “It’s just a wonderful experience.”
Her daughter agreed.
“I like being in the movie a lot,” Ariana said just before making her silver screen debut.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
