Fitted in their finest formalwear, students and teachers hit the red carpet Friday, May 14, for the premiere of “Scarred,” senior Nicolette Hatzidimitriou’s feature-length film and senior project.
“The ‘red carpet’ movie night was actually Mrs. Geczy’s suggestion. I thought dressing up and making a big deal out of the whole thing would be a fun way to finish what I’d started,” Hatzidimitriou said.
Hatzidimitriou spent over 200 hours on the project, writing the script, filming, editing, recording music, and organizing the premiere. The final movie was approximately one hour long—40 minutes longer than she had originally planned for.
The film was adapted from senior Alesia Etinoff’s novel, “Scarred,” which Etinoff wrote for her senior project to highlight the issue of child abuse. Etinoff played the starring role in Hatzidimitriou’s film, and Hatzidimitriou also credits Etinoff with much of the film’s success: “The movie wouldn’t be nearly as incredible if Alesia hadn’t been there.”
“The acting was great. I had never seen that side of Alesia before,” Principal Paul Barker said.
Hatzidimitriou estimated that nearly 60 people attended the event. “Honestly, I was completely shocked by how many people were sitting there watching this film that I had made. I couldn’t believe it,” Hatzidimitriou said.
The movie, which was filmed over JC’s Christmas break, featured students from JC, The Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, and Morgan State University.
Barker said, “I have an appreciation for how hard it is to produce a 63-minute movie…It’s mind-blowing to do it in a way where the story pulls together.”
Before the showing of the movie, Hatzidimitriou introduced senior and “Scarred” cast member Sam Stewart to perform her song “Scarred.” Stewart wrote, performed, and recorded the song for the movie.
“Nicky is phenomenal and so is her movie,” senior and “Scarred” cast member Stephanie Barth ’10 said. “Considering I’m in the movie, it’s even more wonderful.”
In addition to the screening of the film, Hatzidimitriou organized a refreshment stand for socializing after the premiere and an interviewing station to record audience reactions after the movie.
After the premiere, Geczy called Stewart, Hatzidimitriou, and Etinoff to the stage to applaud them for their work on their senior projects. “Thank you for making my life better than it otherwise would be,” Geczy said, handing the seniors flowers.
Hatzidimitriou was moved by the audience’s emotion and support she received. “I think, to me, that’s what made the event so fantastic and wonderful: the positive, powerful reaction the audience had to my movie, this thing I had worked on for months and months. To see that my film had an impact on people was the most incredible thing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a sense of accomplishment and happiness,” Hatzidimitriou said.
Joey Hoff can be reached for comment at [email protected].