- Funding for this program has been provided by.

(upbeat music) Hi I'm Olivia and welcome to "Young Creator Studio," a space to showcase some of the best youth created films in our area.

Today, we're at the beautiful Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey.

All across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, middle school and high school students have been hard at work, creating stories both in the classroom and on their own just for you.

So sit back and enjoy.

- [Narrator] Throughout high school, rumor swirled that she and her family were affiliated with the Yugoslavian Secret Service.

- Two strawberry milkshakes, please.

- What are you doing?

- Strawberry milkshakes are my favorite.

- Don't you wanna lie here all day?

I mean, it's not like anybody will miss you anyway.

- You're not real.

- Are you a spy too?

- A spy?

Dude, we're not spies.

What are you on?

- [Jim] Well... - What?

You're a spy?

(upbeat music) - What makes a really good movie or short film?

Is it compelling characters, fascinating plots with twists and turns, realistic dialogue?

All of the above?

Well today's filmmakers are honing their skills in the narrative genre, exploring love stories, murder mysteries, and even a drama about an undercover agent and a hostage.

Stay tuned.

(organ music) - [Narrator] In the year 1977, a promising collective of first years arrived at George School.

Although initially not fond of each other, throughout their years in high school they slowly found ways to tolerate one another.

Besides forming little to no connections they became the prominent senior class of 1977, forever known to the school.

Today marks their high school reunion following their graduation day.

MD, a child prodigy since the age of five, when he once calculated and filed his parents' taxes instead of indulging his babysitter.

He is currently working as a criminology professor at the University of Pomona.

In high school, he was top of his class earning honor roll every semester.

Being a 17 time state champ debate captain, and even student class president in his junior and senior year.

Since his first debate, MD has worn a bow tie every day and still fails to center it.

Dirk only barely managed to graduate with the help of MD.

They were best friends.

Originally because in the 10th grade, MD was obligated to tutor Dirk for the upcoming final and are still best friends now because of MD's extensive knowledge on the physics of shooting a free throw.

Dirk and Rayne, his twin sister, could not be more different.

At George School, Rayne had always secretly fawned over MD.

You could catch her at any time of day spying on him from a distance.

Since the age of seven, Rayne has not allowed herself to step into the sun due to a traumatizing case of sunburn one summer.

On days when she must go outside, she never forgets her umbrella, gifted to her by the family of her first client as a mortician.

Rayne liked to call it admiring.

However, Faye never did shy away from calling her a stalker.

Not much is known about Faye or her family.

Her hair was always parted just enough to the right so that it could cover her missing ear.

Allegedly lost in fighting Dmitri.

Throughout high school, rumor swirled that she and her family were affiliated with the Yugoslavian Secret Service and procured a formidable fortune there.

Throughout high school rumor swirled that she and her family were affiliated with the Yugoslavian Secret Service and procured a formidable fortune there.

The truth has still never been disclosed.

The only one Faye has ever confided in is Clementine, her best friend.

Clementine is not actually her real name.

It is a nickname she received in the sixth grade once her class realized she had been eating only clementines for five straight years after she read an article that one clementine contains 20 grams of protein.

She has always been a gym fanatic and even trained Dirk in high school to help him earn scholarships which in garnered Clementine "street cred" as Dirk called it.

As they all met together for one last time, the unthinkable happens.

(Dirk screams) There has been a murder.

Who could it be?

What is their motive?

And most importantly will the reunion dinner be al carte or prefix?

(gentle piano music) - Hi.

- Hi.

- I'm Layla.

- Nora.

- Well, I came over here because- - [Waitress] What can I get for you?

- Oh, we're not together.

- Two strawberry milkshakes, please.

- What are you doing?

- Strawberry milkshakes are my favorite besides I've never had them from here, so.

- I mean, this place does have pretty good milkshakes.

- Good.

- [Waitress] Here you are.

- Thank you.

So why haven't I seen you around?

I hang out here all the time and I've never seen you before.

- Well, my family just moved here and- (gentle piano music) - And so she made me do the scene over again.

So I'm off stage.

But as I was doing that, I saw- - Sorry, continue.

- No it's okay.

- No, I just told my mom I'd be home by nine and it's now 9:01 but I really wanna hang out again Nora.

- Me too, - Okay.

Bye.

- Bye.

(soft music) ♪ Days seem sometimes as if they'll never end ♪ ♪ Sun digs its heels to taunt you ♪ ♪ But after sunlit days ♪ ♪ One thing stays the same ♪ ♪ Rises the moon ♪ (music distorts) (soft music) ♪ Oh-oh, close your weary eyes ♪ ♪ I promise you that soon the autumn comes ♪ ♪ To darken fading summer skies ♪ ♪ Breathe, breathe, breathe ♪ ♪ Days pull you down just like a sinking ship ♪ ♪ Floating is getting harder ♪ ♪ But tread the water child ♪ (music distorts) (soft music) ♪ Days pull you up just like a daffodil ♪ ♪ Uprooted from its garden ♪ ♪ They'll tell you what you owe, but know even so ♪ ♪ Rises the moon ♪ ♪ You'll be visited by sleep ♪ ♪ I promise you that soon the autumn comes ♪ ♪ To steal away each dream you keep ♪ ♪ Breathe, breathe, breathe ♪ - I'm sorry.

I just...

I can't do this.

I gotta go.

(glass shatters) (soft music) ♪ Oh-oh, close your weary eyes ♪ ♪ I promise you that soon the autumn comes ♪ ♪ To darken fading summer skies ♪ ♪ Breathe, breathe, breathe ♪ (gentle piano music) - Um, hi... - Hey.

- Two strawberry milkshakes, please.

(birds chirp) - It's July 2019 and I'm looking for a rock.

Not just rock.

A special rock.

I need one of those cooler, special rocks.

I need a red one or maybe a nice gray.

And you may be questioning why I'm looking for a colored rock in the middle of this, this, but that's really besides the point.

What matters is that this place is special so obviously the rocks gonna gonna be special which means that my question is gonna be freaking sick.

Ladies, gents, people who are breathing and watching this right now, we found one!

I, I, I think I found one mushroom colored rock, a giant rock?

But this is so sick!

(grass rustles) 9 1 1, what's your emergency?

(phone rings) - [Distorted Voice] You know, your silly little hoarder habits aren't a substitute for real people.

I mean, come on, now.

You have nothing to be sad- (phone thuds) What's the matter, darling?

Don't like hearing the truth?

Don't you want to feel something?

Set yourself on fine.

Don't you wanna lie here all day?

I mean, you seem like you're so tired and it's not like anybody will miss you anyway.

- You're not real.

(water rushes) - Your eye bags are like super visible, like.

Oh come on.

You know you want to, but you're too scared.

Just like you're scared of everything else.

What if she suffocated?

One less problem the world has to worry about.

- I'm not a girl.

- [Distorted Voice] Oh, I mean, look at yourself.

Are you sure about that?

Darling, journaling won't make me disappear.

I'm here.

Always.

- [Simone] You're doing great, man.

This is awesome!

- [Jim] Oh, thanks.

- Oh, I'm actually sober for a little bit.

So I'll just have water.

- Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

- So where are Emily and the kids again?

- The Bahamas.

They wanted to get some beach time before they had to return to school, so.

Sorry about the cup, it's the only one I have.

- Oh, no worries.

Any reason you didn't go with them?

- You know, just work and stuff.

And it's nice to have the house to yourself for a little bit.

How's life been treating you?

Haven't seen you much on Facebook lately, so.

- Yeah.

It's good.

I got a new apartment recently, so that's pretty chill.

- That's awesome.

That's awesome.

- Yeah.

Thanks.

So I actually gotta piss.

Is there a bathroom upstairs?

- Yeah, just around the corner.

- Cool, cool.

- Yeah.

(dramatic music) - Hey, nice candle, man.

I like the smell- Oh... Jim?

(knocking on door) Hello?

Jim?

(dramatic music) - [Jim] Hey.

Hey Simone.

- Hey, what's going on?

- It's okay.

We're gonna be okay.

- We are currently not okay.

- True things do seem pretty - That they absolutely do!

(door squeaks) - Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon.

- What the hell?

Who are you?

- Shut up!

Not talking to you!

Splintered Rook.

- How do you know that name?

- Are you Splintered Rook?

Yes or no?

- [Jim] Might be.

- July, 2007, Washington DC.

We're looking for the silver dossiers.

Does that ring a bell?

- No.

- [Voice Over Radio] Hit him.

- Who was that?

Who do you work for?

- Ah!

- We said shut up!

Who are you anyway?

- Simone!

My name's Simone.

- What do you know about this?

- Nothing.

- Are you a spy too?

- A spy?

Dude, we're not spies.

What are you on?

- [Jim] Well... - What?

You're a spy?

- No, I was and no, not a spy.

- What were you then?

- I did some political intelligence gathering.

- That's called a spy.

- I'm gonna ask you again.

What do you know about the silver dossiers?

- Who do you work for?

- What do you know about the silver dossiers?

- The what?

- [Voice Over Radio] You're lying to us, Jim.

We know you were given access.

All the operatives were.

- Who is that?

Who is that you're working for?

- It doesn't matter who she is.

We wanna know about who you are.

- She's upstairs.

L!

L is that you?

(door squeaks) - Good afternoon, Jim.

Don't let them worry you.

You just have to answer the question.

Where can we find a copy of the silver dossiers?

- What's going on, L?

- Yes.

That's a good question.

What is going on?

- Who is she?

- An old friend.

You can let her go.

- I'm a current friend.

- We won't be letting her go, Jim.

I suppose I can introduce you.

This is Shawn, ex-CIA.

He's tactical.

He's quick.

And he doesn't feel emotions.

This is Mozart.

Incredibly intelligent at Jack of all trades.

Medic, engineer, hacker.

You name it, she's an expert.

Where'd you go to school Moz?

- I didn't.

- Exactly.

Finally, we have Sid.

She's the muscle.

- Fantastic.

Glad to be going to church camp with you.

- Simone!

- Listen, Jim, how long until your family gets back?

Four days, right?

Well then, that leaves us quite a bit of time to spare.

Why don't you sleep on it tonight?

And we can talk in the morning.

That sound good to everyone?

Let's head out, fellas.

(door slams) - When were you gonna tell me you were a spy?

- Intelligence officer.

It's not the kind of thing you go around advertising, Simone.

- I suppose.

Man I'm gonna have to use the bathroom soon.

- You think they've gone to sleep right now?

- Maybe some of them.

- I think there's a pair of scissors in that case over there.

I wanna see if we can try to get to it.

- That sounds dangerous.

- Simone?

- Yeah?

- What do you say that current predicament isn't dangerous?

- Fair point.

(chair rattles) - Hey!

- Hey bestie.

- Quiet down there.

(chair rattles) - I can't reach it and I'm handcuffed.

You're gonna have to be the one to do it.

- I got 'em in my hands.

- A predicament.

- What?

- Nothing.

Just try and get 'em off.

Are you doing it?

- Are you doing it?

I got it.

Hey, I don't think the handcuffs gonna- - Simone, I think I saw Mozart pocket the keys.

- Please, no.

- Simone, you got this.

- I'm not a spy.

- Intelligence officer.

- I'm not that either!

- Sh!

We run the risk of not being anything if we don't get out of here.

- You owe me a big favor when this is over.

(upbeat music) - Thanks for tuning in.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Catch us online whyy.org/YoungCreator Studio to see our latest videos or to submit a film of your own for next season.

I'm Olivia and I'll see you next time.

(upbeat music)