Springfield senior debuts film featuring Union Street elementary student

A Springfield High School student officially debuted his film, starring his neighbors and a Springfield elementary student, as part of Spirit Day on Friday, May 27 at Union Street School.

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2016-05-25 / Front Page Springfield senior debuts film featuring Union Street elementary student TORY JONES BONENFANT Springfield High School senior Elliott Thompson, left, speaks to students at Union Street School on Friday, May 27 at the official debut of his short film, “When Life Gives You Lemons,” starring USS fourth-grader Dylan Magoon, second from left. Behind Dylan is Elliott’s father Rick Thompson. At far right is Beth Webster. All had parts in the film. — TORY JONES BONENFANT Springfield High School senior Elliott Thompson, left, speaks to students at Union Street School on Friday, May 27 at the official debut of his short film, “When Life Gives You Lemons,” starring USS fourth-grader Dylan Magoon, second from left. Behind Dylan is Elliott’s father Rick Thompson. At far right is Beth Webster. All had parts in the film. — TORY JONES BONENFANT SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield High School student officially debuted his film, starring his neighbors and a Springfield elementary student, as part of Spirit Day on Friday, May 27 at Union Street School. “Everyone has a story about their grandparents, and everyone has a different story,” said Elliott Thompson, a senior at SHS who plans to attend film school in Los Angeles this fall. Enlarge Map Thompson said that he personally interpreted the film as a mother dropping off a child for the weekend, and that boy’s experience bonding with his grandfather. Thompson said the film, “When Life Gives You Lemons,” was a project he put together as part of his application to the film school. The film stars Springfield fourth-grader Dylan Magoon as a boy who goes to visit his grandfather, played by Thomspon’s neighbor Richard Fellenz, who also attends Thomspon’s church. Springfield resident Beth Webster plays the mother in the short film, and Elliott’s father Rick Thompson plays a visitor at a lemonade stand. “The most important thing about making movies is to have every shot planned out,” Elliot Thompson said on Friday at a presentation to the entire student body at Union Street School. Several students asked questions about the making of the film and if it was fun for the actors to play a part in the film. “I think you guys did a good job,” said one student. Magoon, Webster and Rick Thompson also attended the film screening on Friday. Thompson said that the film was shot on location over a period of 15 days, not using any green screens, including at his grandfather’s house. Sets for the film included three different versions of a lemonade stand that played an integral part — one version of it in the process of being built, one completed and painted, and one that appears torn-down. Dylan said the most fun part of making the film, for him, was getting to ride in a go-cart as part of the story line. A member of Thompson’s church had donated that wooden go-cart that was used in the film. Thompson presented that go-cart to Magoon as a gift at the Friday morning presentation at school. Thompson said his next project, already in the works, is a 20-minute short film called “The Solitarian.” “When Life Gives You Lemons” will soon available to view on YouTube, Thompson said.