Creativity is buzzing in the Frazier basement at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, where the school’s advanced video production class is wrapping up pre-production on their new short films. This quarter’s prompt, “Cyclical Narrative/Time Loops,” has sparked various imaginative ideas among the students.

Elodie Thibodeaux, a junior film major, is particularly excited about her project, Wake Up. “It’s a movie about trying to end a nightmare cycle. So, the whole time you just want to wake up,” She explains. Elodie is currently putting together a filming schedule. “Most of my pre-production is already done, so right now I’m trying to figure out my filming days,” said Elodie.

Freddie Torres, a junior film major, is also busy with his projects. “I’d say we’re pretty close to the end of writing for both films,” Freddie said. “I think my favorite element is going to be editing; there are a lot of complex moving parts that I’m really excited to get to.” Freddie is working on two films: The Sunrise Project, about two brothers with very different paths in life, and an unnamed absurdist film about when a filmmaker’s equipment turns against him.

Allyson Campbell, a junior film major’s film Dead Footsteps, is progressing smoothly. “I have a scene in mind that I’m really excited to do,” she said. “It’s where the main actor is staring at a door with a bright neon exit sign, and you can hear the hum of the exit sign… and it gets louder and louder, and you see the main character start to get mad at it.”

Reflecting on the progress, Elodie said, “I think everybody is at their own level.” “Everyone works at their own pace,” Freddie said.

This quarter has been quite the shakeup for all film students with a new film teacher, but it’s safe to say the advanced video production class has adjusted and is back on track to produce some amazing films this quarter.