Durfee students get taste of Hollywood on 'Jungleland' set

The cast and crew were shooting scenes from a private home on Dunbar Street as the students were watching the action in the make-shift studio in the garage, getting a real-life lesson in movie-making.

FALL RIVER — Captivated, a group of B.M.C. Durfee High School students, huddled around a monitor watching the filming of a scene from the movie “Jungleland.”

The cast and crew were shooting scenes from a private home on Dunbar Street as the students were watching the action in the make-shift studio in the garage, getting a real-life lesson in movie-making.

Ryan Stowell, one of the film’s producers from Scott Free Productions, owned by famed director Ridley Scott, suggested to the students that after high school if they're looking for a career in film they should look for a school with a good theater and film department.

Joking that he’s a bad example of how to break into the business and not studying film in college, Stowell said his career started after his actor brother challenged him to move to Los Angeles. Stowell said his career started after he reached out to a producer and worked for free to get experience.

Alex Berard, the movie’s Massachusetts-based location manager, said there is one constant in the industry.

“It’s kind of a revolving door,” said Berard.

Producer Jules Daly, from RSA, said movie production relies on people’s strengths.

“It takes a village to make a movie,” said Daly.

Associate Producer Allison Reid said scenes are often shot out of order and said it’s been interesting to see how the film’s director Max Winkler is able to keep the actors “in the moment.”

“The director really has that big-picture vision of how the movie needs to go. It’s a really big job with the director working with the actors, but also with all the other departments,” said Reid.

Durfee junior Noah Preston said film and television is something he’s really passionate about, being interested in editing and working behind the camera.

Reid said that when filming scenes, they shoot different scenarios with an eye toward the editing process.

“You write the movie again in the editing room,” said Reid.

Senior Kali Lima said she’s looking to study biology in college, but would like to also pursue her interest in media, especially after watching the movie’s production.

“Seeing this is like, wow, this is what my life could be like. You don’t know until you get to your 20s and you can do things on your own and then you’re there,” Lima said.

Durfee media instructor Pauline McGrath was just as excited about being on the film shoot as her students and excited for them.

“I think this is an awesome experience for the students because they get to see what they’re learning in class and they get to see it right here in front of them. It gives them that real-world experience,” said McGrath.

Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com.