Schools

Pali High Students Start Kickstarter Campaign for First Ever Senior Film

Mercer Hall's renovations forces Pali High drama teacher and seniors to get creative for the annual senior show at school, and filmed "Gotcha!" on campus.

For the first time in its history, Palisades Charter High School plans to present its first ever senior-written, acted and directed film Gotcha! on May 17.

Students shot the footage over spring break and are in post production under the direction of their new drama Nancy Francchiolla and the group began a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the project.

Click here for the Kickstarter campaign breakdown and watch the video of the students pitching the film.

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The story follows Leah and her group of friends at a new school in her senior year. The rules of the game "Gotcha!" (which is, in actuality, a long-standing Pali High tradition) are introduced at the movie's start. It's a completely foreign concept to Leah, but a game of utmost importance to her friends as the culminating event of senior year.

The rules are simple: tag your assigned, anonymous target with a Gotcha! sticker, and make sure you don't get Gotcha-ed yourself. The last man - or woman - standing, wins. As Leah finds that she's actually quite talented at playing the game, the complications of applying to college, losing friends, and learning who to trust come into play as well. She's forced to make difficult decisions that ultimately shape the young adult she will become, the outcome of the game, and ultimately, her senior year.

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Francchiolla said normally the senior class produces an annual senior show, but due to the renovations of Mercer Hall, there was not an appropriate space to produce the medium. That's when the idea for Gotcha! was born.

The high school's booster club awarded $3,000 on March 19 for rental equipment and lighting for the production. However, the students are still in need of funding, so they opened the Kickstarter account.

For more information on Gotcha! visit the film's Facebook page.

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