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PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 10, 2017 KeizerCommunity KEIZERTIMES.COM Celt rapper takes top spot among McNary talent Made at McNary Drama fest is written, directed and acted by students By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes For the fi rst time, the Mc- Nary One Act Festival will feature a short fi lm. Along with six student written, directed and acted plays, senior Ashton Thomas has turned APEX, a script by Braden Bedingfi eld intended for the stage, into a movie. “My passion is really fi lm- making and (I thought) if I can fi nd something that could eas- ily be translated into the fi lm world, then I would love to take on that challenge,” Thom- as said. “Then when I read Braden’s script, it was great and I thought that I could to- tally see it as a fi lm. I just start- ed and now that it’s coming to a close, I’m happy that I did.” The One Act Festival began Thursday, March 9 and con- tinues Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Ken Collins The- ater. Tickets are $5 and on sale at https://mcnaryhs.ticketleap. com. The fi lm, starring Tyler An- derson and Hannah Collee, tells the story of a man tasked with monitoring a woman for three years. Since the woman is stuck in a room, the man’s only companion is an artifi cial intelligence module named APEX Seven. After graduating from Mc- Nary, Thomas plans to go to fi lm school. He’s already been accepted to fi ve programs, in- cluding Biola University and Azusa Pacifi c in California. “I’ve defi nitely learned a lot,” Thomas said. “It’s been a blast. I’ve had so much fun making it. There’s been so a script by Alayna Sykosky many cool people that I’ve got starring Jordyn Maret, Kend- ell Tacchini and Zachery Sell to work with.” Thomas chose APEX from about a girl trapped in a long- 23 scripts written by McNary term relationship, who gets students in drama director advice from an old lady she Dallas Myers’ playwriting class. meets in a park. “I think it’s very realistic “There were some (scripts) that didn’t get picked this year and it’s honest and it’s impor- that were just incredible,” My- tant for high schoolers to see ers said. “I had a real good crop a relationship like that and in playwriting this year, unreal what’s best for the people in it,” said Friesen, whose play In kids. They’re all so creative.” Thomas and six others took the Garden, a modern day ver- part in a directing class with sion Adam and Eve, is being directed by Emma Blanco. It Myers. stars Wocus “It’s a re- Gibbons, ally good learn- Steven Cum- ing process for mings, Anni them,” Myers Sykosky said. “They had and Noah a book to read Schnell. and then we did All of the some exercises shows have in class, very freshmen and minimal and — Jacob Grimmer sophomore then they just actors. get tossed into Senior Jacob Grimmer, the fi re, here you go, you’ve got to do it, and every time who is directing Hays’ piece The Truth About Jaipur, found they’ve risen.” The directors also cast their the experience harder than he expected. shows. “It’s really interesting be- “It teaches the kids how much it takes,” Myers said. cause I’ve been directed by Mr. “My favorite part is always Myers a lot,” said Grimmer, casting because I talk to them who was recently in Defying every time about how I hate Gravity and The Addams Fam- casting because I have to see ily musical. “I thought if he can them the next day, sad, sad fac- do it, I’m sure I can handle it. es. They go through the same There’s only two actors. But emotions. It’s a good learning it’s so hard. I have to run a scene and block it. If I don’t experience.” Three of the directors, like how it looks, I have to McKinley Friesen, Heidi Hays change it. If they’re not quite and Kailey Rondo, also had memorized and one of them can’t make a rehearsal, then I scripts chosen. Friesen is directing Benched, have to change things.” “There’s only two actors. But it’s so hard.” By DEREK WILEY Of the Keizertimes Senior Giancarlo Marcelo bested nine singers, a dancing trio, two beatboxers, a standup comedian and another rap- per to win the 2017 McNary High School Talent Show on Friday, Feb. 24. “I spent a long time pre- paring for this and just mak- ing music so it’s really cool to share it with people and for them to show me their appreciation,” said Marcelo, who began rapping in middle school but became more se- rious when he got to high school. Marcelo, who received $100 for fi rst place, said he wrote the song he performed in the talent show in just an hour a couple days after a loved one died. One of the lines is “I wrote this song the day after my homie died, locked inside my room in the darkness.” “It was fl owing,” Marcelo said. “I was in the zone when I wrote that. That’s a huge song for me. It means a lot to me.” Marcelo, who takes notes on his phone when he thinks of a funny line or word he can turn into a rap, said he’s KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley Giancarlo Marcelo performs at the annual McNary High School Talent Show in February. But Marcelo also has big- ger plans. “I want to be the fi rst one in my family to go to college,” he said. Yasmin Bresino, joined by friends Millie Meier and As- pen Searls, danced their way to second place. Beatboxer Tyler McVay was third and Simone Shoemaker, singing and playing I’m Yours by Jason Mraz on the ukulele, won the audience choice award. inspired by “anything and ev- erything.” “A lot of things inspire me,” Marcelo said. “My main motivation would have to be my family, for sure. I like a va- riety of music.” Marcelo has seven songs on his SoundCloud and plans to continue to make music after high school. “I like the feeling. I like be- ing on stage. It’s awesome,” he said. CERT classes begin in April Keizer’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is offering training for new CERT members in April. The four-day course will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 8-9, April 22 and April 29. All classes will be held in the community room at the Keizer Fire District at 661 Chemawa Rd. N.E. Students must attend all four of the classes in the course. The course is free, ap- propriate for ages 14 and up, nications, disaster psychology and more. There is a maximum of 40 spaces for the April course. Register at bit.ly/2mPeN4l to reserve a spot. Contact Linda Pantaloon keizer@comcast.net with questions. and all materials are provided. There is no requirement that you join a CERT Team upon completion. During the course attend- ees learn about risk factors and natural hazards both lo- cally and across Oregon while learning how to help the com- munity both prepare for, and recover from, natural disasters. The course modules will in- clude such topics as light fi re suppression and HAZMAT awareness and reporting, mass patient triage, radio commu- THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY’S Best Kept Secret ASSOCIATE GOLF PACKAGE Now available for only $ 875 annually Enjoy unlimited play on the toughest 5400 yards private course Associate Members Must Be 50 & up MENTION KEIZERTIMES AD FOR AN EXCLUSIVE OFFER! 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