Viewpoint School’s Carlson Family Theater was buzzing with excitement on Friday, May 30, as the annual Film IV Symposium welcomed a full house of film fans—families, friends, faculty, and staff—for the highly anticipated premieres of How It Should Be and The Backseat. The evening featured red carpet arrivals, enthusiastic applause, and a thought-provoking panel discussion with the student filmmakers, moderated by Film IV teacher Monica Hoenig.

The Film IV Honors class operates as a full-fledged production company, where students collaborate throughout the year to create one original film. With Hoenig serving as executive producer, students take on every aspect of the filmmaking process—from scriptwriting and editing to casting and set design—while working within a $1,500 budget.

“Film IV is a testament to the senior students’ hard work, where they hone not only their technical and creative skills, but also soft skills such as communication and leadership,” said Hoenig. “It is a very important aspect of preparing the students for the real world, no matter what field they end up working in.”

Written and directed by future USC film student Natalie Yerelekian ’25, How It Should Be tells the story of Wendy, a determined 17-year-old who dreams of breaking free from a traditional “American housewife” life imposed by an omnipotent narrator. Set in a sci-fi 1950s world, Wendy challenges both her father and the narrator as she refuses to conform to social expectations—no matter the consequences.

Yerelekian, who began writing the script while applying to film school, shared, “The idea of entering an industry that is so hard for women to break into made me think of all the women in the past who paved the way for us."

Crew:

• Writer & Director: Natalie Yerelekian ’25
• 1st Assistant Director: Zooey Jeong ’25
• Producers: Zooey Jeong ’25 and Nathan Danese ’25
• Executive Producer: Monica Hoenig
• Director of Photography: Samuel Green ’25
• Production Design & Costume: Alexa Jeong ’25
• Main Editors: Alexa Jeong ’25 and Samuel Green ’25
• Editing Assistants: Zooey Jeong ’25, Natalie Yerelekian ’25, Nathan Danese ’25
• Lighting and Sound Design: Clayton Collins ’25
• Script Supervisors: Nathan Danese ’25 & Daphne Huffman ’26

 Watch the trailer for How It Should Be here.

Written and directed by Ben Shore, a future film student at LMU, The Backseat follows Barry, an anxious high school senior who faces a battle for control within his own subconscious. As he grapples with a more confident and assertive alter ego, Barry must confront the tension between who he is and who he wants to be.

“The idea for this film came from my own experiences and memories that I often replay like watching through a TV,” said Shore. “It’s been so exciting to see my vision come to life with the help of my classmates.”

Crew:

• Writer & Director: Ben Shore ’25
• 1st Assistant Director: Jackson Barth ’25
• Producer: Jackson Barth ’25
• Executive Producer: Monica Hoenig
• Director of Photography: Connor Wycoff ’25
• Production Design & Costume: KJ Paschall ’25
• Editor: Noah Fox ’25
• Lighting and Sound Design: Clayton Collins ’25
• Script Supervisors: Noah De Fanti ’26 and Mac Ladin ’26

Watch the trailer for The Backseat here.

Congratulations to the Film IV students for a remarkable evening of storytelling, creativity, and collaboration!