ELMHURST, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Grace Geschwandner will be a junior at Elmhurst University in the fall. This summer, she's been working on the set of the new movie "The Class", starring Anthony Michael Hall and Debbie Gibson.
"My first day on the set was a little intimidating, I was a little scared, but that day, I was in charge of the walkie talkies," she recalled.
Geschwandner is one of 12 digital media and film students working as interns in the production department.
"A lot of the time, we are doing lockups, which is essentially making sure no one comes in and out of the set. Sometimes, I'll be with the first AD, I've gotten to call roll a couple of times. I was an extra the other day and that was a lot of fun. We are all over the place helping out where they need it," she said.
Most interns work for college credit and work anywhere from six to 12 hours on set.
"It's a lot of work. I was here for 12 hours last night, but it's been very fun. There's a lot more that goes into a film than you'd expect. We constantly have to check for continuity. The art team has to come in and wardrobe has to come and make sure it's the same as it was in the last scene," she said.
Fenwick High School graduate and Chicago native Nick Cellozzi is the writer/director of "The Class".
"I was born in Chicago. It's kinda like before and after. Years ago, where it is now. It's amazing how big this town has grown, Elmhurst," he said.
He said the Elmhurst University campus was perfect for his story.
"I knew I wanted to make the movie in the Chicago suburbs. After I hired my DP, I was asking him look, I really want to shoot this in school. I want these kids to feel like they are really in the environment. I was not going to throw this away in a studio. He suggested Elmhurst University," he said.
"I flew in. They walked me around the campus. They said you can use this building, the campus and the stadium. They were so helpful. I said this is great. I can do this entire film on this campus. The film does take place in one day at a school so why not?"
The Class stars Anthony Michael Hall and Debbie Gibson and has been called the modern day "Breakfast Club".
"It is the kind of contemporary point of view of The Breakfast Club, where these kids are forced to spend an afternoon in an exam they failed, or missed. They are forced to deal with a lot of things today that weren't really available when that first movie was made. This whole social media, the internet, these kids have a whole new set of bullies, obstacles to go through," Celozzi said.
"The Class" has been shooting for the last four weeks and is wrapping this week.
"The experience has been fantastic here on campus," Celozzi added, who said the digital and film program at Elmhurst is unique.
"I live in California, I expect that out of UCLA, but how progressive they are at this school with media, with film and theater and getting these kids on their feet with practical experience is surprising."
Geschwandner said she will use her internship and her experience on the set to pursue a similar career.
"I definitely want to be back on a movie set and do something with performance, music, or entertainment. I've never been on a movie set before. It's insane. It's very tiring, but it's so much fun. It's been a great experience. It's a once in a lifetime experience," she said.
The Class is expected to be released in spring 2022.
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