Ste. Genevieve High School students intern with film crew

STE. GENEVIEVE — Last week, 10 Ste. Genevieve High School students had the opportunity to intern with a film production company, Motion Dog Films, right here in Ste. Genevieve! The students spent time on the set of an upcoming film, “The Spring,” a visually-stunning supernatural thriller set in both modern times and 1870 America.

From left, Cole Nickelson, Matthew Martin, Brynna Wehner, Madeleine Terry, Collin Abt, Nolan Walls, Cameron Wolf. Not Pictured: Alissa Grass, Tessa Hager, Jeremiah Kunz.


The students included: Collin Abt, Alissa Grass, Tessa Hager, Jeremiah Kunz, Matthew Martin, Cole Nickelson, Madeleine Terry, Nolan Walls, Brynna Wehner, and Cameron Wolf. The students were currently enrolled or had previously taken one of the following courses taught by Dr. Gary Smith and Mrs. Katelyn Papin: Advanced Graphics Design, Multimedia/Media Productions, Multimedia/Photoshop, and Play Production. The opportunity to spend time onset of this film offered students real-life experience in the field of video production.


“I felt that this internship opportunity offered a look into an area that I’ve been interested in for a long time,” senior Collin Abt said. “I’ve always had an interest in film production, and this opportunity helped me see what it’s really like on set. The most interesting part I saw during this experience was probably how the director used the camera and lighting in unique ways that I would never have thought of, and it produced this amazing effect. I think moving forward I would like to get my hands behind the camera and into videography.”


“I have always been interested in content creation and cinematography, so seeing the behind the scenes of a film being produced was really awesome,” senior Nolan Walls said. “I enjoyed watching the audio-engineering and how the director did his work. The internship opportunity was something truly I don’t think I will be able to experience again, and I have a better understanding of cinematography. There are so many different career paths I’m interested in, and this was an eye-opening experience.”


The students were all grateful for the hands-on experiences, and are excited to see the finished product once all filming is wrapped up!


About “The Spring”: THE SPRING – A Supernatural Thriller  (98 mins)


The Spring is a visually stunning thriller set in modern times and 1870 America.  A gritty young woman struggles to clear herself of murder charges the only way she can – with the help of a ghost.


Two kindred souls, one, an ex-slave working in an 1870 post-war brothel, and the other a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks in modern-day Missouri, unite through supernatural circumstances to uncover a 150-year-old reign of serial murders.