AHS students’ feature film set for premiere Monday at PVCC

Two Albemarle High School seniors have created their own full-length feature film. It’s based on the book “The Magic Circle” by Donna Jo Napoli.

Local audience members can see the film’s premiere on the main stage of the V. Earl Dickinson Building at Piedmont Virginia Community College at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

J.P. Horton and Kathleen Adams have been creating the film as an independent study course assignment under the supervision of creative writing teacher Charlotte Wood.

The project got under way when Horton e-mailed Napoli and asked for her permission to create a film version of her book, which she granted.

Horton and Adams wrote a 62-page script to shoot from, including more than 100 scenes. Filming was done in the area.

The cast includes Philena Gilmer as the Ugly One, Mark Thomas as Hansel, Jessica Brown as Gretel, Peter Balcke as Peter and Fay Cunningham as Bala.

The completed film is suitable for ages 8 and older.

local film

“The Magic Circle”

6:30 p.m. Monday

Main stage of V. Earl Dickinson Building at Piedmont Virginia Community College

Free; suitable for ages 8 and older