PETERBOROUGH — Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders and Principal Heather McKillop are pleased to share that a ConVal Regional High School senior recently earned first place at the New Hampshire High School Short Film Festival (NHHSSFF).
Senior Fletcher Maggs, who studies filmmaking at the district’s Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC), earned first place for his film “Everest to End Duchenne” at NHHSSFF on Sunday, May 22, in Manchester. A total of 81 films were submitted, of which 23 were chosen for the festival.
“Congratulations to our very own Fletcher Maggs, who was honored as the best student filmmaker in the state. Just like many great filmmakers, Fletcher drew upon his own personal experience and the experience of people dear to him to tell a story to inspire others and also support a deserving cause,” Digital Photo/Video teacher Lance Levesque said.
In March, Maggs traveled to Nepal with his childhood friend Abe Dreher and Abe’s mother Tonya Dreher to hike to the base camp of Mount Everest to raise money and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Abe’s brother Gus Dreher was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2009, and since then it has been his family’s mission to fight the disease and search for a cure, launching the Hope for Gus Foundation.
Maggs filmed the group’s trek, which represented the symbolic struggle of those living with this terminal muscle disorder. Maggs used cinematic aspects, including picking the appropriate lens, understanding the light triangle and narration to tell the group’s story.
“Our muscles were strained and began to hurt during this trek, but we got to rest and recover. Children with Duchenne don’t get this privilege,” Maggs said.
This trek was the Hope for Gus Foundation’s fourth Symbolic Everest to End Duchenne trek. This trek raised $60,000 to support the cause.
Maggs noted that when he won first place, the first people he called were the Dreher Family, “At the end of the day, they were who I wanted to make proud. More than just the film, this experience was about raising awareness and money for a disease that not a lot of people know about.”
His first-place trophy will be proudly displayed in the atrium of ConVal Regional High School.
Maggs credits the Region 14 ATC for helping him achieve this award.
“I wouldn’t have been able to make this film or have the skills to win first place without the classes at the Region 14 ATC and the support that I have received from my teachers. I really have found my passion here,” Maggs said.
Maggs plans to continue to pursue his passion for filmmaking after high school.
“The quality of this documentary was exemplary — cinematography, audio mix, scripting and narration. The personal perspective interwoven with the story of the climb made the piece more compelling and emotional. The comparisons of the physical impact on the climbers vs. someone living with Duchenne was enlightening as well as heartbreaking,” said NHHSSFF.
To view Maggs’ film, please click here.
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