In the News

The finished movie will be shown at a community-wide Wintergreen School film festival this spring.

Adams, a former model and actor, works with his family to create independent films, which he says “do quite well in film festivals throughout the country.”

Adams works with daughters Zelda, 10, and Lulu, 15, along with wife Toby Poser to create films that showcase the daily struggles of society, such as drug abuse and depression.

Adams, his wife and daughters traveled across-country to create their first film, “Rumble Strips.” Their second film portrayed John Adams as a man with emotional and drug issues who is forced to take in his niece, played by Zelda, for an entire summer.

“Zelda was really fun to work with. It was amazing to see her separate herself from us in real life to the movie,” Adams said.

However, Adams’ filmmaking took a different approach as he worked to help students promote their school community.

“Wintergreen Magnet School works towards educating the whole child through inquiry, innovation and the arts in a diverse, compassionate and mindful learning community,” according to the school’s mission statement.

The two-day workshop follows a six-week schoolwide enrichment program, in which students studied film, movie-making and marketing.

“I thought that seeing John and Zelda would show the students that if you love something and you put your mind to it, you can keep going and pursue your dreams,” said Ingrid Ellinger-Doviak, head of the enrichment program.

Adams said he worked with students to narrow down or “storyboard” their thoughts on a “theme” for Wintergreen School. Some students were asked to state a theme in front of a camera; such statements included “aim high, sky high” and “lend a hand, be a friend.”

Adams filmed the students while teaching others about focusing the camera and different angles.

“We want to teach children how to accomplish a project in a clear and concise way,” Adams said.

Tuesday, students edited their work to create the final product.

Eighth-grader Avishan Montazer broadcasts the morning announcements at Wintergreen and said she enjoyed Adams’ and Zelda’s work.

“I can’t wait to see everything come all together,” Montazer said.

Adams advised students looking to get into field that “there’s a soccer field of contacts.”

“There’s a massive network of love out there wanting you to succeed,” he said.