By Stephanie Alexander
Entertainment Editor

Coppell High School 2008 graduate Chase Hughes is living his dream of being in the world of film, and he did not have to go to New York or Los Angeles to pursue it.

“I have always loved film. I love being in front of the camera and behind the camera, but my favorite aspect of film is actually telling the story,” Hughes said. “Film is the easiest way to tell the story. You can do it any way with any medium.”

Hughes is serving as a volunteer for this year’s Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF). He served as the guide for KCBY at DIFF’s High School Day on April 4 in Klyde Warren Park, as numerous other high school broadcast students from the Dallas-Fort Worth area frolicked around the Dallas Arts District. The DIFF workshops ranged from stop-motion, improv and how to sound like a movie critic which was taught by a professor from SMU, just to name a few.

“I am incredibly jealous that I did not get this opportunity when I was in high school. This is giving kids a leg up,” Hughes said. “They are learning a lot today that it took me weeks in a film school to learn.”

Hughes transferred to CHS from Saginaw in 2007 and did not have the opportunity to join KCBY.

“I came too late to join KCBY. I remember it being very selective and hard to get into it,” Hughes said. “I don’t know how it is now, but even if students just have basic hand held cameras, they are at least learning how to create composition and things that you do not necessarily need with expensive equipment.”

Senior KCBY member Kristin Schulz attended DIFF, and even though she wants to focus on broadcasting rather than film, she thinks DIFF was helpful experience.

“Everything I learned was really beneficial information for different sides of media that kids want to pursue. Going to DIFF made me realize how privileged and talented the students at CHS are,” Schulz said. “We are so advanced in our media skills and all of the workshop leaders seemed very impressed with all of us.”

Hughes has volunteered for DIFF before and connecting with his Coppell roots is not the only reason he enjoys it.

“By volunteering here, I am meeting people to further promote my work,” Hughes said. “I am doing my own side projects and showing people that I have the leadership abilities to move forward. That is how you get noticed and hired.”

KCBY sophomore KCBY Scott Simigan appreciated the fact a fellow Cowboy is taking the lead at such an event.

“It felt more personal,” Simigian said. “It felt as if he was part of our group rather than like a leader.”

Hughes is in film school at KD College in Dallas and is still getting started on his career.

“Five years from now I want to be owning my own production company and making films and sending them into festivals like DIFF or Sundance and make a name for myself,” Hughes said.