Issue 24  October 27th 2025

Lights, Camera, Wonder: NESA Shines on the National Stage!

NESA families,

I have a confession to make. Two weeks ago, I had never been to a film festival. Now, thanks to our incredible students, I’ve been to two! I truly believe I have the best job in the world, and these last couple of weeks are a perfect example of why.

First Stop: The Big Apple 🍎

My festival journey began in New York City, where I had the privilege of traveling with sixteen of our phenomenal Film students and the dedicated Ms. Villarreal. We were there for the prestigious High School Film Festival, and I was bursting with pride before we even landed.

This festival accepts submissions from all over the world, so to have seven NESA films selected for screening in Times Square is a monumental achievement.

Of course, we saw the iconic sights—we visited the fascinating Museum of the Moving Image, gazed up at the Statue of Liberty, and literally walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. But the coolest thing for me? Watching our young filmmakers see their own work projected on a big screen in the heart of Times Square. Seeing their faces as they watched other high school students' films, networked with colleges, and connected with peers from around the globe was a powerful reminder of the incredible talent we have right here at NESA.

Next Stop: The Writers' Festival 🎬

I barely had time to unpack before I was on the road again, this time with our brilliant Creative Writers for the Austin Film Festival.

This isn't just any festival; the AFF is famously known as the "Writers' Festival." It’s a professional-level event geared toward industry veterans, not high school students. However, in a true testament to our students' talent and reputation, the AFF generously granted festival passes to 11 of our writers on scholarship.

Our students were complete professionals. They sat in on fascinating workshops led by the writers, directors, and producers behind shows and movies like Knives Out, The Simpsons, Naked Gun, How I Met Your Mother, Bob's Burgers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and many more.

My favorite moments were watching them as they took copious notes, completely absorbed in the craft, and then, during the Q&A sessions, they stood up and asked the panelists some of the most profound and well-crafted questions I heard all weekend. Even the seasoned professionals on stage stated how impressed they were and thought our students were MFA students. Their jaws dropped when they learned that we are a Public Magnet High School!

My Final Takeaway: Our Students Are World-Class

The common theme on both of these incredible trips, beyond the world of film, was our students.

I am just so deeply impressed by them. Every single student knew when it was okay to be goofy and have fun exploring a new city, but at a moment's notice, they could "lock in" and become the professional, the artist, and the powerhouse the situation demanded.

I have traveled all over the nation with brilliant, hardworking students, but I mean this sincerely: NESA students are, by far, the best I have ever had the pleasure of traveling with.

What a privilege it is to be part of this community.