After considering how to reinvent the musical in a safe yet creative way, Dr. Scheckel turned to green screen technology. With the help of a Disney green screen specialist, each student came to school one or two at a time to film their scenes in front of the green screen. Students recorded their vocals individually at a music studio set up in one of Altadena Arts’s classrooms and the recordings were professionally mixed. When filming scenes in which they sang, students then lip-synced to their own tracks.
However, releasing the musical as a YouTube or Vimeo link wasn’t innovative enough. Dr. Scheckel contacted the Pasadena Public Health Department to get clearance to be able to turn the Altadena Arts playground into a drive-in movie venue. Once the green light was given, she rented a short throw projector and hired a professional to set up speakers for the best possible audiovisual quality for the film.
On May 21 and 22, Altadena Arts students and families drove in to watch The Little Mermaid Jr.’s premiere! The gates opened at 7:00 p.m., and the movie started at sundown, around 7:45 p.m. Moviegoers purchased pre-packaged concessions from the Dinglehopper Cafe, run by an Altadena Arts parent who is a chef.
Dr. Scheckel says, “The purpose of our all school musical theatre experience is to continue to build upon the culture of excellence that has become our standard at Altadena Arts Magnet;” and the investment into high-quality production at every stage of this movie-musical’s creation is a testament to that standard of excellence. Grants from both the Pasadena Educational Foundation and the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts helped make this incredible production possible, providing the funds for professional special effects, sound, and setup.
by Brianna Chu
Brianna Chu | Digital Storyteller
Brianna Chu was born and raised in Pasadena, California, only leaving her hometown to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to the University of St Andrews in Scotland, where she earned her Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Psychology. Upon returning to the States, she began sharing stories of local restauranteurs and their food for the Pasadena Independent. She now also holds the role of Digital Storyteller for the Pasadena Educational Foundation.
