Jacob Ribicoff recording sound in Jamie Bunce’s chorus class at CHS.
Columbia High School will be heard in movie theaters in limited release this Friday and soon across the county and around the world.
That’s because Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which premiered last night in New York City, is opening tomorrow in select theaters and then rolling out slowly after that.
Last fall, award-winning sound designer and editor — and local dad — Jacob Ribicoff asked CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron if he could record some sounds at the high school for a film.
Aaron said yes.
She gave Ribicoff permission to spend time in the hallways and the cafeteria as well as in Jamie Bunce’s chorus class, recording ambient sounds but also giving stage directions for sounds he needed (zipping backpacks, moving chairs, etc.).
On January 25, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl premiered at the Sundance Film Festival “to a packed Eccles Theater (seats 1,270) and a 5-minute standing ovation,” said Ribicoff. A bidding war ensued and the film sold to Fox Searchlight, which is now distributing and marketing the film. At the end of the festival, Me & Earl & The Dying Girl walked away with the two top honors at Sundance: the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award.
“When you finally do get to see this this amazing film,” said Ribicoff, “just remember while you’re watching that every time we’re in and around the high school and you hear students in the background those are Columbia High School’s very own! As subtle as these moments may be, the CHS spirit is palpably there!”
Also, be sure to look for the “CHS Thank You” in the closing credits of the film. “You can’t miss it, you just have to stay long enough!” said Ribicoff.
“Once again, and on behalf of the filmmakers, I can’t thank you all enough for making these couple days of recording possible,” Ribicoff told the school community in an email.
