When watching a movie or TV show, there are so many elements that are used to create the film displayed. The film studies class at Fauquier High School (FHS) teaches students all that’s involved when producing and analyzing movies. Taught by Dan Sirignano, this class is both visually engaging and informational for his students.

Sirignano, being an English teacher, saw the opportunity to teach film studies and immediately jumped on it. With his love for film and enjoyment of teaching, he is now the teacher of this class. “I live and breathe movies. I'm a dork and film is my hobby,” Sirignano continues, “It's my passion and is something really special [to me],” he explained.

Sophomore Violet Corboy is a student currently enrolled in Sirignano’s film study class. Art direction is something that she hadn’t noticed about film before taking this class. “One thing is art direction… the props, costumes, or the coloring a character has on them specifically and what that tells about their character,” Corboy described.

Another student currently taking this class is senior Joel Williams. He has always been interested in movies and had Sirignano for English class. “[Film Studies] is an amazing class… It gives you a greater appreciation for [film] and the work that goes into making a movie,” Williams expressed.

Film Studies at FHS is able to both interest those who already have a passion for movies, and people who haven’t put much thought into them. With a contagiously enthusiastic teacher and engaging discussions about the craft behind the film, the class can help students watch movies from an entirely new perspective.