Above: Connor Siemer '14, Richard Liriano '16, and Isaiah Blake '17
participate in a Rainbow Experiment workshop.

Students to Star in Feature Film

Several members of the Xavier Dramatics Society will have a unique experience this fall—starring in a feature film, The Rainbow Experiment, which will be shot entirely on 16th Street.

Writer-director Christina Kallas has been working with Xavier students on the project since last year, including them in the workshopping process that will lead to the movie shoot at the end of this year. Several students have been cast in speaking roles, and more will participate as active extras. The film will be shot at Xavier outside of school hours.

Ms. Kallas, who is a film professor at Columbia University and Barnard College, has enjoyed incorporating students into her work. “I am excited about the Xavier students as well as the students from sister schools who are participating. They have a very high literacy and emotional intelligence that has been honed further through the amazing work they have been doing over the years with their drama teacher, Nicole DiMarco,” Ms. Kallas said. The students involved in the production are Isaiah Blake '17, Peter Boustani '16, Nick Careaga '16, Jason Clare '16, Anthony DeFrenza '16, Eric Idelfonso '16, Richard Liriano '16, Harrison O'Callaghan '17, a Notre Dame School of Manhattan alumna, and two current Dominican Academy students.

“These students are naturals,” Ms. Kallas continued. “They adapt extremely well to the process of workshopping that is ultimately meant to help experience compassion through a technique I call emotional doubling. We understand others better and more deeply if we can somehow find ourselves in their position and if we can approach their stories from coexisting, diverse perspectives. Having the Xavier students in the room and in the film is a joy and a learning experience for all of us!”

The Rainbow Experiment is sponsored by the non-profit organization Fractured Atlas. To learn more about the project and ways to support Xavier Dramatics Society students, please click here.