Students’ flashy video promotes love of reading

How can plain old reading ever compete for the attention of kids, immersed in a world of YouTube videos and Angry Birds?

By taking a page from the competition — using flashes, explosions and other special effects to invoke the feeling of wonder that can spring from the written word.

These were some of the techniques that helped two Cascade High School sophomores win an annual teen video competition to promote reading sponsored by Sno-Isle Libraries.

The winning entry, called “The Magic of Reading,” was produced by Adam McArthur and Joe Nissell, and beat out 18 other entries. They won a $75 gift certificate from Best Buy. Other teens in Stanwood and Camano Island won prizes based on votes from other teens.

“The Magic of Reading” video features a 9-year-old boy entering a library. “I just don’t get the big deal about books,” he said. He was about to find out. He opens a Harry Potter book to a flash and explosion and is instantly transported into a field at night and is engaged in a wizard wand battle.

“We were thinking, ‘How could we make this interesting, fun to watch and educational?’ ” McArthur said. “Harry Potter is one of the biggest kids’ books of all time. We thought what if someone went into a Harry Potter book and took it from there.”

The video lasts just under two minutes but it took the two students an estimated 75 hours to plan, produce and edit it.

The hardest part of the project was making the scene involving the wizard wand battle, shot during the daytime, appear to have taken place at night.

“You had to switch out the sky and make it look like night time,” McArthur said. They tried once, figured it could use some improvement, and then tried again before getting the effects they wanted.

Some of the scenes took 15 to 20 takes, said Scott Shafer Cascade’s video arts teacher. He should know. He’s featured in a cameo role as a librarian in the film.

His son, Eli Shafer, is the boy who initially didn’t get the big deal about books, but was transformed by the wonder of imagination.

The two students had to learn how to direct other people in the video, including Eli, who sometimes grew tired of the constant retakes and sometimes having cameras and a video light just inches from his face, Shafer said.

“Getting him to react appropriately was a directorial challenge for them,” he said. “They did a really good job.”

Cascade librarian Amalia Pimenta has shown the video to the school’s students to try to motivate them to read.

“It takes you back in time to elementary school when you used to tear though books,” she said.

McArthur and Nissell met in kindergarten and have been friends ever since. They made their first video when they were seventh graders.

One evening when the two were together, “we got bored and started telling jokes and laughing,” McArthur said. They got out a video camera and have been making films ever since.

Students in Cascade’s video arts class have access to sophisticated film industry standard cameras and software, Shafer said.

He critiqued the winning video as “well done, polished and clean.”

“It’s just a great piece,” he said. “These are two sophomores. Imagine what they’ll be doing in two years.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Riverfront Everett in Everett, Washington on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council extends deadline for riverfront grocery store

A city agreement requires the land owners to bring a grocer there. Developers say more housing units need to be built to attract one to the site.

A firefighter with Sky Valley Fire sprays water on a hotspot Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, along U.S. 2 as the Bolt Creek fire continues to burn between Index and Skykomish. (Peter Mongillo / Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue)
Snohomish County releases draft of wildfire protection plan

Community members can submit feedback and questions online through July.

Snow dusts the treeline near Heather Lake Trailhead in the area of a disputed logging project on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, outside Verlot, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Utah Senator pulls public lands provision from tax bill

The original proposal would have put federal land in Snohomish County up for sale.

x
PorchFest to return to downtown Edmonds for fourth year

From 1–6 p.m. July 13, porches and storefronts will turn into stages hosting a variety of local musicians.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.