Lights, Camera, Action! On March 30, Sedro-Woolley High School transformed into a filmmaking hub as students and the filmmaker Ty Minton Small collaborated on a short film, offering hands-on experience and a real creative platform for our community.

Minton and his team arrived on campus to shoot a short film titled “Black Licorice.” A select group of students took part in the production, serving as extras or assisting behind the scenes, reuniting students from drama class and video production class. This project gave the school community a unique opportunity to observe the process of filmmaking.

“It’s a student learning project where our students are watching how you set up for a feature film,” said Kerri Carlton, principal of the Sedro-Woolley High School. This project provided a rare opportunity for students who got the chance to be on the set.

Minton, the director and filmmaker of “Black Licorice,” offered insight into the film’s unconventional narrative: “In the wild fever dream of Black Licorice, a blind egomaniac and a revenge-fueled narcissist clash in a governor’s race, while two brothers moonlight as human furniture and a mother-son detective duo chases a gang of head-ripping, vape-addicted cheerleaders.” He concluded by stating “This is a ridiculous, silly movie made by ridiculous, silly people.”

He didn’t just bring cameras and costumes, he brought an opportunity for students to experience the magic of filmmaking firsthand. “I arranged the day so that there’d be an opportunity for the students to try their hand at delivering some lines,” Minton explained, “but it wasn’t necessary to use the actors instead because they all crushed it.”

But the spotlight highlighted another student who was able to make himself shine: Dylan Alexander, a student in the CTE program who was invited to continue working with the film crew after his impressive performance as the on-set clapper.

“They needed a person to be the clapper, which is the person who drops the slate,” said CTE media teacher and head of the E-sports program, Jason Dilley. “They actually invited him to do more shots with them later in Seattle.”

Alexander himself didn’t expect this opportunity. “I was expecting to be in the background and watch what they do. But no, they actually had me work on set with them, which was really cool. And after that, I actually learned that they wanted to pay me for my work,” said Alexander.

Minton echoed the enthusiasm. “We had one student serve as our 2nd Assistant Camera, and he operated our clapperboard for the day, and we hope to work with him again soon!”
Minton was happy to give this opportunity to our high school, he expressed how meaningful it was to involve students in a professional production, sharing his hopes for the impact it might have had on them.

“I really hope they left our set feeling inspired to make a film themselves, or pursue acting, or filmmaking, or anything creative. It was clear the students were a very creative bunch, and I can’t wait to see the things they create,” said Minton. “We genuinely couldn’t have gotten luckier than deciding to film at Sedro-Woolley High School with your amazing students.”

Dilley was present during the day of the shoot and had the opportunity to observe much of the process. “It was a really great experience. Those students had the opportunity because they put themselves in the position by taking advanced classes in CTE. The more you push yourself, the more opportunities you create for yourself to do something really remarkable like this,” said Dilley.

For Dilley this was an incredible opportunity. “The reality is if you’re working on a film crew, you are likely going to be a production assistant before you are anything else. And when it comes to film, you have your credentials that you can earn through a portfolio of work or by going to film school,” Dilley added. “If you do a good job, they invite you back, and the more you go and meet people and do things, the more likely it is you’re going to just continue to get invited back and learn more skills.”

Beyond this, a question remains: why Sedro-Woolley high school? Minton confessed that he originally graduated from Mount Vernon and wanted to film there, but the building no longer fit the image he had in his mind. So, the director suggested our high school. To Minton, it felt perfect. “When I visited, not only did it look perfect, Principal Kerri Carlton was incredibly kind, accommodating, and enthusiastic about us filming there. I’m so glad we did, it couldn’t have gone better,” said Minton.

Despite the chaotic humor of the film, Minton takes his craft seriously. Throughout his life what he values the most is the crew he was able to create over the years. “We’ve built a solid team of collaborators who are not just great at what they do, they’re some of my best friends and make the filmmaking process so much fun,” said Minton. “I feel very lucky to be surrounded by the people that I am, making the kind of films we do.”

Minton stated this collaborative team was the greatest accomplishment in his life. His roots in filmmaking go back to high school, when a video production class lit the creative spark. “I probably made over 50 videos before high school was over,” Minton said. “I feel very lucky that the program gave us complete freedom to just go out and make short films.”

His first short film, Positive, holds a special place in his heart. “It was what got me started making narrative projects in Washington State and introduced me to all the people I now make films with. They’re not only an integral part of our production crew—they’re some of my best friends,” said Minton.
For now, his dream is simple but powerful: “To be able to keep making movies with my friends here in the Pacific Northwest.” And his current goal? “To finish our movie! And not die! These are the only things that matter to me at this current moment in time,” Minton joked.

Filming isn’t without its challenges. “There’s always a race against time,” Minton said, recalling a week before shooting when a lead actor and a valuable crew member both dropped out. “We had to scramble, but we managed to make it work.”

Even with the chaos, the collaborative nature of film remains his favorite part. “Every scene changes at least a little bit from script to screen… One of the most fun parts is all the new ideas that arise on set,” said Minton. “I think it’s important to create a space where people feel comfortable sharing ideas.”
So what does he hope the audience takes away from “Black Licorice?”

“I just want people to laugh and have a good time,” said Minton.

Still, the heart of his work lies in sharing the magic of storytelling with others—especially young, creative minds like those at Sedro-Woolley High School. “I think exposure to professional filmmakers and film sets is really important because it demystifies the whole process and makes you realize that making a film is an attainable goal completely within your reach,” said Minton. “No matter who you are or where you live.”