Film is Life
By Songyi PAng | Feature | Dec 15, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — From watching suspenseful thrillers to quoting iconic lines of dialogue, film has a way of integrating itself into even the smallest instances of shared experiences. Since the showing of the first motion picture in 1878, the art form has grown beyond entertainment as it translates life’s simple moments and reveals broader commentaries. It shapes mindsets, builds connections, and brings comfort by mirroring universal experiences, sharing valuable lessons that stay in memory long after a screening ends. For Stanton College Preparatory School students and faculty, the art of cinema holds a prevalent influence in everyday life.
“Film is a creative medium, and as much as [it has been] industrialized, its core is still artists communicating thoughts, feelings, and ideas,” Stanton film teacher Mr. Brandon Cox said. “A film is not a hermetically sealed statement; it is the opening salvo, and [the pathway] to larger conversations we get to have afterwards.”
The conversations that result from films derive largely from their foundation of storytelling. Whether they come in the form of short animations or live-action features, films present narratives exploring lessons on friendship, courage, and gratitude. As scenes and lines of dialogue build upon each other, they unfold lessons layered with insight. Cinematic storytelling often guides students to reflect on ideas and themes being conveyed.
“The Spider-Man films share how great power comes [with] great responsibility, and I have definitely learned from that,” senior Carol J. Chen said. “As we grow into adults and become more mature, it is important to remember how this generation influences those in the future too; [those films] have taught me to use knowledge with responsibility and kindness.”
Chen’s experience captures how messages found in film can have a lasting impact. Alongside the Spider-Man franchise, other stories within the Marvel Cinematic Universe also feature recurring life lessons within heroic storylines. In the 2019 film “Avengers: Endgame,” the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and sacrifice is reflected through character storylines and well-known lines of dialogue. Both the heroes and villains in Marvel films introduce profound thoughts on various aspects of the human experience to viewers.
While storytelling remains a crucial part of modern-day cinema, early films in the 19th century initially began documenting everyday life before shifting to structured narratives. The oldest surviving film, “Roundhay Garden Scene” from the year 1888, simply showed a group of people walking in a garden in England. Yet, as technology expanded, the scope of what could be captured and communicated followed close behind. Evolving editing and composition techniques drove endless possibilities for dimensional stories. As directors gained tools to move beyond documentation, they opened doors to the growth of new genres. Innovations such as computer-generated imagery (CGI) in the 1960s introduced complex visual effects and transformed fantasy and science fiction. With new technology, the film industry saw rapid development: from its origins in France, where inventors like the Lumière brothers pioneered the art form, film expanded to become a form of global entertainment. Today, the art form continues to explore new perspectives that inspire change in audiences.
“Films such as ‘Oppenheimer,’ symbolically use storylines to introduce concepts and [convey] messages,” Ms. Kylah Riendeau, a Stanton English teacher, said. “These concepts are often ones that if discussed directly, would make people fall back on preconceived notions, but [films] engage people emotionally with storylines that open their minds to newer concepts.”
Just as stories shape understanding, viewers’ mindsets shape how they are perceived. At diverse schools like Stanton, students come from countless cultures and interpret films through their own traditions, relationships, and knowledge. Elements such as dialogue or set design may resonate differently with students depending on their background or beliefs, making each viewing experience unique.
Films that reflect everyday life can reveal how audience interpretations vary. In a 2024 study by the Sociae Polites Journal, audiences who identified similarities in their firsthand experiences with the 2023 film “Barbie” felt empowered, while others felt it portrayed female dominance excessively and did not accurately represent their reality. At Stanton, lessons students learned from childhood films are embedded in their understanding and carried with them as they grow up. Cinematic works like “Barbie” have increasingly represented a range of identities across cultures, genders, and experiences, allowing points of connection to be found through personal perspectives. Especially for adolescents who struggle with self-perception or face other challenges, identifying familiar experiences through certain characters can help them feel seen. Such comfort also drives emotional engagement and invites viewers to understand more about themselves and those around them.
“I resonated with ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’ because like in the film, my parents are Asian immigrants, and I felt the daughter in the [story] represented a part of me,” sophomore Alysa Moon said. “She faced struggles dealing with high expectations [set for her] and I was happy to see someone I [could] relate to. When a film has parts of your culture you connect with, it is really a beautiful thing.”
While viewers identify with characters and events, they can find reassurance through the validation of their personal experiences. According to a 2021 study by the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, people tend to form closer bonds with characters whose traits mirror their own attitudes. This can allow them to feel understood and emotionally reassured. As films portray diverse characters, they present a range of experiences to which audiences may relate.
Beyond comfort from personal reflections, film acts as a record of time and reminds viewers of moments which might otherwise fade from memory. Visual and audio elements work together in guiding audiences to revisit past experiences. In video recordings, recognizing a childhood neighborhood or hearing a loved one’s voice may evoke feelings of nostalgia; the American Psychological Association associates this with increased releases of dopamine, leading to mood boosts. For Stanton students, personal recordings have also helped to document events and treasure meaningful relationships.
Films also foster empathy in viewers for characters or situations they may not personally relate to. According to the Journal of Neuroscience and Philosophy, such responses can be attributed to the simulation theory of empathy, which suggests humans mentally simulate the actions and emotions of others to replicate emotional experiences. Through film, viewers enter a character’s world and gain a profound, intimate understanding of feelings ranging from triumph to fear and sorrow.
“Especially with films that have a lot of different parts in the same series with the same characters, you really grow a connection with those characters,” senior Ryan Christovich said. “In plenty of franchises like Star Wars or Marvel films, you see the characters from the beginning and connect with them as they grow and change. You watch with them as they go through trials and hard times.”
Following characters over time helps audiences become familiar with various perspectives and deepen their empathetic understanding. In 2024, a study from Stanford University found that after watching the 2019 film “Just Mercy,” participants were 7.66% more likely than a control group to sign a petition supporting voting rights restoration for people with a criminal record. As narratives shape emotional responses in the moment, they also influence how viewers relate to ideas or other people beyond the screen. This engagement can explain how audiences form social bonds with friends and family members.
According to a study from the Public Library of Science, watching films with others can improve stress regulation, increase physiological calmness, and fuel emotional enjoyment. The experiences they offer act as a space for shared sentiments and memories to form between viewers. For Stanton students, viewing films in the company of others gives a sense of unity even without direct conversation being present.
Along with bonding family members, film strengthens friendships and helps form new connections. Humorous catchphrases, relatable characters, and popular scenes draw people together, providing shared experiences for viewers. They unite audiences into communities and create natural conversation starters.
“I’ve recently been rewatching the Harry Potter films, and iconic lines from them, like ‘You’re a wizard, Harry,’ have sparked conversation between me and my friends,” senior Sophia Kostin said. In ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,’ when [a character] died, it was a sad moment, but my friend and I had fun talking about how it connected to previous movies and the transparency it brought.”
Students and cinephiles, those individuals with a deep passion for film, are able to explore their interests in filmmaking. Competitions such as the 48 Hour Film Project challenge passionate filmmakers to create a short film in a single weekend. Hosted in different cities throughout the year, competitors gain both skill and social connections through collaboration. Like the 48 Film Project, local opportunities such as the LOL JAX Film Festival and Jacksonville Film Festival foster a sense of community and welcome similar creative opportunities. As participants engage in screening and making films, the art form shifts from a simple viewing experience into a unique avenue for interaction and creativity in a social setting. Carlos Alvarez, a Stanton Class of 2023 graduate, screened his 2022 short film “Fiasco” at the LOL Jax Film Festival. Alvarez is currently studying filmmaking at Florida State University. Through his experience at the LOL JAX Film Festival, he was able to reflect on his creative process and the role of collaboration in production.
“It’s extremely liberating to get to make a film and express yourself, to see the ways you can wield images and convey feeling to affect people,” Alvarez said. “To care about something is special, but being able to share that with others who care means the world to me.”
By gaining experience and skill in producing films, students can branch out to larger-scale explorations into the art form. Like Alvarez, Jacksonville-based independent filmmaker Franklin Ritch started off by making short films in high school. Pursuing this passion, he eventually built a career and directed films including his 2022 debut feature, “Artifice Girl.” His production has been screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal in addition to local Jacksonville festivals. Despite facing the inevitable challenges of filmmaking, he continues to push toward success.
“The key to being a successful independent filmmaker is being able to perceive challenges and obstacles but [use them] as opportunities for creativity,” Ritch said. “There will always be things that you cannot anticipate, so the process is about problem solving and there’s a thrill I get from coming up with solutions.”
As filmmakers like Alvarez and Ritch as well as individuals passionate about film further contribute to the art form, their productions themselves stand as an account of changing times. By portraying expectations such as gender roles or class norms, along with stylistic elements like architecture or clothing, films preserve history. Films also incorporate social, historical, or political commentary within narratives in response to the world they depict. The film “Wall-E,” for instance, comments on the dangers of consumerism and environmental neglect, while “The Pursuit of Happyness” highlights the struggles of poverty and the power of family in persevering through hardships. As films mirror society, viewers gain insight into the realities they depict.
Even though production styles and techniques may change, the messages conveyed at the core of films remain universal. With its combination of visual imagery, auditory effects, and rich narratives, the medium itself holds the power to transcend time. Douglas Markowitz, an editor and a film critic for the Miami New Times, distinguishes film’s lasting power from the fleeting impact of short-form content.
“Good storytelling is timeless, and people remember a well-told story long after they’ve seen [short-form content, like] on TikTok,” Markowitz said. “Our lives are dominated by narratives, whether it be something epic like “Lawrence of Arabia” or a story your partner [shares with you about] work. The way a story is told is key to its impact, and in that respect, film wins every time.”
As films entertain the senses, inspire minds, and challenge viewers’ perspectives across the globe, they simultaneously bridge generations. Within the Stanton community, cinema offers students opportunities to explore meaning and understanding in their own lives. Each production shares invaluable lessons and captures limitless dimensions of human experience. Whether stories on screen transport viewers to another universe or remind them of contemporary realities, films continue to nurture and transform everyday life.