Loving: A School’s Behind-The-Scenes Role in a Major Motion Picture

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Schools must do more than just teach students; they must be able to provide experiences that can enrich students’ lives. The partnership that developed between Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) and the Loving Production Company led to such an enrichment opportunity for the students of the Academy at Virginia Randolph. The Loving Production Company filmed parts of the movie Loving in Henrico County and the surrounding area. In order to add authenticity to the film, the main character needed to develop and exhibit credible onscreen masonry skills. The production company reached out to HCPS for assistance, since the division’s Department of Career and Technical Education offers masonry programs for students. Using the school’s facilities, HCPS instructor Chris Simmons gave Joel Edgerton, the film’s male star, the skills allowing him to fulfill the role as a credible mason. Students from Virginia Randolph had opportunities to interact with Edgerton, to visit the set, and to serve as extras in the film. The partnership not only allowed the students the chance to see how major motion pictures are made but also provided them an opportunity to learn about a key event in American legal and civil rights history.