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Media Tech at FIHS
Media Tech at FIHS
By: Avi Scott
Behind the scenes of all the media tech here at fountain inn high school stands Jeffery Hoffman, FIHS Media Tech teacher. Hoffman started his career by attending the University of Ohio, he studied media tech, he had a minor in film which is when he really started getting into film. His dad was a basketball coach and that was when he started making highlight films on the VHS tapes.
Hoffman was originally motivated to start the media tech program because he was influenced by the mixed bag of classes that were in the district, taught by English teachers who did not have a specialty in the field.
¨I worked for Greenville County Schools´ Communications Department for 14 years, and I would just see, like, some broadcast journalism classes scattered around the district and they were being staffed by English teachers who really didn't know how to run the equipment at all,”Hoffman said.
¨While they may like to write the stories and do a good job, they have no way to really produce the content or film it or edit it to get it out, so I started looking into options where I could become a teacher because I didn't go to college to be a teacher,” Hoffman said.
¨ I came across Media Tech as a career tech option and I pursued it in 2019 and started teaching in Anderson County before coming over to Greenville to work at Fountain in High School,¨ Hoffman said.
One of Hoffman's favorite parts about teaching Media Tech is “Watching students create.” He loves to see the creative process and he loves to see what they come up with. It could be anything from music videos, short films, commercials. It's a class for students to explore and learn about video tech.
Jackson Wofford, a junior in the media tech program has been in the program since his freshman year. He was motivated to join the program when he first enrolled at fountain inn, he was asked if he liked cameras and when he said yes they handed him a camera and put him in the class, yet he never expected to fall in love with making videos the way he did. The program has helped Wofford get more experience and opportunity. Wofford stated “The program hasn’t necessarily helped me get better, but it's given me more opportunities to grow and get more experience.” The media tech program is less of a teaching class and more of a hands on class.
The program has helped many students figure out what pathway they wanted to take, whether it continued to be videography, or it continued to other pathways like journalism, yearbook, or newspaper. The program is an amazing asset to Fountain Inn and continues to highlight the skills of students within the media world.
INN the Peripheral
INN the Peripheral
Behind the Scene of Fountain Inn's New Podcast: INN Our Eyes
Behind the Scene of Fountain Inn's New Podcast: INN Our Eyes
By Rebecca Bullington
INN Our Eyes is Fountain Inn High School’s official podcast. Run by Producer and Lead Host, Isabella Castro, and supported by Jeff Hoffman with Innvision Media and the Media Technology classes here at Fountain Inn High School.
The idea for the podcast was thought up by Castro, Hoffman, and Lucas Clark one fateful night last year, though it wasn't put into action until October 15, when the first episode, centering around Hispanic Heritage Night, was recorded.
“It was one night when Ms. Sudduth asked if I wanted to represent journalism to upcoming freshmen so I ended up staying after school … We all just sat outside and we were just talking here and there, and we came up with the idea of, ‘Why don't we make a podcast?’. Because they have Fury Live, we have the Fury Flyer, this would kinda give us a way to outbranch and talk about stuff going on around school,” Castro said.
The podcast was inspired by a unit in Skye Sudduth’s Journalism class. Since journalism as a class can be very heavy and repetitive when it comes to the storywriting process, Sudduth had all her students make their own podcast episode as a form of broadcast journalism.
“They are still telling stories, but it's not necessarily a spotlight or a feature. It’s more of a talk show type of story. And that's what really got the ball rolling,” Sudduth said.
Though the idea of INN Our Eyes came up last year, the execution of the podcast only fell into action early this semester. Now, the implementation of planning, set up, and recording takes place weekly.
“We usually set up the period before we're going to record because it takes about 60 minutes to set up the lights and move the desks before we get the guests on and they get comfortable,” Hoffman said.
Setting up for INN Our Eyes is a task that takes more than some would imagine. Hoffman’s Media Tech students put the skills they learn in his class to practice when setting up for filming.
This collaboration between Journalism and Media Technology is a part of why the podcast is so successful. INN Our Eyes is the highlight and product of two of Fountain Inn High School’s strongest programs, and they share this spotlight with whoever they decide to feature. Sudduth and Hoffman both hope to continue this project for many years to come and all of its founders have high hopes for its future.
“I hope that it continues on, and I started this with the idea for people to just have an outlet to talk or share their inspiration. I hope that even after I leave, whoever ends up taking it over continues it on, and I hope it evolves,” Castro said.
All in all, this is just the beginning of INN Our Eyes and all that FIHS has to offer. Stay tuned for the premiere of the next episode of INN Our Eyes, featuring Fountain Inn’s very own exchange students before they head back home.
Live Now; New Progress for Fury Live
Live Now; New Progress for Fury Live
By: Devi Kaspar
Our Fountain Inn High School students have been creating sports legacies in the community that they thrive in. For two years now, a select few Fountain Inn media tech students have had the privilege of being able to work on the livestreaming of our sports teams and their respective games.
If you’re not familiar with Fury Live, you’re probably wondering what I’m talking about. Well, for you select few who need to know, Fury Live is almost solely led by students for the students and the greater Fountain Inn community. Fountain Inn is also the only school in the county that currently can boast about having something similar to news coverage for sports. They broadcast live and previous sporting events for various teams, including but not limited to, Fury football, volleyball, girls and boys basketball, and wrestling.
In downtown Fountain Inn, with a four-point-four rating, The Mill at Fountain Inn is a hugely popular choice for dining and social activities if you’re looking for something local. The community’s favorite part about the Mill is not just its massive food hall, but the attraction comes from the back. A large projector screen is set up in an amphitheater-like area behind the food hall where now, thanks to Fury Marketing, Fury Live will be broadcast on Fridays. This partnership will bring prosperity to all of the parties involved, the Mill, who gets profit, Fountain Inn, who gets publicity, and You, who gets dinner and a show.
Not only does the Mill have a partnership with Fury Live, but there is also a work-based learning program in place with Presbyterian College. Fountain Inn media tech students are able to work for Presbyterian College, and practice filming in the real world, outside of their classes.
Just so you don't leave thinking that this is just a small town partnership, Fury Live is also helping Channel Four news with their Friday night Hits segments. These clips feature clips of the Friday Night football games and highlights, and all the credits go to our Fountain Innvision Media students and film crew.
Even through all of this, Fury Live is still only in their second year, and hoping to grow. Soon, the program will try to add filming from the press box, as well as filming from the sidelines, and a specialized sideline camera for the games. There is also soon to be training for a senior announcer and commentator, and the freshmen to learn and train up to it.
Innvision Media is not a finalized thing, but it is currently better than we could hope, after only one previous year of being fully up and running. In the years to come, Innvision Media will be your way of keeping up with all things Fury Sports, so go cheer on your team, and your Media tech students, who we could not do it without. Go Fury!
Behind the Scenes of Inn a Minute
Behind the Scenes of Inn a Minute
By Gia Castilgia
The process of filming for Inn a minute goes a lot deeper than it seems to the naked eye.
Inn a Minute is Fountain Inn High School’s news show, while every student watches Inn a Minute very little knows all the work put into it. The filming process can take up to a few minutes, hours, days, and maybe even weeks; depending on the information needed. Filming Inn a Minute is not as easy as it looks.
First it starts off with a story and then builds out of the story.
“You have to have a good story, or else you're not going to have a good film,” head of Media Tech, Jeff Hoffman said.
In order to get a good story the students go over what's important and what isn't to see if it's news worthy and worth the little time they have in each episode. They must highlight the major and some minor events of the day or week first which is their lead story.
Most filming process goes well but every once in a while you won't get the information you need and it might set you up for the worst.
“The biggest challenge we face is sometimes getting the information from the teachers who are busy.” Hoffman said
The process behind the film making process includes a large crew of students, you need a producer, host, co-host, editors, filmer, review checks, and the final step: approval from Hoffman! The students have to try to hunt for the news and what's going on in the school.
After they pick a good story, the students need to execute it by finding the small and major information about all the topics, email teachers, find students, and sometimes go to events whatever it may be. Strict deadlines are one of the biggest obstacles the students face.
Theater
Theater
Alice in Wonderland Cast, Crew Overcome Opening Night Challenges
Alice in Wonderland Cast, Crew Overcome Opening Night Challenges
By Kasiya Duncan
Dec. 12, 2025
The final curtain call for Alice in Wonderland brought standing ovations, but the real story lies behind the scenes where cast and crew overcame last-minute disasters and budget constraints to bring Lewis Carroll's classic to life.
From actors stepping into characters completely opposite their personalities to crew members rebuilding sets just days before opening night, the production showcased the problem-solving skills and teamwork that make school theater memorable.
CAST FACES CHARACTER CHALLENGES
The journey to opening night began with actors confronting an unexpected challenge: portraying someone entirely different from themselves.
For Mariah Meijas, who played the title character Alice, the challenge wasn't just becoming a different person — it was becoming a different age entirely.
"The biggest challenge for me was portraying a young child. The mannerisms of a child compared to a teenager are vastly different, down to the way they look at others and walk around," Meijas said. "I had to make my steps lighter and talk a bit higher."
Meijas credited director Veronica Rogers with helping her master the childlike characterization that proved essential on opening night.
Her interpretation went beyond physical mannerisms, incorporating Alice's emotional journey as well.
"We had a narrative that she was escaping to wonderland from her own troubles in her personal life. She's still a child, so the different ways that she goes through situations are quite different from what you would think," Meijas explained.
Rogers noted that some roles proved unexpectedly complex to develop. "White Knight (Jack Mason) was one of the most complex characters for us to dive into, surprisingly," Rogers said. "Mason did a great job putting more depth and detail into his role after hours of work."
"The biggest challenge in bringing this character to life was having to be an extravagant person that's loud, dramatic, and has a lot of sass. I'm playing someone that's the opposite of me," said Kasiya Duncan, who played the Caterpillar.
Duncan's solution required mental preparation. She overcame this by "getting myself prepared to be overly sassy, dramatic and pretty much a diva, then when I'm done, I just recoup myself and realize that it's just acting, no big deal."
Jayden Rojas, who played the Mad Hatter, faced a different kind of complexity. "It's hard to be psycho without actually being psycho because the mannerisms are very unpredictable, making it difficult to pre-plan and rehearse," Rojas said. "I overcame it by improving the mannerisms each run."
For some actors, the transformation required a more straightforward approach. Tomiya Graham, who played the Queen of Hearts, explained her method simply: "My character's background is rude. So I was rude."
This experience of playing against type wasn't unique to Duncan and Graham. Aarika Tripathi, who played the Duchess and White Queen, faced a similar transformation. "My biggest challenge was being this lazy, lethargic character, as it's something I don't relate to," Tripathi said. "In order to overcome this challenge, I made sure to use body language to develop this idea of being lazy for the White Queen."
Jack Hamilton, who played Dormouse/The Mouse, faced the challenge of bringing his character to life. "Trying to find the right movement for this character that wasn't too similar to other characters I'd previously played," Hamilton said. "I overcame it by performing my scenes in a mirror and tweaking my movement."
While some actors worked on individual character development, others focused on ensemble dynamics. Rachel Evancho, who played the March Hare, explained, "I feel as though the biggest challenge with characterization was making a character that fit in with the rest of the play and the other characters in my scenes."
Jada Moon, who played in the ensemble, took a different approach to character development. "It really wasn't a challenge — I just had to use my imagination more," Moon said. Despite being silent throughout the performance, their character work proved crucial to the production's success through subtle but impactful actions.
CREW BATTLES TECHNICAL DISASTERS
While actors wrestled with character development, the technical crew and management faced their own set of dramatic challenges that would test their problem-solving skills right up until showtime.
The production's most nerve-wracking moment came just days before opening night. "The door fell and broke two days away from the show and we had to rebuild it and find the base so it wasn't as wobbly," said Lily Sandmeyer, set designer.
This wasn't just any prop—the door was central to the production's visual impact. "It took a long time to make, it was the biggest set, and it was finished one or two days before the show," Sandmeyer added.
Cue Manager Conor Fee confirmed the timing created additional pressure: "The door broke 48 hours before opening night so we had to spend the last day of tech week fixing it."
Coordinating multiple departments during these crises fell to Lead Manager Ethan Pearson. "Mics messed up a lot but everything else seemed fine. We just used working mics as backup for walls," Pearson said. The experience taught him valuable lessons about team coordination: "I learned that it takes a lot to get people to lock in on working."
Technical challenges were compounded by financial constraints that required creative solutions across all departments. Director Rogers explained that productions typically run "$2,000 to $3,000. We reuse materials, build nearly everything from scratch, and try to preserve materials for the future."
Costume Lead Sophia Tran felt these budget pressures directly. "The biggest problem was getting all the costumes done in time and getting the right measures, especially making the costumes look budget-wise like getting things from home or from people at the last minute," Tran said.
Wayne Fleming, assistant costume designer, explained that "the biggest challenge that I think happened is when we ran out of money for costumes. To overcome that problem, we had to use some of the stuff in the costume closet for the last things."
HIDDEN DETAILS AUDIENCES MISSED
Despite these challenges—or perhaps because of them—the crew took special pride in creating details that enhanced the storytelling, even when audiences couldn't fully appreciate them.
"Inside the train box there were colorful swirly swipes of paint to resemble the wind of a train and the color of Alice and Wonderland," Sandmeyer revealed, describing one of many artistic touches that went unnoticed from the audience's perspective.
Duncan added her own personal touch to her character's signature prop: "Bedazzling my beloved hookah, they couldn't see it due to me being up high but it was nice, rest in peace, my hookah."
AUDIENCE REACTIONS
The cast and crew's hard work paid off with audience members who appreciated both the performances and the production's overall impact.
Audience member Julie Smith found the performances particularly engaging. “When Kasiya was on stage - the way she acted made me laugh," Smith said, describing her most memorable moment from the show.
The positive reception extended beyond entertainment value. Smith would recommend the show to others, explaining, "Yes I would, because it's a great show and going with friends is even more fun. Also it's supporting the school so the money is going to a good place."
ADVICE FOR FUTURE ACTORS
Looking ahead to future productions, the cast offered words of encouragement for students considering theater.
"Just go for it! You've got this, it's so much fun," Tripathi advised, reflecting on her positive experience despite the initial challenges.
Duncan echoed this sentiment with additional guidance: "Give it your all and do what you love best. Stay true to yourself."
Meijas offered encouragement rooted in persistence: "My biggest advice is to go after what you think is best. You'll never find out what you love in life if you never try. And if you don't succeed the first time, please, please, please try again."
Hamilton said students should never be afraid to try something new, as they might even surprise themselves with the outcome: “Don't be afraid to experiment with a character and try new things during rehearsals. You discover more interesting aspects of your character than you would if you just stuck with your original vision.”
Their message was clear: the challenges that seemed daunting at first—from character development to technical disasters—ultimately became part of what made the experience rewarding.
The production's success came with valuable insights for future shows.
LESSONS LEARNED
Looking toward future productions, Rogers identified key areas for improvement. "We need to start our set building process MUCH sooner," she said. The experience also highlighted the need for better scheduling: "As we start our new production, we've already changed how a rehearsal schedule is created."
The production taught valuable lessons about collaboration across departments. Props Manager Tessa Criswell reflected on the importance of patience during stressful periods: "Everyone is stressed half the time during tech week so don't get exceptionally angry when something goes wrong and to give people grace."
For Pearson, the management experience was ultimately rewarding despite the coordination challenges. "The most rewarding part of working with student actors and crew was seeing them all do well on the last two days," he said.
Despite technical challenges and character hurdles, the 'Alice in Wonderland' cast and crew proved that creativity and teamwork can overcome any obstacle, transforming potential disasters into opening night success.
The production's journey from broken doors and budget constraints to standing ovations illustrates the collaborative spirit that defines school theater. From actors like Rojas improvising to save dropped lines, to costume designers like Tran and Fleming creatively stretching limited funds, to managers like Pearson coordinating multiple crises simultaneously, every department contributed to the show's ultimate success.
Director Rogers' vision of Alice trapped in an alternate reality that proves "more trouble than her reality" resonated not just in the story, but in the production process itself. The cast and crew faced their own wonderland of unexpected challenges - from Sandmeyer's door collapsing 48 hours before opening to Fee coordinating six different technical cues simultaneously - yet found creative solutions that strengthened both the show and their skills as artists.
The lessons learned extend far beyond the final curtain call. As Rogers noted, future productions will benefit from earlier set construction and improved scheduling, while crew members like Criswell emphasized the importance of patience and grace during high-stress periods. For the student actors, the experience of becoming someone entirely different from themselves - whether Graham's straightforward approach to rudeness or Rojas' complex portrayal of controlled chaos - provided valuable insights into both performance and personal growth.
Ultimately, the 'Alice in Wonderland' production demonstrated that the most memorable theater experiences often emerge not from flawless execution, but from the collective determination to transform obstacles into opportunities, creating something greater than the sum of its parts.
A Production in the Works
A Production in the Works
By: Brooklyn Leake
Yes, you heard right. Although not many people know about it or will see it, we'll dive in and take a peek at what first-period theater is up to.
On Dec. 16, first-period theater will perform in front of English classes. They will be performing "The Intruder."
"It's a drama," said Ms. Rogers, "about a grandma who is blind and insists that there is an intruder in the house."
Although the plot is fairly simple, it is thrilling. The production has highlights and props thanks to the tech leaders who make sure the plot runs smoothly, such as student director Ethan Pearson and stage directors Jacob Butts and Adrian Foley. The visual directors who make it happen include Guez Rodriguez, who is in charge of hair and makeup; Jordynn Henderson, who handles the set; Ava Benham, sound lead; and Greydis Mendez and Brianna Martinez, who are in charge of lighting.
"The Intruder" stars Madisyn Ross as the grandma, Deon Dawson as the father, Isaac Owens as the uncle and Ben Garrett as the servant. The three daughters are played by Thais Costa Bisi, Lola Wheeler- Oritz, and Brooklyn Leake.
Students in the class split into acting and tech roles, and the final production will be graded.
This is a sneak peek at what theater is doing. Not everyone will see it, but if you're interested in theater and this sounds like something you want to do, contact Rogers or talk with your school counselor — maybe you can end up in theater too.
The Method Behind The Madness: How Fountain Inn High School Built Safeville
The Method Behind The Madness: How Fountain Inn High School Built Safeville
By Kasiya Duncan and Julianne Smith
Nov 6, 2025
Community donations of medical equipment, fake blood, spider webs, and paint helped Safeville's drama students create a haunted hospital fundraiser that drew more than 400 visitors to support the department's field trips and competitions.
"We started at the beginning of the year, but we really started the build process in early September," said Veronica Rogers, theater teacher.
"We as International Thespian Society leaders have been planning this with the rest of our club since the second week of school," said Conor Fee, a junior.
Jack Mason, a student manager involved in the leadership, confirmed the extensive timeline. Planning began “since the start of school” and involved “roughly 40-50” students and staff members, said Mason.
The event involved 42 students and 10 adults who collaborated on the night of the show, according to Sophia Evans, a sophomore in the International Thespian Society leadership.
Mariah Mejias, a sophomore in leadership and actor team lead, explained the extensive planning timeline. "ITS has been planning this fundraiser for a couple of months now. It's our biggest fundraiser of the year, so we ensure that it's planned out to the best of our capabilities," said Mejias.
"That was all our drama club, where they would vote on different idea themes and layouts, then our leadership would have the final say," said Rogers.
The fundraising goals varied among organizers, with the money intended to support the drama department's upcoming production of 'Mother Courage' and help pay for students to compete at Palmetto Dramatic Association events, said Fee. Evans referenced a $5,000 target, while Mason mentioned $4,000. However, Mejias noted a more modest expectation. “The fundraising goal was about $1,000, seeing as last year we made more or less the same number. This money goes to our competition fees, specifically PDA,” said Mejias.
The scope of preparation was massive, with students investing significant time and effort into the project. Fee estimated "easily hundreds of hours" went into Safeville, while the actual construction process took "three to five weeks," according to James Carpenter, a junior on the set crew.
The construction process took “well over 100 hours” of preparation, according to Mason, though the final setup on event night took only “one or two hours.”
Even on the night of the event, setup was intense. Students had to move quickly after school ended.
"We got out of school at 3:45 p.m., so we immediately started building everything," said Smith, a freshman scare actor. "I say about two hours to have everything done."
With budget constraints, students got resourceful with materials and community support.
"We mostly used leftover materials and donations," Carpenter said, crediting community contributions and "Marley's dad for letting us use a tremendous amount of stuff such as the inflatable, a bunch of props and many sets of lights."
The makeup process was streamlined for efficiency under Marley Detmer's leadership, a junior. Each actor's transformation took "about five to 15 minutes, depending on how complex the look is," she said.
"For special effects, the main products that I use include scar wax, bruise kits, fake blood, and eyeshadow," said Detmer. "I try to make every look different in some way, so that everyone has their own special aspects."
To ensure the makeup lasted throughout the night, Detmer used "a very sticky primer and set it with hairspray" for durability. The team did touch-ups during breaks, "but it stayed really on the whole time," she added.
The lighting design built suspense throughout the experience, coordinated by Bella Hester from the lighting booth.
"We worked with the theme by adding specific colors of lights that coordinated to the hospital theme," said Hester. "For example, a Code Blue in medical terms means that someone is actively dying, and red colors generally feel creepier."
Ian Madison, a junior handling sound and lights, worked alongside Hester to coordinate effects. "My job was to change light cues when needed and play the video the scare actors created for the guests to watch as they enter," said Madison. The biggest technical challenge was communication: "Multiple times we lost communication through walkie talkies. However, we could hear and watch the guests walk in, so doing our job properly wasn't affected."
The lighting created a narrative arc for visitors. "When the visitors walked in, we had lighter colors in the auditorium because of the video starting happier and more positive," said Hester. "By the time the video was over and it had a more creepy mood, we had some lights dark red, and some lights off."
The biggest logistical hurdle came down to timing, said Rogers.
"The time frame because we only had an hour and a half to do all our set up and working through our issues was quite the time crunch," said Rogers. "It was fun."
Beyond setup time, coordination proved difficult throughout the process.
"The biggest challenge is coordination and communication," said Carpenter.
Fire safety requirements created additional constraints that forced creative solutions. Jack Hamilton, a senior, identified a key limitation: "Creating a scary atmosphere without turning off the lights because we weren't able to."
The fire marshal's restrictions also affected other elements. "We couldn't have the fog machine in the hallway due to the fire marshal saying it isn't safe," said Smith.
To ensure visitor safety, multiple protocols were established. "We weren't allowed to touch anybody. And there were walkie talkies so we could communicate to one another if we needed to tone it down," said Hamilton.
Rogers coordinated volunteers across multiple groups to handle the staffing challenge. "Students were kiddos who were largely in our drama club and theatre classes and they told their friends," she said. "Parents were told by newsletter and emails. Staff was from a staff newsletter and email blast."
The scare actors quickly discovered their performances had dramatic effects on visitors, with each developing their own signature techniques and characters.
Evans, who played a heart surgery patient, enjoyed the reactions: "The funniest reaction I received was people screaming and falling to the floor."
Hamilton, who portrayed the head doctor, used strategic positioning for maximum impact. "I liked walking up the hallway toward the group and fake lunging at some of them to scare them," he said. His most memorable moment came from an unexpected scare: "I slapped a window behind somebody and they screamed insanely loud."
Detmer, who portrayed a psycho doctor, created memorable moments with coordinated scares. "Me and Maryrose crawled on all fours from both sides of the room, and this big group of girls ran away screaming so loud," she said.
Mejias, who portrayed a patient being dragged to surgery, used psychological tactics. "My best technique to get guests to feel fear or discomfort is to look them straight in the eyes," she said. Her most memorable moment involved an unexpected helper: "A kid actually went to help me and my fellow scare actor had to chase him out."
Alivia Jackson, a freshman playing a patient, worked alongside her twin sister to create a creepy dynamic. "I had my twin sister with me and they decided to make her a doctor and pair her with me so we could be like creeping twins," she said. Her technique focused on realistic illness: "I twitched a lot, looked like I had trouble breathing, those things."
Rachel Evancho, an assistant doctor, relied on timing and silence. "My best scare technique was just staying silent and jumping at people whenever I felt appropriate," she said.
Smith found success with a simple but effective technique from her position as a seemingly lifeless patient. "When I was slumped out in the chair, pretending to be dead, people would walk by and then I scream at them, ‘GET OUT!'"
Tour guides played a crucial role in managing visitor groups through the haunted experience. Dashira Soto Rodriguez, a member of the International Thespian Society, served as a tour guide using her previous experience.
“I developed it as I had been one before and I already was used to handling guests,” said Rodriguez.
The event accommodated different age groups with varying scare levels. "Younger and more easily scared kids can come during the kids hour and get walked through the haunted house without getting by the scarers,” Rodriguez explained.
Rodriguez's most memorable moment highlighted the event's appeal: “One of the smaller kids tried to stay with the scare actors because he thought they were fun.”
However, crowd control presented challenges. “Having to deal with disrespectful or inappropriate guests throughout the night” was the biggest challenge, said Rodriguez.
One incident required quick thinking when “one of my tours ran out the wrong door and we had to get them and restart with a new group of guests,” she said.
Staying in character required different strategies for each actor. "You just never stop and stay focused," Evancho said, while Hamilton took a different approach: "Whenever I'm out of sight, I drop the act to recoup."
The actors particularly enjoyed the reactions from younger visitors. "I loved the kid hour, I remember they got so scared at Marley," Evancho said. Jackson recalled a memorable moment with a child: "I was lying off the chair and a kid was walking by and pointed saying 'what’s wrong with her.'”
The haunted house drew an unexpectedly large crowd that exceeded organizers' hopes, creating long lines but enthusiastic reactions.
"How many people showed up!" Rogers said when asked about the event's biggest surprise.
Hamilton was stunned by the turnout: "There was an insanely long line. I did not expect so many people to come."
Mason noted the community responded positively. “The only complaint we had was the line to get in,” said Mason.
Despite the wait times, visitors praised the students' efforts and rated the experience highly. Ja'Siyah Pendermon, a student visitor, gave the haunted house a perfect score: "I'd say a 10 because I'm gonna be honest, I thought it was gonna be lame, but it was more than I expected and the actors were really good."
Brittany Williams, a teacher, rated her experience an 8 out of 10. "We had to wait a long time, but the actual haunted house was really well done," she said.
The event also drew participation from students within the drama program who experienced Safeville as visitors. Kasiya Duncan, a Theater 2 Honors student, rated her experience an 8 out of 10.
"I got to see all my friends participate and try to scare me and my family," Duncan said. Her favorite moment came from a personal connection: "My friend, Julie, screaming GET OUT at me over and over, and seeing one of my friends getting dragged on the floor by one of the other scare actors."
Duncan praised the technical elements, particularly "projecting the video and different colors to change the overall mood." Like other visitors, she found the main issue was wait time: "I was waiting for about an hour and the haunted house felt short."
Visitor experiences varied widely. Mikiah Shell, a student, rated the experience a 5 out of 10, citing the hour-and-a-half wait as the main issue.
"The beginning when they played the horror film" was Shell's favorite part, though she "wasn't scared at all" and suggested making future events "more darker and scarier."
Payton Ware gave the event a 7 or 8 out of 10 but found some visitors disruptive.
"The group we were with was seriously disrespectful and violent," Ware said, suggesting organizers "get rid of the disrespectful guests" for next year.
Katelyn Burton rated her experience a 6 or 7, praising the affordability. "For sure, it was only $5 and we [me and Payton] had a good time," Burton said.
Laila Hogan, another student visitor, rated the experience a 6 out of 10, with a scare level of 3 out of 10. "The girl following us the whole time" was what scared her most, though her favorite part was "mainly having fun because I was with my friend Lily." Like other visitors, she expressed interest in returning: "I would love to come back next year and have more fun!"
Shaneiry McDowell, another student visitor, rated the experience 8.5 out of 10, with “the science lab when they had all the tools and stuff.” as her favorite part.
“The girl crawling to me” was McDowell's scariest moment, and she praised the technical elements: “It was amazing it was very realistic.”
McDowell suggested expanding the scope for next year: “More jumpscares and it being a bit longer. Like all around the school instead of just having it in the auditorium.”
Alyssa Sudduth, a teacher, rated her experience a 6 or 7 out of 10, though she noted her tour was affected by timing. "It was the LAST tour to go through, so everyone had started getting ready to close up (lights on, etc.)," Sudduth said.
Despite the timing issues, Sudduth praised the students' dedication. "My favorite part was seeing how much work the students put into the haunt," she said.
Sudduth was particularly impressed by the technical elements, rating the lighting as "PHENOMENAL" and noting that "the students made their own SFX for the most part and did an excellent job."
Like other visitors, she found the scare actors effective. "The students did a phenomenal job scaring the guests and being engaging," Sudduth said. She added that while she doesn't scare easily, "when a student appears out of nowhere (or in pitch black darkness), a good jumpscare occurs.”
Sudduth felt the $5 admission was worthwhile and expressed strong interest in returning. "It absolutely was worth $5," she said, rating her likelihood to attend next year as "100%."
For future improvements, Sudduth suggested "waiting until all tours have gone through to 'close up,'" addressing the timing issue that affected her experience.
The scare actors' dedication particularly impressed visitors. "The actors were really good and the scares, I enjoyed getting scared," Pendermon said. Williams was especially impressed by the technical aspects: "I think they did a great job, especially everybody's costume with the fake blood and stuff."
Both visitors felt the $5 admission price was reasonable. "Did you feel the haunted house was worth the admission price? Absolutely," Williams said. Pendermon agreed, adding: "Yes, and to be honest, it probably should've been more like the way that it was so cheap."
The main suggestion for improvement centered on managing the unexpectedly large crowds. Williams suggested the biggest change for next year would be to "somehow shorten the wait, someway to accommodate the amount of people who showed up." Duncan plans to return next year, "maybe even volunteer in it," and suggested creative themes for future years including "a haunted toy store, FNAF theme, cemeteries or graveyards."
Theater Project Forges Unexpected Bonds Between High School & Elementary Students
Theater Project Forges Unexpected Bonds Between High School & Elementary Students
By: Kasiya Duncan
I had shown the little girl my otter stuffed animal to help her open up, and it worked—sort of. But when I reached to put it back in my bag before leaving, she clutched it tighter and looked up at me with hopeful eyes. The moment I nodded and said "you can keep it," her whole face changed.
The moment was part of a theater class assignment at Fountain Inn High School, where 32 students created stuffed animals based on drawings by 32 second-graders from Fountain Inn Elementary School. The project, organized by theater teacher Veronica Rogers, aimed to connect older and younger students through creativity and imagination.
"Theater is a community discipline, and getting our high schoolers to help show the young generation the joy and creativity behind it is really exciting for me," said Rogers about her inspiration for the project.
Rogers hoped students would develop essential life skills through the experience. "I hoped that they learned persistence through obstacles, patience in annoying tasks and confidence in themselves," she said.
Each high school student received a drawing complete with detailed descriptions. My assignment featured a purple-bodied monster named Rok with big green eyes, stick-figure arms with three fingers, red feet, dark purple horns and a green guitar. The drawing came with a personality profile: Rok loved burgers, feared ghosts and enjoyed playing guitar and reading.
I carefully crafted my version, staying true to the original design except for one detail — I made the guitar red instead of green.
Student reactions to their assigned drawings varied widely. "It was a large variety — some kids thought that their drawings were cute, some thought they were ugly, and others thought it was difficult," Rogers explained.
"It was pretty interesting, it looked like a potato," said Keshon Gillian about his first reaction to his drawing. Jack Mason, who attended Fountain Inn Elementary himself, had mixed feelings: "I kinda chose it so, I wasn't happy with it but I wasn't mad that I got it, I was just somewhere in between."
Despite initial concerns — "I was really worried because I didn't know how to sew," Aarika Tripathi admitted — students found ways to connect with their young partners.
When I called out the little girl's name from her drawing, she approached quietly, examined the purple monster I'd created, then retreated to her seat to continue coloring Halloween pumpkins.
The initial interaction proved awkward for both of us. She waved but didn't speak, and I found myself sitting at her level, waiting patiently for her to open up. When I asked about Rok, her monster, she shared brief details about his love for music, guitar playing and favorite food, but the conversation stalled.
I noticed her coloring sheet and asked if she wanted to continue. She nodded and returned to her work while I searched for common ground. Her Bluey T-shirt provided the breakthrough.
"Yes, I like Bluey," she said when I asked about the show.
"What's your favorite character?" I asked.
"All of them," she replied with her first real smile.
When I stood to stretch, she noticed my Hello Kitty keychain, and our conversation finally found its rhythm. She lit up, telling me she loved Hello Kitty, and we began discussing the characters and shows. For the first time, she seemed genuinely engaged.
As we talked, I showed her my otter stuffed animal keychain, explaining that I had a stuffed animal too. She offered a quiet "thank you" before returning to her coloring, but something had shifted between us.
During the interactions, Rogers observed these positive connections forming across the classroom. "It was so much fun because the high schoolers were pretty gentle and curious about the elementary students, and it was fun hearing all the conversations and how the high schoolers supported them," she noted.
Gillian bonded with his second-grader over Sonic the Hedgehog. "He was shy at first, but once we talked about Sonic, we opened up," he explained. However, not every interaction came easily. Mason faced a unique challenge: "The fact that he didn't want to talk to me mostly. He was able to connect with another student but when I came over, it was a different reaction."
For Mason, returning to his former elementary school brought unexpected emotions. "Seeing how the school has changed so much but it felt the exact same way when I entered," he said.
When the elementary school teacher arrived to collect the second-graders, I knew our time was ending. I reached for my otter keychain to pack it away, but the little girl's reaction stopped me.
She clutched it tighter and looked up with hopeful eyes. When I nodded and said "you can keep it," her whole face transformed into a bright smile. She stared at the otter, then back at me, before wrapping me in a hug. As she hugged the stuffed animal close, I headed back to the bus.
The students' efforts ultimately paid off, with many surprised by the positive responses. "I was surprised about how happy the kid was with my monster honestly," Tripathi noted.
This marks the second year for the project, with plans to continue. "This is the second time doing this, although I'm going to make some changes. I will do it again, probably next fall," Rogers said.
The elementary school's response has been encouraging. "The elementary school was very positive and cheerful about the whole experience — that the monsters were even more similar to the drawings and that the kids had a good time," Rogers reported.
The connection I'd felt with this quiet second-grader left me unexpectedly emotional during the ride back to school.
Lights, Camera, Action
Lights, Camera, Action
Set of Our Place
Emily Owens and Ethan Pearson on the set of Our Place
By Jordon Martin
By Jordon Martin
Lights, Camera, Action! Fun fact: Did you know saying “Macbeth” is a curse? If you've ever spent time with an actor or Theater maker, you'll know that saying 'Macbeth' in a Theater, unless you're performing or rehearsing the tragedy, is bad luck, as it is believed to be deeply cursed.
Instead, actors call it 'The Scottish Play.' According to legend, the actor playing Lady Macbeth in the first-ever performance of the play died suddenly, meaning Shakespeare himself had to play the role. In one performance, a real dagger was used instead of a prop, killing the actor. There were also audience riots at productions in 1721, 1772, and 1849, the latter allegedly leaving 22 dead. Probably best to play it safe and stick to ‘The Scottish Play’ inside Theatres.
It may look so easy for students or even your favorite actors and actresses to act, but is it really? Is it a nightmare in the drama/Acting industry? Find out the real truth behind it all.
From the beaming lights to the long tired hours of practicing and hearing “Hey let's move this and fix this so in this scene it's perfect.” Then to the smell of sweat and the loud sensation and ringing in your ears after a long performance… it seems dazzling but no one really understands the amount of work that goes into having a successful production.
Here I will be talking about the behind-the-scenes of acting, from Theatre performances, to facts and even to unprofessional casting and cast members. Hold your popcorn and grab your drinks!
I took Theatre in tenth grade, and I've always loved the production process and build as a whole. When I would see actors in my favorite movies or scenes, I never thought about it but the more the idea and concept grew, the more I love acting and Theatre. I love everything about it all. Being featured in the productions is an experience I will never be able to forget.
One of the main reasons I have grown a love for Theatre has been Veronica Rogers. She is the current Theatre teacher at Fountain Inn High School. She is one of the most inclusive teachers I have had who strives to make the Theatre experience fun for everyone. In addition, her knowledge of Theatre is vast.
“My latest obsession for plays has been coming up like around 9/11 but with the new kids of this generation and I want to do a play to get the feedback but also it would be lots of fun seeing what the Theatre production can come up with,” Rogers said.
Students who take Rogers’ class have a passion for Theatre as well.
“I like Theatre, it's really engaging and gets you to do things you never thought you would ever enjoy doing in the first place,” theater student Emma Imes said.
While Theatre is a fun experience as a hobby, the reality of how much people get paid to act is shocking. Recently, actors and writers have gone on strike. The SAG (Screen Actors Guild) situation is creating ripples in the lake of the acting world.
According to research, “85% of actors are unemployed at any given time while only 12.08% earned more than $1000 in a year. The average annual income for actors in the US is $50,529 with an expected growth rate of 3%.” We strive to want to be actors and actresses as careers, but the statistics show it is not as glamorous (or easy) as it seems.
“There are approximately 63,000 actors working in the United States who have a median hourly wage of $20.26 and SAG-AFTRA membership includes over 160,000 media professionals. Less than 15% hold full-time jobs within their profession and nearly 31.9% have bachelor’s degrees or higher; 54.3% female compared to 45.7%, male; with an average age of 42 years old.”
“I love Theatre. I just saw the play/musical performance Six recently at the Peace Center downtown. There are so many shows I want to see, like Wicked, Alexander Hamilton, and The Lion King,” said FIHS assistant principal, Matthew Irvin.
Pursuing Theatre as a career is a difficult pathway. While it can be a challenging career, being involved in Theatre as an extracurricular can come with many benefits.
Mrs. Rogers has learned so much from her career with Theatre as well as her educational career. The most important thing she has learned has been “how important it is to have a clear plan and how most of the times when trying to do something that one talk or one assignment ends up all over the place and in reality communication is key in anything because without your not getting far and you won't get anything one.” When talking about the dislikes of Theatre or the struggles that students have with it, it's presented differently by everyone.
“My only dislike of being involved in a Theatre program can be the lack of community support. I have not seen this at Fountain Inn, but it can be really easy for the community to forget about programs like the Fine Arts department. Not all students shine in the athletic department or necessarily in academics, and Theatre provides a space for students to be able to excel,” English teacher, Skye Sudduth said. “My biggest takeaway with Theatre was being able to give students confidence and have them believe that they could be something that they aren't.”
In reality, students can be really great and achieve whatever they choose if they just put in the effort.
“[I] loved being able to participate in the first play (or at least, trying it out). I think it gave all of us a chance to be creative together in a way that we wouldn't get to experience in a traditional classroom setting. Something that can be frustrating about Theatre is waiting around-waiting to go on stage,waiting for opening day, etc.,” English teacher, Christina Bianchi said.
Theatre has left a lasting impression on the people who are involved.
“Theatre to me was a very fun class. When given the chance to perform , I practiced all the time and tried to engage with my scene partner so we could do it right, so my overall experience was really good and I would definitely do it again,” junior Emily Owens said.
“I loved Theatre. Theatre was that chance I had to let go and just have fun and express my emotions and feelings. My absolute favorite part had to be the play. I say that because seeing everyone's hard work and everything paying off in the end was so amazing and It was good to see my classmates just let go and just do it and we nailed it. I think the process of the play was very hard because everyone had to get used to everything but we honestly pulled everything off,” said junior Iyanna Hill.
The students performed Our Place by Terry Gabbard last semester in May. This year, they are looking forward to the productions that Rogers chooses for them.
...that’s a wrap. CUT!.
Deep Dive INN Theater
Deep Dive INN Theater
By Peyton Lazaroff
As the curtains drew and the lights faded the sound of her first ever standing ovation rang in her ears. She walked to the back stage where she was thrown into a group hug, as the other theater members congratulated on her first ever play. This was an experience she would remember for the rest of her life.
The Theater program at Fountain Inn High School is a great choice for an elective. Students are introduced to a theater “family” where lasting connections will be made. There are amazing experiences and useful opportunities produced in the class.
Being in theater provides students with learning opportunities that they could use for a career pathway. Rachel Evancho, a freshman who just started her theater journey, was asked why she chose to join theater.
“The more experience you have the easier it will be to get a job in theater eventually… It’s been really fun. I really enjoy this class and all the people are really great,” Evancho said.
If you are interested in theater, but you're scared of being up on a stage in front of people, theater can help you conquer the fear or give you backstage roles. Veronica Rogers, the theater teacher here at FIHS, mentioned this.
“There is a lot of opportunity backstage. Stage management, which is basically running ques, running lights, creating props, building props, making sets, painting sets, programming lights, you name it. There’s always something you can do,” Rogers said.
Being in theater provides the student with many skills that could help them grow as a person. Benjamin Chamblee, a senior who started theater junior year, was asked if there were any skills that theater brought to his table.
“Yes. One of the big ones is being reliable. As an actor you’re obviously relied on to hit your lines and memorize everything and have all that remembered. Also teamwork is a big thing. Coming together as a cast to build a set and do extra stuff because you’re not just acting when you’re an actor in theater, you’re doing tech, you’re doing everything. There’s a lot of different stuff that can help me outside of school and theater,” Chamblee said.
If you missed your chance to take theater this year, there is a designated club which meets to help with various theater-related events, such as coming up with the Haunted House that will be hosted at the school.
“We have a new drama club that is meeting our International Thespian Society, which is like our more formal version of [the club.] And we have something a little bit more relaxed every other week where we meet with any kids interested in anything, so just shoot me an email whenever you can or you can message one of our seniors like Annie Call, to get more details,” Rogers said.
Maybe you're just required to do theater for your fine arts credit, like Conor Fee, a freshman who started theater this year just to get it over with, but grew to genuinely enjoy doing theater.
“You could do [theater] for the original reason I did, which was for the fine arts credit. I mean if you want to do theater for fun, that's fine too… it’s been pretty good and very fun,” Fee said.
Perhaps you want to find a life long lesson you can take with you anywhere. Ginnie Reames, a senior who took theater as one of her last classes of her high school career, brought up one of the lessons she has learned thus far.
“Not everybody is perfect and you can always teeter-totter on people's strengths and weaknesses,” Reames said.
Some people may just be an introvert and are scared to go on stage and put themselves out there. Chamblee talked about how that could affect someone's nerves before and after and their way of performing.
“Well the thing is I always wanted to be on stage. Something with introverts is they want to be on stage, want the attention but it’s tough for them to get to that point. It’s like a wall. Going up to Macbeth, it felt like ‘Oh my god I’m gonna have to go up there and act in front of people and I’ve never done that before...’ When you get to that moment and you're behind stage getting ready to go on it starts to hit you, but once you go out there and do it for the first time you feel like you can do it again and again, because it feels so good after you finish. I don’t know if you listen to Bob Dylan but Bob Dylan is a huge introvert and when he goes on stage, you couldn’t even tell because he goes up there like nothing. That’s sort of how it is. A lot of introverts, they want the attention. That doesn’t make them an extrovert. They don’t care for the attention but they try to do their best on stage and they’re a different person off stage,” Chamblee said.
In the end if you were on the fence about joining theater you should for the opportunities alone. Theater is a fun learning experience for whatever anyone is interested in, even if it is just to get your fine arts credit.
Color/Winter Guard
Color/Winter Guard
Band
Band
Banding Together for A FIHS Fall Concert
Banding Together for A FIHS Fall Concert
By: Elaine Stamper
On Tuesday November 11th, the FIHS Band of Fury hosted their first concert of the year. This was a surprise to most students since marching band season had only concluded a month before. Due to this short gap of time, most students were worried whether their music would be able to come together in time for the concert.
Director Johsua Tillman however expects his students to thrive through these trials.
¨[The concert] Should be pretty good. Students have worked pretty hard even though we have had marching season,” Tillman said.
The band´s musical playlist included songs played by each of the different components of the band including ¨Sleepers Wake¨ and ¨Fracas¨ played by the concert band, ¨Folk Song Suite¨ and ¨Groovitude¨ played by the wind ensemble, and a special feature played by the percussion students called ¨Voyager¨.
Wind ensemble sophomore Emaree Wagner had very conflicting feelings about her band´s song layout of the night.
¨Half of one of our songs is a solo so I have to do that in front of everybody.¨ Wagner said.
Although there were nerves across the band, the students were able to play through their music and were extremely happy to be able to move on toward new music.
However, for students like senior Arianna Wofford, it's a bittersweet experience.
¨Well it's definitely gonna suck cause this is all I've known for the past 4 years. So going to college with the possibility of not doing band and not doing marching band this summer and to know these past 4 years have been all about band and now it's all about college,” Wofford said.
Marching to the Top
Marching to the Top
Adriane Floyd
On Aug. 19, 2021, at Fountain Inn High School, band director Joshua Tillman launched the FIHS band into the competitive marching field by preparing the students a year prior with multiple practices of learning drills, music and skillful technique.
Typically, we associate marching band with the halftime show at athletic games such as football, but that's not all the program provides.
The FIHS band travels to different districts to compete against other schools and are scored based on music, drill, visuals and overall effect. These students spend time practicing four times a week, including halftime shows, and then continue to compete that weekend.
As these bands are scored, they have an opportunity to win titles such as best percussion, best color guard, best visual, best drill and, most importantly, best overall effect, which would equate to first place, second place, third place and so on.
Co-drum major leading FIHS marching band this year is Nathaniel Aviles, a senior. Aviles has been in the marching band for four years. While the past three years he spent marching and playing a sousaphone, this year he was promoted to drum major.
From this transition of being a marcher to a leader, Nathaniel Aviles not only conducts the band on the field, but also sets the tone for leadership and discipline.
"I learned how to stay positive, but instructive to the whole band … while being a sousaphone player you are told to be responsible on how you practice your music and drill to be better for your teammate while on the field, but as drum major you are responsible for the overall direction of the band," Aviles said.
"As I reached toward such a high place of leadership, I was at first scared of what other people thought of me," Aviles said.
"As I continued to climb up, I realized the more achievements I made, the higher it felt that I could fall … and that's scary at first," Aviles said.
While these thoughts were in the back of his mind, he still powered through. Aviles learned to always have confidence within himself because he had more than 75 people looking up to him for his input and direction.
"If I want to join DCI (Drum Corps International) and audition for Carolina Crown, my discipline starts here at high school," Aviles said. As Aviles creates discipline within himself, he building a stronger mindset for DCI. Aviles is not the only student who has been dedicated to the program for the past four years.
Arianna Wofford is a senior and section leader of the FIHS band who plays saxophone.
"I got into band by going to the eighth-grade night at FIHS high school. At first I wasn't that interested, but once I started, I fell in love with it!" said Wofford.
As her passion follows from her instrument, she was able to earn a leadership position. Soon after gaining this position she learns that leadership is the base for the band.
"Leadership helps with building the band's trust and skill," Wofford said.
Band of Fury prepares for first competition
Band of Fury prepares for first competition
By Adriane Floyd
On Sept. 14, 2025, at Mauldin High School, the Band of Fury will take the field for their first exhibition of the season in Greenville. The band will debut their 2025 show, "Like Nobody's Watching," under the direction of Joshua Tillman and the dedicated band staff. Months of preparation — from perfecting visuals to polishing choreography and music — have led to this highly anticipated performance.
The Band of Fury has been preparing since July, putting in long hours during band camp, weekly rehearsals and halftime performances. Their commitment and teamwork have set the stage for a strong start to competition season.
Leadership within the band plays a vital role in keeping members motivated and confident. Arianna Wofford, one of the student leaders, believes the band's focus extends beyond trophies.
"It's not all about the score," she said. "It's about how you perform and how much you grow."
Wofford pushes her section to stay confident and accountable, encouraging self-evaluation throughout the season.
"As the season continues, it gets harder to correct yourself — especially with choreography we've repeated so many times," Wofford added.
Her goal is to keep her section humble yet driven, performing every show as if it were the best one yet.
Daniel Jauregui, another leader, focuses on the musical side of performance. He helps organize sectionals and ensures that each member understands the emotion behind the music.
"Music is a big part of the show," Jauregui said. "It's important for the audience and judges to feel something when they hear it."
He also understands the pressure of performance, especially for newcomers.
"With bright lights and hundreds of eyes watching you, it can be a lot for rookies," Jauregui said.
Together, the leadership team works to build confidence, discipline and pride among all members. From setting up props to fine-tuning uniforms, every detail matters as the Band of Fury steps onto the field.
With months of preparation and teamwork behind them, the Band of Fury is ready to shine. Fountain Inn wishes them the best of luck as they kick off another exciting competition season.
Banding Together For Another Marching Band Season
Banding Together For Another Marching Band Season
By Tyler Saldarriaga
Near the end of July this year, the fifth Fountain Inn Marching Band season began, and students are feeling pretty good about it. The marching band earned ninth place out of 12 bands in the finals last season, so this year they have a chance to improve further and possibly even surpass their placement from last season.
This year the marching band faces higher expectations after placing in the finals last season. Now there is the pressure of keeping that up and placing equal or higher to what they have already done.
Not only that, but for the first time graduated seniors left, for jobs or college leaving new freshmen to fill the gap left behind. This season the marching band needs to be able to work hard and keep their eyes on the prize to exceed what they have already achieved.
The seniors from 2025 were friends and great musicians of the band, and it has been an adjustment without them, but it is also a happy moment because now those students get to pursue their dreams outside of high school. Some students feel that the seniors were great leaders in the marching band and were a key part to their success.
“I am extremely sad that we lost some of our seniors because they were the reason that our band was able to lock in and improve,” said Jake Sandmeyer, a trumpet player.
The seniors may have been good leaders in the band but with their departure comes opportunity for new leaders to stand.
“I’ve been impressed with how some of our juniors and sophomores have stepped up, both musically and in their sense of responsibility. Change is part of the natural cycle in band, and it often brings growth,” band director, Joshua Tillman, said.
Yet, with the seniors gone comes a new batch of freshmen ready to join the marching band and fill the gap the seniors left behind. Established marching band students already like the new freshmen.
“I think the new freshmen are pretty cool,” sophomore Atticus Rains said. The marching band is feeling pretty confident about this new season and they definitely have the potential to keep placing high.
“If they continue pushing themselves and working as a unified team, I’m confident they’ll be able to reach—and possibly surpass—the benchmarks set by last year’s band,” Tillman said.
Now only time will tell just how good the Fountain Inn Fury Marching Band can get this season.
Choir
Choir
Orchestra
Orchestra
Busy Season Starts for FIHS Orchestra
Busy Season Starts for FIHS Orchestra
By Elaine Stamper
Fountain Inn’s orchestra is excitedly preparing for its upcoming fall concert on October 10 at FIHS, showcasing its talent and dedication alongside Hillcrest.
Throughout history, music has unified people across the globe. From famous pop stars to local bands, it connects us all. Yet many are unaware of the hard work and collaboration that go on behind the scenes to create that music. At our school, the orchestra is currently experiencing this process as it prepares for the concert.
To prepare for the concert, the orchestra is exploring a variety of new music and techniques. Each class begins with focused exercises, honing skills like shifting and tuning their notes. After practicing scales, they dive into their concert music selections.
Isabela Lepere, a sophomore, shared her thoughts when asked about her favorite song from this concert year.
“So far, my favorite song we've learned is from Pocahontas! I think the songs in Pocahontas have really beautiful parts that highlight each section,” Lepere said.
The students' playlist includes songs from the Disney films Moana, Pocahontas, and Kingdom Dance from Tangled. They look forward to learning more songs in the upcoming weeks.
When selecting pieces for the fall concert, Natalie Rutledge, orchestra director, explained.
"I thought about what rhythms I wanted my students to learn as well as student choices from the past spring concert," Rutledge said.
Although past concerts have been well received by audiences, this concert is guaranteed to be different due to the unique style of music and the increased number of participants in the orchestra.
“I feel like this concert will be better,” said Justice Crawford, a sophomore.
“It's going to be amazing with all the extra people and the improved sound quality,” Crawford said.
With the recent addition of freshmen, the orchestra class has nearly doubled in size, ensuring a louder and richer sound for future performances.
Although this concert is sure to be different than past ones, it’s definitely guaranteed to leave a mark in these young musicians' careers and all listeners.
Music
Music
Mariah the Scientist Explores Relationship Struggles in her New Album
Mariah the Scientist Explores Relationship Struggles in her New Album
By: Rhea Wright
Mariah the Scientist is a laid-back and relatable artist whose lyrics use analogies and metaphors to connect with listeners. She addresses the struggles of being in relationships with people who don't value their partners and use manipulation and gaslighting as control tactics.
Her music combines a soft vocal style with emotionally complex lyrics. In her latest album, which has received widespread attention, she explores difficulties in her dating life and expresses frustration with repeated disappointments.
In "No More Entertainers," one of the album's tracks, Mariah the Scientist describes how a relationship with rapper Young Thug began as friendship before she developed deeper feelings. She reflects on how the relationship deteriorated, expressing confusion about the change from intimacy to distance.
Music
Music
By: Aaliyah Jackson
Many people seek something that they feel most comfortable with, something where no one can judge them, where they can be themselves. Students deal with many things while juggling their school and personal lives. Music offers that. You feel most safe, blocking out everything around you in a judgment-free zone where you can be yourself. Earbuds in and volume up!
Ninth grader Alivia Jackson loves music, and while she has many music tastes, she prefers Korean R&B and indie. Her favorite artists being Grentperez, JUNNY, and The Home Team.
“Grentperez has a long range of different songs, they sound different but are all the same genre, they kinda give off summer vibes, I found him in like 2023 or 2024, his songs are really relatable-they remind me of myself, very good love songs, kinda like the artist Laufey.”
She’s listened to many songs over the years, but this year she began listening to the artist The Home Team ; she started liking Rock. She loves listening to music all the time. She listens to music while “Going anywhere really, there’s no time and place that I don’t listen to music, I even try to listen to music on my chromebook."
When she listens to music they are really cheerful and upbeat. “Grentperez, JUNNY and The Home Team, they’re songs have a yearning type, all a bunch of freaks.” Alivia Jackson genuinely loves listening to music.
Devlin Kaspar, a ninth grader, is also a huge fan of music, she prefers listening to alternative rock, rock, indie, and alt pop, many genre types she listens too. Devlin Kaspar loves the artists Laufey, TV girl and Mitski. The song Let you break my heart again by Laufey is her favorite song by that artist. Music helps Kaspar cope with her emotions. She said, “When I listen to music I feel happy, calm, and at peace, so I try to listen to music as often as I can.” She listens to music in her room, the car, and at school. She loves the style of music her favorite artist makes. Though she really dislikes the genre country and gangsta rap. Her music taste has changed over the years, “I used to be into hard core emo rock.” She said. The best way Devlin Kaspar copes with her emotions is music.
Kaspar isn't the only student whose life revolves around music. In the ninth grade Olivia McColley shares a similar passion, though with different tastes. Jazz, pop, indie, worship, and romance, is what she likes to listen to and her favorite artists are Chet Baker and Laufey. My favorite songs at the moment are "It's Always You" by Chet Baker, "Lovestruck Girl" by Laufey, and "Firm Foundation" by Cody Carnes. She usually listens to music when she tries to focus or
Gemini Rights
Gemini Rights
By: Chandler Byrd
Steve Lacy is an alternative or indie genre artist, he tuned into his popularity more in 2022 when his album Gemini Rights came out and blew up on TikTok.
One of the highlighted songs from the album was “Bad Habit” a lot of people really liked this song out of the other 10 in the collection.
“Bad Habit” was the most popular song on the album to the point where it was topping charts during its time.
The song dives deep into the relationships of Lacy and what seems to be his ex-girlfriend and how after they stopped talking with each other.
She wanted him back but didn’t show signs. The whole flow of the song is a conversation between them, where he explaining that he would have gladly take her back. The fact that they didn’t get back together may have been a sign it wasn’t meant to be, yet he still mourns the loss of her and he knows she will too.
The whole album comes to a total of 34 minutes with a roller coaster of vibrant sounds from each song.
Even though during the time period “Bad Habit" was the most popular song, there were even more non-hidden gems to hear.
One of my personal favorites was “Cody Freestyle”, where, instead of a relationship with a girl, it focuses on the relationship with a guy. It’s not working out all because of Lacy's lack of interest with this guy named Cody, and how he basically uses Cody's interest in him to use him for the qualities that catch his eye due to the fact that in the song Lacy states
“Cause I could do better, Why settle for lesser, Or Hector, or Jacob, or Kenny, There's plenty though the city, So be good or i’ll be tempted temper tantrum.”
the whole song's flow is Lacy explaining how he doesn’t really feel the same and that if Cody doesn't take them seriously he’s out the door.
I would say that Steve Lacy is a really unique artist because of the way he presents himself and certain topics that people go through everyday in his music.
While being a POC and member of the LGBTQ community, he still actively shines his light in the music industry he himself could face a lot of problems by just being him but openly shows his colors to his listeners.
This album in general talks about different topics going from relationship problems, same-sex relationships, drug abuse, and the sonder feeling of after leaving someone that you built a bond and spent energy with over a long period of time.
Each song includes a different topic inside its lyrics. Each word that spews out of his mouth has a meaning behind it and the listeners of the album can relate to his songs in multiple ways because of it. His music in general has a sound that outshines a lot of artists
He recently released a new single called “Nice Shoes” that reached the top 10 in his charts and most popular songs ranking after only being out for two months. The song goes a long with Lacy reminiscing about a past relationship he had and how the relationship came to be and how everything he felt afterwards was just a temporary pain, but in the song he seems regretful and nostalgic in some ways when he says in the song “At the thought of you and me holdin’ hands.”
The song is really good and I like the way it sounds. When it reaches the climax and the vibe of the song shifts into a whole different chorus and sound. Steve Thomas-Lacy-Moya is one of the most inspirational artist of his time and with all these points I think that if you were to give him a listen he would be able to change your opinion and how you listen to music.
Rising New Southern Smokeshow: Zach Bryan
Rising New Southern Smokeshow: Zach Bryan
By Jillian Hug
Zach Bryan is rising to the top of the charts as he continues to drop music that people can’t help but love. Zachary Lane Bryan was born in 1989 and he has been performing since 2011.
Bryan was born in Okinawa, Japan, while his family was stationed overseas with the Navy, but grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma. He is the son of Dewayne Bryan and Annette DeAnn (Mullen) Bryan, and has a sister, Mackenzie. His parents divorced when he was 12.
Bryan continued the family legacy when he enlisted in the Navy at age 17. Both of Bryan's parents, his grandfather, his uncles, and his great-grandfather all served in the U.S. Navy. After eight years of service, Bryan was honorably discharged so that he could pursue his career in music. In October of 2021, he signed his breakthrough contract with Warner Records.
Bryan’s work counts as both country and rock since Bryan’s work has topped the rock, rock & alternative, Americana/folk, and country charts. It has also topped the Spotify, iTunes, and iTunes Country charts as well. Many people tend to struggle to figure out what kind of genre Bryan sings.
Bryan says music helps him stay true to himself. He has released four studio albums, one live album, two extended plays and eight singles. His albums are named: Zach Bryan, American Heartbreak, Elisabeth and DeAnn. Each of Bryan’s albums mean something to him and are named very intentionally. As Bryan speaks about his self-titled album he says, “I self-titled it because I hear every cell of my being in it.” The whole album was written and produced by Bryan himself.
“Here's an album I wrote with pain, laughter, humility, love and honesty,” Bryan said. “I didn't call it 'American Heartbreak' after a tacky love story, but because we all face trials every day and put ourselves back together every single time regardless.”
It has steadily held in the Top 20 of the Billboard album chart since its release in May.
Elisabeth is named after his ex-wife, Rose Madden. Elisabeth is her middle name. Bryan and Madden got married in 2020, before parting ways a matter of months later. Bryan named his 2020 album, Elisabeth, after her, with a number of songs from the vulnerable project being inspired by their relationship.
DeAnn is about Bryan’s mother, Annette DeAnn (Mullen) Bryan. She sadly passed away at the age of 49 on Aug. 3, 2016, and her death continues to inspire much of Bryan's music.
Bryan has dated a few people since the divorce with Madden. Soon after Madden, Bryan moved on to Deb Peifer. They gave fans glimpses of their life together and their dog during the relationship.
Bryan announced their breakup in May 2023. “For transparency and with respect I am letting everyone know Debra and me went our separate ways about a week and a half ago. Things are mutual between us, we’re leaving with plenty memories and good times,” he tweeted. “I beg so much that everyone respects her and my privacy through a hard time.”
Brianna LaPaglia is Bryan’s newest girlfriend. The Barstool Sports personality made a surprise appearance on stage during one of Bryan’s New York City concerts in June 2023. Dating rumors were sparked soon after. While nothing has been proclaimed, we can only speculate that LaPaglia might make her way into some of Bryan’s new music.
Bryan announced his self-titled album with details about the cover and tracklist on Aug. 9, 2023. It was released on Aug. 25, 2023, through Belting Bronco and Warner. It is entirely self-produced and it features guest appearances by the War and Treaty, Sierra Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves and the Lumineers. Its lead single "I Remember Everything" (featuring Musgraves) debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Bryan explains that there is "no grand explanation" or "riddle in reasoning" behind any of the songs on the album. He simply describes the songs as "poems and songs" he wanted to share because he thought they were special. Bryan is most happy about the fact that the whole album is his.
Bryan inspires his fans with his lyrics. He has fans all over the world and even at Fountain Inn High School. When asking students at Fountain Inn High School, they had nothing but positive feedback about Bryan.
“I like his style of writing and the meanings behind his songs. They make me feel like I am worth something,” Hanna Bomar said.
Bryan’s songs are special for always finding a way to touch someone's heart and mean something to them. A song might mean one thing to one fan, and something totally different to another, and then something different to the songwriter, and it will still be special.
Everyone has been through different situations and different challenges, but Bryan’s songs always seem to relate to you in one way or another.
“His lyrics are really relatable and he is an easy artist to listen to. I don’t have to be in a certain mood to listen to him,” Emma Croy said.
No matter the place, time or how you feel you can always listen to him.
He has a large range of songs that you can listen to no matter what mood you are in. He puts the words to emotions that the world has never heard before. He is so incredibly talented at writing songs.
When asking students at FIHS how long ago they started listening to Bryan they all said two years ago at most. Bryan’s listeners have grown rapidly in the past year and even more in the past months. Bryan hasn’t gained his success on the radio, but rather on streaming platforms. His newest album was his first number one on the charts with hopes for more to come.
Bryan recently released a new EP, “Boys of Faith,” that includes collaborations with Bon Iver and Noah Kahan. The more music he produces, the more his rise to fame grows. As he continues to do more collaborations with big artists, the more listeners he will gain.
“It’s because of how different he is from other artists. I think that gives him a leg up on other artists and helps him climb the chart rapidly,” Croy said.
On Aug. 28, 2023, Bryan announced his 2024 North American run, The Quittin Time Tour. The Burn, Burn, Burn Tour wrapped up in Kansas City on Wed., Aug. 30. All of the shows sold out instantly several months beforehand. Bryan set new attendance records at several venues along the way.
For the Quittin Time Tour Bryan will be touring across two countries and has 67 concert dates. It kicks off on March 6, 2024, in Chicago. Many students at FIHS and all around the upstate will be attending the tour at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The tour has special guests including Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Turnpike Troubadours, Sheryl Crow, Sierra Ferrell, Matt Maeson, and Levi Turner.
“Something in the orange tells me” we will be seeing Bryan for a long time. Bryan’s fame will keep growing and growing as he continues to release new music.
Soundtrack to FIHS
Soundtrack to FIHS
By Devi Kaspar
Students and teachers of Fountain Inn High School can attest to the power of music, but, what exactly are they listening to? From rock to country, everybody has different tastes, but you’d be surprised at how many people’s styles overlap. In this article, students and teachers will admit their styles, and stop hiding what they listen to.
Students and faculty at FIHS have revealed their inner thoughts through their music taste. Now, the public gets to know the other half of their peers. “I don’t really tell people my music taste, because they won’t know what I mean when they ask me what I like...” One student reported, when asked about her style compared to most people’s. But, most people’s music tastes actually align more frequently than you would think.
Oftentimes students will say that their music taste is too vague to find, or too ‘out of the ordinary’ but that isn’t always the case. Even teachers can attest to the surprising overlap between generations and people. Between a teenage high school girl and a theater teacher, there are overlaps.
“I listen to a variety, typically indie folk, folk pop...” Theatre teacher Veronica Rogers said.
Many of you might not resonate with those genre titles, but you may recognize popular songs in that category. For example, Noah Kahan is folk pop, and ‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman is summarized as purely folk. Rogers also named a specific band, Sammy Rae and the Friends.
Many people would be familiar with the items listed previously, but for those who aren’t, Alanna Wood-Parks has shared another genre with us: metal. Wood-Parks, in response to her music taste, said, “(I listen to) Mostly metal and rock. And hip-hop too, but mostly metal and rock.” Wood-Parks said that some of her favorite bands and musical artists were Pierce the Veil, Body Snatcher, Avenged Sevenfold, Five Finger Death Punch, and Korn.
These are some of the more popular metal bands, but even so, there are other genres of music not listed here.
“I’d say K-pop, indie... kinda like calm music, but also some upbeat songs,” Aaliyah Jackson said. Jackson's music style is not so far from the average when combined with a mix of other genres.
Ask your neighbor, or your friend, teacher, great granny, whoever, what their music style is. You’ll get a different answer from everyone. But the more you ask around, the more you’ll notice the overlaps in judgment and taste. Music is in all growing things; music is the soundtrack of life. The soundtrack of Fountain Inn High School. So what does yours sound like?
Fall: The Season of All Things Pop
Fall: The Season of All Things Pop
By Elaine Stamper
Artists like Conan Gray, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift are releasing new albums this upcoming fall.
When you think of fall, you usually think of things like pumpkin spice, leaves, sweaters, and cozying up by a fire with hot cocoa. However, this fall might just be better known for all the new music selections coming out. Artists that are releasing or have already released music include singers like Conan Gray, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift
Gray’s new album, Wishbone, came out on August 15th, 2025. The singles off this album include; Vodka Cranberry, This Song, and Caramel. “You know there's always a moment where you feel like, ‘Does this person hate me? What’s going on? Like, are you mad at me?’” Gray said in an interview with iHeart radio on the thoughts and story behind his most popular song off the album so far, Vodka Cranberry.
So far, these same songs are the only ones off the album to receive music videos. When Gray was asked about his emotions and thoughts on these music videos in an interview with the Cosmopolitan he said, “The music videos are a manifestation of something that I wish I could have had in high school,” he explained. “I wasn’t falling in love, wrestling in creeks, and kissing on rooftops. I was studying for AP tests and writing songs in my bedroom.”
Likewise, Carpenter released her new album Man’s Best Friend a few weeks later on August 29th, 2025. Lead songs off the album include Manchild and Tears. Carpenter has been very outward on how this album will be traditional but rather targeted in a “female gaze” targeted audience and their point of views, like in an interview with CBS Mornings Host, Gayle King, where she said “It's not for the pearl clutchers.”
In addition to this, several lyrics throughout the songs fortify this perspective like when she says “A little respect for women will get you very, very far / Offering to do anything, I’m like (Oh my god!)” in her song, Tears to highlight how low standards have become when it comes to females trying to find love in today’s society.
Swift will be releasing her new album, The Life of a Showgirl on October 3rd, 2025. No singles have been
announced, but fans speculate that the title track, The Life of A Showgirl featuring Sabrina Carpenter, and Canceled will be the lead singles.
Swift announced the album on her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, The New Heights on August 12th. This is Swift’s first album since buying the master copies of all her past albums in December.
“To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it,” Swift wrote in her instagram post announcing to her fan’s that her life’s biggest dream had come true.
Film/TV
Film/TV
Boxing Legends
Boxing Legends
By: Tyler Ganner
The air filled with anticipation as Terrence Bud Crawford and Canelo Alvarez stepped into the ring on September 13, 2025. This was more than just a fight, it was a clash of eras, a battle between a Welterweight King daring to challenge a super middleweight legend. Crawford, who's known for switch hitting and relentless pressure, faced a significant size disadvantage against Canelo, whose power and ring IQ were unmatched. The crowd was a roaring ocean of divided loyalties, with enough energy in the stands you could taste it.
The fight began with Crawford using his speed and footwork, darting in and out, landing stinging jabs and quick combinations. Canelo the predator, patiently stalking Crawford, absorbing the shots and looking for critical openings to unleash his devastating power as the round progressed. Canelo began to close the distance, his body shots taking a toll on Crawford. The smaller man showed incredible heart, continuing to fire back, but the weight and strength of Canelo were enough to make Crawford panic.
Then in the later rounds, Canelo's experience and power truly starts to show. He trapped Crawford against the ropes, allowing himself to unleash a flurry of punches that Crawford struggled to evade. Crawford used his discipline, superior movement, and effective counter-punching to neutralize Canelo's power and aggression. Crawford continued to maintain distance, controlled the center of the ring, and used a combination of footwork, feints, and a sharp jab to disrupt Canelo's rhythm. He also used a Southpaw stance for most of the fight to take advantage of his lead hand and kept Canelo from cornering him.
The final bell rang, signaling the end of an outstanding twelve rounds. Crawford, bruised but unbowed, stood in his corner, awaiting the judges decision. The arena was a sea of quiet anticipation when the score was read a gasp swept thru the crowd the judges score cards reading: 116-112, 115-113, 117-111 all in favor of Crawford! The Welterweight Champion had done it. He had defined the odds, outboxing and outmaneuvering the legend Canelo Alveraz to claim a unanimous decision victory. The roar of the crowd was deafening as Crawford raised his arms in triumph, etching his name into boxing history being known as the man who dared to be great and conquer many legends.
After this legendary fight the widely known Boxing Commentator Max Kellerman stepped in the ring to interview Crawford, and Crawford had some strong emotion he needed to express.
"The cream always rises to the top," Crawford said as a tear of victory ran down his face and as he threw his arms to the sky.
During the post-fight interview Canelo and Crawford both shared their feelings about both their performance in their super middleweight bout and looking forward to personal improvement down the line.
“I accept this defeat with humility and learning," Canelo said.
Even though Crawford overtook the Super Middleweight belt, he still expressed the possibility of wanting to fight Canelo again.
“If we do it again, I'll be happy to share the ring with such a great champion,” said Crawford.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Review
The Summer I Turned Pretty Review
By Laura Ylonen
Big roles in the series are Lola Tung who is the actor of Belly. Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno are acting as Conrad and Jeremiah. Belly starts as an awkward teen, who loved a boy. One summer she became a confident and beautiful young woman. Boys started to notice her, which was new to her.
There are many other casts that have an important part in the series. Like Rain Spencer who plays Belly’s best friend Taylor and Sean Kaufman, who plays Steven, Belly’s brother.
Then there is Conrad and Jeremiah Fishers. They are brothers. They were first shown as close brothers, until they faced conflicts that put their brotherly bond on a test. Conrad was always shown as the “better” brother. But in reality he was struggling with traumas from childhood. He also struggles with mental health when the story goes forward. He was also the smartest in the room. On the other hand Jeremiah was shown as the happy one and the younger one, who wasn’t as smart as his brother.
The development of the three big characters is realistic and you can actually see why they turn out the way they did.
The series shows a lot of flashbacks, which takes you to the actual feeling that characters are experiencing. There is a balance between romance, friendships and drama. All the characters are going through something that you can relate to.
The visuals make you feel like you have been at the places they show on the series. The beach house is the main place for the show. That's the place where everything started and ended. That place has seen all family dramas, romantic things and it’s the place where everything goes back to the way it was supposed to be.
Also all the songs they put on the series give some scenes deeper meaning. Their songs are carefully picked for every scene. They make you feel loved, sad, angry and every other emotion.
I think the series talks about teenage love and how sometimes you grow apart. But when someone is meant for you, the world will make you meet again.
The series also speaks about mental health and traumas. And how you can get help for those problems.
Also there are discussions about doing wrong and admitting that. But at the end forgiving yourself and growing up from those mistakes.
The series is mainly made for teenagers, but the show blew up. And now every adult and even boys are watching this show. It attracts many viewers, because it has good storytelling. They made sure the series had many small things that became big things in the viewer's eye.
Overall the series is well made and gives comfort to the viewers. There are little details that make the series better and more interesting. They make sense even for boring things. Also many recommend the series for its good storytelling and emotional plots.
Films
Films
By Aaliyah Jackson
August 22, 2025
Students and teachers are in school for approximately seven to ten hours a day depending on the extracurriculars that they are involved in. After a hard day’s work, it is time to finally go home and relax. TV time!
One of the most common relaxation techniques among those involved in school is watching movies.
Some of the favorite films recently watched were worth recommending. Devlin Kaspar, a ninth grader, watched a movie called The Adam Project.
As a sci-fi and action movie, it is about a man named Adam, where his adult self goes back into the future to his younger self to save the world’s future to prevent the assassination of his wife and to stop the leader from his timeline from posses time travel..
Kaspar loved the Movie.
“I rate it a 10/10. Everyone should at least watch it once,” Kaspar said.
“ If you don’t like Sci-fi, you would probably rated it a 7/10 but would still like it because it has a great plot line. It isn’t something I would rewatch, but it is definitely worth your time the first watch,” Kaspar said.
Similarly, Veronica Rogers, a theater teacher, watched 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', a romance and sci-fi movie.
The movie tells a story about a broken relationship. Two people falling out of love aim to forget each other through a scientific experiment. While doing that they realize why they fell in love.
“I rate it a 8.5 because its very thoughtful, introspective and unexpected.” Rogers said.
“People who like drama and sci-fi would agree and people who don’t would give it a 5.” Rogers said.
Furthermore Alanna Wood-parks in 10th grade, loves the movie Fantastic Mr. Fox, a stop motion animation.
A smart fox that steals chicken for his family, his cousin and son are helping. The farmers, Boggis, Bunce, and Bean try to kill them because of the repeated stealing of there food. Mr. Fox and others make a plan to get revenge after what the farmers did to them.
“I rate the movie a 10/10, but others would rate it 7 or 8 /10, because it starts off slow. But it does have a good ending,” Wood-parks said.
These are just a few of many great films. If you watch anything worth recommending, reach out to us!
TV Shows In The Big 25
TV Shows In The Big 25
Caution: Spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty
By: Harper Bartley
Everyone loves a good sit down binge show, but what are teenagers sitting down to watch nowadays? Fountain Inn high schoolers were asked what their favorite show is, and why.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a popular show with three full seasons you can stream on Prime Video. Recently, one episode has been coming out per week, every Wednesday.
The finale was released on Wednesday, Sept 17th. The main character, Belly, is in a love triangle with two brothers: Conrad and Jeremiah. People are taking sides on who they want Belly to end up with.
“I hate Jeremiah, team Conrad for life,” freshman Camryn Davis said.
On Wednesday, we found out that Belly ended up with Conrad. Most people are happy, but some still wanted Belly to end up with Jeremiah.
Outerbanks is a very well known TV show on Netflix with 4 seasons. The 5th season is planned to come out in 2026. The TV show is about 6 teenagers who go on adventures for treasure.
“I hope they will track him (Groff) down and take the blue crown and use it to bring JJ back,” freshman Imani Webb said.
People are eager to watch the last season and find out how the Pogues get revenge and find the treasure.
The famous Netflix show, “Wednesday” released part 1 on August 6, 2025, and the final part was released on September 3, 2025. Students seem to be really happy with the new season.
“It was the best season,” Mariah Austin, 9th grader, said.
Wednesday is about a teenager attending a school for outcasts, while she tries to solve a mystery.
“I thought the new season was great, they added a ton of new characters,which made the plot more interesting from season one,” Ellis Terrell, 9th grade, said.
One more show teenagers are interested in is another Netflix series, “My Life with the Walter Boys”.
A whole new season was released on August 28, 2025. The show is about a teenage girl who moves into a new town with a big family, after her family gets into a car accident. It is another show with a love triangle between two brothers, Cole, and Alex.
People are, again, taking sides.
“I’m a little happy with the new season, but I’m indeed not the biggest fan of Alex," Davis said.
There are only two seasons out, and we are expecting a 3rd in 2026. People can’t wait to see the ending.
Everyone is excited about these new episodes. If you haven’t seen these shows, you absolutely need to.
Love Untangled
Love Untangled
By Aaliyah Jackson
“Love Untangled” is a sweet and heartwarming Korean movie. It is set in high school in the 1990s, a romantic, nostalgic teen romance.
The movie “Love Untangled” is my favorite romance movie. I’ve watched the Korean movie “20th Century Girl” (2022) and then the new movie “Love Untangled” healed me and probably many others that watched the movie “20th Century Girl” first then “Love Untangled.” There are many parts in the movie that just made my heart melt.
Actress Shin Eun Soo played 19-year-old Park Se Ri, who has curly hair and doesn’t like it. Cha Woo Min, who portrays Kim Hyeon, plays a popular guy at school; everyone loves him and so does Park Se Ri. Gong Myung plays Han Yun Seok, a transfer student who likes Park Se Ri's curly hair. Actor Gong Myung is really cute.
This movie was so funny and cute, one of the most wholesome Korean movies I’ve ever watched.
Gaming
Gaming
The Simpsons Enter the Fortnite Game
The Simpsons Enter the Fortnite Game
By: Paxton Philhower
Fortnite's new Simpsons mini-season features a cel-shaded map
Fortnite's latest update introduces a Simpsons-themed mini-season that stands out from previous seasons with its cel-shaded map design.
The battle pass includes 50 main rewards, 10 bonus rewards and 13 secret character rewards. Battle Royale matches accommodate up to 80 players when full.
The update features three mythic weapons and one exotic weapon. The exotic weapon, Krusty the Clown's Mr. Blasty, creates an explosive radius when fired and attaches a balloon to enemies or vehicles hit by the explosion.
Players can consume Krusty Burgers, blink fish, smoothies and other fish obtained through fishing. Eleven new NPCs are available for interaction across the map, with three available for hire.
The season introduces new methods for obtaining better loot and completing quests. Opening chests or talking to NPCs may trigger item drops that generate quests based on the specific item. These quest items display a diamond icon with an exclamation mark.
Five bosses throughout the map drop exotic and mythic weapons when defeated. The update also includes random events where donuts fall from the sky at specific map locations, dropping loot and chests for players.
Fortnite is Still One of the Most Popular Games
Fortnite is Still One of the Most Popular Games
by: Ellis Terrell
Fortnite continues to be one of the most played games in the world. The game, created by Epic Games in 2017, lets players drop onto an island, collect weapons, and battle until only one person or team is left standing.
Many players, like freshman Paulina Guiliano, got hooked on Fortnite during Chapter 2, Season 2, when everyone around her was playing. She says she wanted to be part of something fun with her friends, and it worked. Fortnite became a game she loves. Her favorite season so far is Chapter 5 season 1 which brought new updates and exciting events that kept the game fresh and exciting.
Fortnite isn’t just about casual fun at home. It has grown into a major e sport, with tournaments offering big prize money and drawing huge online audiences. The game has also become a big part of pop culture, with concerts, celebrity crossovers, and special in-game events.
Even after all these years, Fortnite shows no signs of slowing down. With new updates and seasons coming all the time, players like Paulina are ready to keep dropping in for more battles.
Reviews
Reviews
Blonde
Blonde
By Chandler Byrd
Frank Ocean is an American multi-talented singer, songwriter, and rapper who blends avant-grade into his vibrant indie music.
He is a really influential artist with a monthly listener count of 35.5M monthly listeners with 10 really popular songs that average one million listens.
His most recent album is also his most popular, named “Blonde”, which conveys a hefty amount of emotional turmoil. He appeals to multiple character archetypes and personalities.
His most recent album, Blonde, is the most popular and the most listened to with it being number one on his artist home page. The album debuted at number one on Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums.
The first song on the album is called “Nikes”, the premise of the whole song is about how most women want material items rather than the bond and emotional experience from a non-platonic relationship.
One of the most repeated lyrics in the song is “These b**s want nikes” emphasizing on the materialistic desires in some women. The whole album is really inspiring and entertaining with each song there's a different melody and something to look forward to.
Wreckfest 2: Game Review
Wreckfest 2: Game Review
By Paxton Philhower
Wreckfest 2 is a multiplayer racing game where the main goal is to race and win without getting wrecked. When the car crashes, that section of the car becomes void, thus making controls more difficult. Achieving the goal then becomes more challenging.
The game is engaging you race and crash each other or participate in demolition derbies. What makes it worthwhile is the better graphics and more cars and more realistic driving and crashes.
Wreckfest 2 has advanced, next generation graphics. The game has a combination of colors and a sans-serif display font with a distinctive "gas pipe" style.
You can change any of the keybinds (control functions) also you are able to change the acceleration of your cars and the brakes, steering, and shifting. The steering, brakes, acceleration, and shifting are really detailed. It is accurate and has realistic physics compared to the first game.
Wreckfest 2 is rated 11 years and older because some lyrics from the soundtrack in the game reference adult content, but otherwise there is no other inappropriate content.
Wreckfest 2 is still in early access but it has better graphics than Wreckfest one. The crashes are more detailed and realistic and the cars handle more like real cars than in the first game.
The challenge that may make Wreckfest not worth your while is the fact that it is solely for PC and cannot be played across other consoles, YET. The developers are planning to make it on console and not only on PC.
The developers have not confirmed PC-console crossplay but it might be added in the future. The game is a racing online game where you go around racing and can wreck your opponents in demolition derbies and the actual races.
Music Tastes
Music Tastes
By Aaliyah Jackson
Many people seek something that they feel most comfortable with, something where no one can judge them, where they can be themselves. Students deal with many things while juggling their school and personal lives. Music offers that. You feel most safe, blocking out everything around you in a judgment-free zone where you can be yourself. Earbuds in and volume up!
Ninth grader Alivia Jackson loves music, and while she has many music tastes, she prefers Korean R&B and indie. Her favorite artists being Grentperez, JUNNY, and The Home Team.
“Grentperez has a long range of different songs, they sound different but are all the same genre, they kinda give off summer vibes, I found him in like 2023 or 2024, his songs are really relatable-they remind me of myself, very good love songs, kinda like the artist Laufey,” Jackson said.
She’s listened to many songs over the years but this year she began listening to the artist The Home Team and started liking Rock. She loves listening to music all the time, when she is going to school, going home, “Going anywhere really, there’s no time and place that I don’t listen to music, I even try to listen to music on my Chromebook,” She said. When she listens to music, they are really cheerful and upbeat.
“Grentperez, JUNNY and The Home Team, they’re songs have a yearning type, all a bunch of freaks,” Jackson said.
Devlin Kaspar, a ninth grader, is also a huge fan of music, she prefers listening to alternative rock, rock, indie, and alt pop, many genre types she listens too. Kaspar loves the artists Laufey, TV girl and Mitski. The song 'Let You Break My Heart Again' by Laufey is her favorite song by that artist. Music helps Kaspar cope with her emotions. She said, “When I listen to music I feel happy, calm, and at peace, so I try to listen to music as often as I can.” She listens to music in her room, the car, and at school. She loves the style of music her favorite artist makes. Though she really dislikes the genre country and gangsta rap. Her music taste has changed over the years, “I used to be hainto hard core rock.” She said. The best way Devlin Kaspar copes with her emotions is music.
Kaspar isn't the only student whose life revolves around music. In the ninth grade Olivia McColley shares a similar passion, though with different tastes. Jazz, pop, indie, worship, and romance, is what she likes to listen to and her favorite artists are Chet Baker and Laufey. My favorite songs at the moment are "It's Always You" by Chet Baker, "Lovestruck Girl" by Laufey, and "Firm Foundation" by Cody Carnes. She usually listens to music when she tries to focus or feels overwhelmed with different emotions when trying to cope with them, she feels all types of emotions when listening to music. Even though she listens to many types, “I try to avoid vulgar/secular music that has a bad message or is unholy.” She explained. The song “Firm Foundation” by Cody Carnes she feels most connected to, especially during her prayers or Bible studies. Olivia McColley turns to music, illustrating how music can reinforce her personal beliefs, values, and emotions.
While Alivia Jackson finds her escape in summer video songs, Olivia and Devlin find it in seasonal soundtracks, matching their mood. Music is used by many people for whatever. The popularity of indie and the artist Laufey seems to be very popular among students, seeing music as an escape from around them. Their different genres and preferences highlight that while their tastes differ, the core need for music as a sanctuary is more common than you think.
ALIEN 9: underrated psychological horrors
ALIEN 9: underrated psychological horrors
By Brooklyn Leake
When you first glance at the anime/manga Alien 9, you probably think it's some other magical girl like anime or something about the power of friendship in a middle school setting with girls trying to figure out who they are while battling alien-like creatures. Although behind that something far deeper is happening in the show. With its pastel and bubbly palettes and cute artstyle this is one of the most shocking, psychological horrors of the early 2000s.
Released in 2001 as a four episode OVA, the story of alien nine follows three sixth-grade girls named yuri, kasumi, and kumi who were assigned to join a club called “ alien party,” a club that captures and manages alien life forms that appear around the school but they have alien like Companions. This seems a little harmless due to how the story is set up at the beginning but what seemed to be a crazy after-school activity turns into a traumatizing and life threatening one that goes into the topics of fear, identity and loss of control of self.
Alien nine has its unique way of clashing between innocence and horror. The aliens companions that attach themselves to the girls- i see them more as metaphors for adolescence and unwillingness to change. Mainly due to the main protagonist yuri.
The anime is very deceptive, its artstyle is more childlike and innocent like most shojo series. But going deeper into the actual show it can have some pretty disturbing body horror, something similar like “Junji Ito: Maniac -- Japanese Tales of the Macabre”.
Despite that, most fans of psychological sci-fi compare it to “neon genesis evangelion” because it explores deep into mental strain and identity(with teens + adults). But Alien 9 focuses more on the trauma of children forced into violence, victims of a system that cares only to a degree but willinging to put them in pain if it means anything.
The anime still lingers sometimes, it asks deep questions about what it means to grow up too fast in order to survive in a world that takes too much from you before you're even ready. In a way what happens when innocence is taken from you before you could even realize…?
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