Cierra Lemott
Students from Corliss High School, located in the Pullman community, have come together to create a web series for teens, about teens, by teens.
From friendships to relationships and even parent troubles, “The Lies We Tell” gives us a glimpse into the life of high school students and the things they may be struggling with in and out of the classroom.
The show came to life with the help of True Star Media and crew members who all played an important role in making this show what it is.
The premiere featured a showing of the first episode with a sneak peek of the second episode. Following the first episode, the cast answered questions about their roles and their time creating the show on a panel, many of them emphasizing the personal growth they had from the production process.
Kenya Esper, a junior at Corliss, writer of the show and a cast member, said she wanted the show to stand out from previous Corliss productions. “I wanted it to be different, I wanted it to be fun, I wanted it to be better,” Esper said about the show. “I liked the one we had, but I wanted my stuff to be better and evolve from the other one.”
She has aspirations of becoming an ultrasound technologist but feels that directing is something she could lean on if her other goals don’t follow through.
Mentrell Blackman, a member of the show’s crew, has used this opportunity to take up photography and improve his skills, building his portfolio. Blackman says he’s “blessed” to be in the position to take part in this project. “A lot of people don’t get to be in this position to have someone supporting them, have a whole cast, and just the crew in general, just being here,” he said.
Some of the current cast, such as Sanai Fountain, were also a part of previous Corliss shows. Now a senior, this is the last show Fountain will be a part of with the school as a student. “It’s actually very deep for me to be here because I was in the first show that we did. But this show, it’s really crazy because it’s my last one and my last year.” Fountain shared that she does have aspirations of being an actress in the future.
The cast and crew were filled with happiness and pride with the amazing job that they had done with creating this season. “It just puts a smile on my face. Got me smiling ear to ear. It was a lot of hard work, but I’m just glad we got through it,” said Treyvon Blackman, a cast member. Formerly, Blackman had aspirations of being a truck driver. His time in this program and creating this production changed his mind, making him want to pursue acting.
Members of the cast will be doing a tour through Chicago Public Schools to showcase all of their hard work and inspire other youth.
Though I’m a few years removed from being a high schooler and teen, I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode. It took me back to my experiences in high school and didn’t feel fake or forced like many other teen-centered shows. It was real and raw, showcasing issues that most, if not all, teens face during their time in high school.
Keep an eye on YouTube for more episodes being released. Watch episode one here. Don’t forget to leave a like, comment, and subscribe to support these talented and dedicated students.
By Cierra Lemott, Columbia College Chicago Alum
Instagram: @kodakscamera
X: @LemottCierra
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