Hollywood comes to Shorecrest High School

Lights, camera, action!
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

By Craig Degginger, Shoreline Schools PIO

Shorecrest was the setting for scenes from the film “Laggies” as the school hosted noted actress Keira Knightley during a 12-hour day on Sunday, June 2.

The Shoreline Schools Public Information Office was contacted by a location scout in May, looking for an older high school setting with hallways lined by lockers and a counseling office area.

“Laggies,” directed by Seattleite Lynn Shelton, stars Knightley as Megan, a perpetual adolescent who starts hanging out with a high school girl played by Chloe Grace Moretz.

Filming a scene in the A Hall at Shorecrest for "Laggies."
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Shorecrest was visited three times, including twice by the director, prior to the filming to scout the locations. Assistant Principal Kristi Queen’s office was selected for the scene with the counselor, as was an adjacent courtyard for a scene involving a cell phone call. A student locker in the school’s “A Hall” was selected for another scene.

Hollywood doesn't travel light!
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Shorecrest was used for the first day of filming for “Laggies,” and Hollywood doesn’t travel light. A cadre of trailers to be used for dressing rooms and trucks filled with equipment parked in the school’s south parking lot beginning Friday afternoon in preparation for the Sunday filming. The total crew numbered about 100 people, as Shorecrest was briefly transformed into the “Soundview High School Loggers” for the day.

Shelton and her casting directors welcomed 11 Shorecrest students and two teachers as extras, with everyone required to be there at 6am. Much of the crew had arrived at the school by 5am to set up the scenes. The students were told to dress as they might for school, but to bring along several outfits from which the costume director would choose.

The bright lights turned on the locker scene at Shorecrest.
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

As extras, the students and teachers mostly walked up and down the hall as background to the actual scene in the counseling office, courtyard or by the lockers. Some carried books, or wore their backpacks, much like during a regular school day—but with bright lights, cameras and tons of equipment all around. Each scene was rehearsed and filmed several times. A few students from Shorecrest’s video production classes were also able to get a behind-the-scenes view of how movies are filmed, watching on monitors what the cameras saw.

The students and staff on hand were also treated to lunch, and the caterers put out quite a spread in the Shorecrest south parking lot, including carved prime rib!

Photo signed by Keira Knightley for the students and staff
of Shorecrest High School.
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Knightley, best known for her roles in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” was escorted back and forth from the dressing room trailer in the parking lot. She didn’t meet the students, but signed an autographed picture thanking the students and staff of Shorecrest.

“Laggies” is expected to be released next year.