"Scout Camp" is a humorous movie featuring actors, Kirby Heyborne ("Singles Ward," "R.M."), Shawn Carter ("High School Musical") and Adam Johnson ("Charlie"). It portrays a group of scouts who go to camp to earn merit badges. The troop, Fire Dragons, decide make a big impression this year at camp.
Lead by the biggest boy of the bunch, York, (Carter) the troop comes to camp in style with new bandanas and berets. Heyborne plays the Fire Dragon's scoutmaster who enjoys his scouts but has little idea of what is going on half the time.
Unfortunately, due to the boys' ultimate necessity to use the last restroom before "leaving humanity," they were late and missed the opening ceremony where a tribal Indian delivered the "spirit stick" to the camp.
This was vital because while a few of the tenderfoot (first-year) scouts were playing around, one kid, Reggie (Nate Harper), picked up the "spirit stick" and they started sword fighting. Unbeknownst of what it truly was, Reggie took the stick back to the Fire Dragon's campsite.
The next day, the camp was in an uproar about who took the "spirit stick." That was the worst thing one could do. Everyone was upset that someone could do such an inexcusable act, including Reggie, who still had no idea what he had done.
When he realizes what he's done, Reggie tries to take the "spirit stick" back but loses it. Suddenly, the Fire Dragons find themselves in an even bigger predicament. Afraid to lose their honor, York refuses to tell the camp director, until his little brother, Jared (Tanner Mudrow), convinces him that camp "is not all about looking stupid."
So York tells the camp director, as well as all the troops, that the Fire Dragons are responsible for the loss of the "spirit stick." Though this is an embarrassment for the troop, they learn to stick together as a team, no matter what happens, and that is what the true spirit of camp is all about.
Garrett Batty, director of "Scout Camp," has been working on this for 2 1/2 years. He based the movie off some of his experiences in Boy Scouts.
The script was only 4 pages long. Batty brought in some improv comedians for the scoutmasters positions and told them to make it up. The scoutmasters made up the troop yells for role calls and made stuff up on the spot throughout the whole movie.
Batty hopes to release the film in March or June.
The Film Festival is held in the Scera Center for the Arts in Orem, Utah. Movies will be played up until Saturday evening. More information is available at the Web site, www.ldsfilmfestival.org.E-mail: cwilson@desnews.com