Middle school students walk the red carpet

Before Hollywood stars walk the red carpet for the Oscars tonight, middle-school stars walked the red carpet at Varsity Theater this afternoon.

The students were participants in “The Matinee Scholars,” a program created by UNC screenwriting professor Stephen Neigher.

“It’s Oscar night, so they’re going to have a faux version of it,” Neigher said.

The students worked at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Y during the fall, writing scripts for and performing in two episodes of “The Middle Ages,” Neigher’s television show for the program.

Today was the show’s grand premiere.

The students, wearing dresses and ties, walked across the Varsity’s red carpet and posed for pictures as “paparazzi” asked them questions.

“What are you wearing tonight?” one photographer asked Niki Billman, 12.

“Clothes,” she responded.

The logistics were planned by Whitney Kahn, senior program director of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Y, who wanted the students to have a fun experience.

“We really wanted to make it special and a big deal,” Kahn said.

“The kids are really excited.”

Niki confirmed this.

“It’s super fun,” she said.

Filming of the show took place in November, and while some of the students attend the same middle schools, the premiere was like a family reunion.

“Back in November, we were like a family,” Niki said. “When we were working we were all friends.”

Neigher said he was happy to give the program a proper finale.

“It should be a conclusion for a great experience for the kids,” he said.

The audience included family and friends, who cheered as their children’s headshots and names graced the episodes’ opening credits. They laughed at punch lines throughout the episodes “Talent Show” and “Survivor.”

“It was hilarious,” said Bob Sisk, whose daughter Julia wrote and performed for the show.

He said while he doesn’t know what career his daughter will take, writing is one of her primary hobbies.

“She enjoys doing a lot of things, but writing is one of the things she does a lot of,” he said.

Neigher’s goal is to bring “The Matinee Scholars” to YMCAs and after-school programs across the country.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro program received a grant from the Strowd-Roses Incorporation, which helped him make the post-production process more professional. He created DVDs of the episodes for each participant.

“I saw how much happiness it really brought to the kids,” he said.

“I would have done it for nothing.”