Last May a group of Maine West students conceived the idea of an amateur motion picture organization called WMO. Shortly afterwards, research began for their first production, "The Ten Commandments." This year of research was completed a very short time ago. The movie is now being filmed in sound, cinemascope, and technicolor.


The Production

Costumes are patterned after authentic ancient Egyptian and Hebrew patterns of over three thousand years ago. They are being professionally adapted and made. Sets are being built in Arlington Heights and are being shipped to the shooting locations.

The miracles and plagues are to be achieved through various cinemagraphic effects. All of the effects to be used, especially those in the parting of the Red Sea, have been viewed and approved in their merit and practicality by professional organizations. The music will be that used in the Cecil B. De Mille production (1956) by Elmer Bernstein.

The production staff found it quite difficult in several incidents to answer the demands that a number of scenes called for. To meet these requirements, it was necessary to lay plans and build scenery much larger than what was originally anticipated. The sets included six 15-foot, six-foot diameter

pillars, and four 20-foot simulated black marble colossi (statues) to adorn the court of Pharoah. Various other marble gods will be made, including Osiris, and the seven-foot high Sokar, Egyptian god of the dead. One of the large models used will be an authentic scale replica of the biblical treasure city Per-Ramses, and thirty scale-model chariots are being built and patterned after the nineteenth dynasty guard of Ramses II.


The Cast

Sophomores taking the leading roles in the production are Philllp Hway as Moses, Linda Cordts as Nefertiti, and Charles Wente as Ramses II. The part of Sephora has not yet been cast. The major supporting actors are W. Davis Hall as Dathan, John Borzoni as Seti I, Robert Frohne as Joshua, Leslie Pease as Lilia, Dick Pate as Baka, Pat Callaghan as Bithia, and Bonnie Odden as Joshabel.

The film is being directed by Charles Wente and written by Dick Pate and Charles Wente. David Meilstrup, assistant director, is in charge of cinematography. Dick Oas, assistant director, and John Borzoni head the sound department.

"The Ten Commandments," which will require two hours to unfold, will cost the sophomores an estimated $1,500 and one and a half years to produce.