Packing Away the Past: Wylie High JROTC Showcases Filmmaking Talent with ‘New Beginnings’ Production

At first glance, New Beginnings looks less like a high school production and more like something screened at a major movie premiere. Featuring cinematic match cuts, polished sound design, and emotional storytelling, the film, created by cadets in the Wylie High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program, premiered May 1 at the annual AFJROTC awards banquet. The six-minute short film left audiences stunned by both its technical quality and heartfelt message.

But behind the impressive visuals and emotionally resonant story was a team of students determined to redefine how people view JROTC.

Directed by WHS junior Phaolo Le and co-directed by WHS senior Tuan Nguyen, New Beginnings follows the story of Miles, a graduating senior packing away his JROTC memories as he prepares for the next chapter of life. Each item he places into a box sparks a flashback to moments of doubt, struggle, and growth throughout his time in the program.

Written by Dylan Do, the film stars Miles Whitmire alongside Reed Scott and Jeriah Garcia. Hiyab Abraham, Josie Jimenez, Ashley Lawson, Anioke Okeke, Emmanuella Okeke, Raymond Pham, Sarah Stegeman, and Lam Truong all contributed to the production of New Beginnings.

“At its core, the film was designed solely to encourage current JROTC students to continue to enjoy their time in the Corps despite the setbacks they may face, but the production team, actors, and I firmly believe that this project has the potential to reach the prospective JROTC cadets across the United States,” Whitmire said.

Nguyen said the idea for the film stemmed from his own experience in JROTC and a desire to help others understand what the program truly represents.

“Recognizing this and that I didn’t really know what JROTC was about when I signed up, I dedicated myself to this project, hoping to help others succeed like me and to better understand JROTC and how it’s more than just a class,” Nguyen said.

The story itself was inspired by Whitmire’s real-life journey in the program. As a freshman, Whitmire initially planned to quit JROTC after his first semester. However, after being encouraged by instructors who saw leadership potential in him, he became more involved, eventually serving as Corps Commander and Corps Advisor, two of the organization’s highest student leadership roles.

That personal history became the emotional backbone of the film.

Throughout New Beginnings, viewers watch Miles struggle through moments many cadets can relate to: dropping a rifle during drill practice, stumbling while running flags and questioning whether he belongs in the program at all.

One pivotal scene occurs after Miles drops his rifle during practice. Fellow cadet Reed counsels him with the line that ultimately defines the film’s message: “JROTC isn’t where you find who you are. It’s where you build who you’re going to be. Don’t leave your potential in a box, Miles.”

The film’s technical execution elevates that message even further.

One of the most memorable sequences comes early in the film, when the camera zooms in on the back of a shirt Miles pulls from a box of memorabilia, then seamlessly match-cuts to him wearing the same shirt while sprinting down a football field, carrying AHMO flags.

Another creative transition occurs during a scene of the boys tossing a football, with the camera mounted directly on the football before cutting back to the present-day box of memories.

Le said many of those transitions were intentionally designed to maintain momentum and visually immerse the audience in Miles’ memories.

“A lot of the transitions were premeditated,” Le said. “I felt the need to transition these shots in a visually interesting way to avoid using hard cuts or basic dissolves, so I searched for inspiration on YouTube to find ways to transition scenes without losing momentum. I’ve had experience with transitions in the past and wanted to lean further into it. However, a lot of creative ideas came from discussing the film with my team.”

Though the finished product appears effortless, production came with significant challenges. Much of the filming occurred outdoors during a busy week of drill competition preparation, forcing the crew to work around tight schedules, weather, and limited resources.
“The biggest challenge I faced with coordination was that our production ran during the week of drill competition preparation, so we had limited resources and time,” Nguyen said. “Even though it was a limited time, we were able to produce the shots we needed.”

Le said the football sequence proved especially difficult because of the elements.

“A major challenge during production was managing wind and weather noise, especially since much of the film was recorded outdoors,” Le said. “We used a variety of techniques, such as on-body microphones, post-processing the audio, and wind covers, to minimize background noise.”

Nguyen credited several teachers and mentors for helping bring the project to life, including video productions teacher Wade Ross, journalism adviser Aaron Smith, English teacher Meggan Narvaez and Lt. Col. Darren E. James (Ret.), USAF.

“The team’s ability to pull off such a major project on a minimal budget wouldn’t have been possible without their support,” Nguyen said.

Ross said he witnessed Nguyen’s passion for the program develop over the last two years and wanted to help create something meaningful.

“We wanted to make something memorable and special this year to reflect that passion,” Ross said. “With the help of our A/V students, we were able to create something momentous. I am so happy to see all their hard work come to fruition. It was definitely worth the sleepless nights, endless logistics, and hours of editing.”

Smith praised the students not only for the final product but also for the perseverance demonstrated during production.

“The students involved in creating the film started with a vision and were diligent to see it through to fruition,” Smith said. “They were able to create a visual representation of what we as educators hope to instill in all our students: fortitude. Not only through the plot of the short film, but also through the creation of it. The students worked to step beyond the bare minimum. I am really proud of the product they created, but also of the young adults they are becoming.”

The film concludes quietly but powerfully. As Miles packs away the final items from his JROTC experience, including plaques, awards, and a graduation photo with Reed, he flips over the picture and reads a handwritten note: “Proud of how far you’ve come. See you at Basic! Reed.”

The moment reveals Miles’ decision to continue his military journey after graduation.

The final shot lingers as Miles closes the box labeled “JROTC,” slides it into his closet, and shuts the door, not as a symbol of leaving the program behind, but as recognition of how those experiences shaped who he became.

For Nguyen, that deeper message is what mattered most.

“I can't imagine where I would be today if I hadn't moved to Wylie and hadn't joined JROTC,” Nguyen said. “These have been the two best decisions in my life, and they’ve opened endless doors for me. This is only the beginning for me, and I'm grateful to graduate from high school with a strong skill set and experiences that will help me in the future.”

Reflecting on both the creative and personal growth that came from directing the film, Le said the experience challenged him not only as a filmmaker, but also as a leader collaborating with a passionate team.

“This project has taught me what it means to lead a group of people in directing and specifying my perspective on how certain scenes, lines, and emotions should be portrayed,” Le said. “It has taught me that filming is a long and arduous process, but the results of it are highly rewarding, not simply because you get to witness your work unfold, but because you create so many connections while filming.”