The students at Kaitao Middle School are experiencing just what it's like to be in a production crew - and their efforts are being noticed.
This year, principal Rory O'Rourke is teaching a film-making class, something he says is getting the students excited.
Mr O'Rourke said he had a special interest in
film-making and decided to create an elective class this year which is now being undertaken by 16 students.
"I love making films with kids, it's a good medium for them," he said.
The class has already made several short films and are due to start filming a feature-length film this term.
"The students love it," he said.
The film will be premiered towards the end of the term complete with a red carpet.
Mr O'Rourke said it was just something that was out of the ordinary.
Among their many films the student's work has scored them finalist spots in this year's Fair Go Advertisement Awards and the annual MADE (Movie and Digital Excellence) Awards.
For the Fair Go awards, primary and intermediate teams from around the country had to make a three-minute commercial about how they would change their parents.
Students Tegan Richards, 12, Kathleen Ashley, 12 and Kapiolani Waikato, 12, entered this year's competition based on an idea off the current "perfect world" ad on TV.
Their ad included funny quotes such as "in a perfect world mum would do my homework".
While they didn't win a place Mr O'Rourke said it was great to be in the finals again, having won the inaugural awards a few years ago. The school also has entries in two of the MADE finals to be announced at Baycourt theatre in Tauranga on November 3.
