The classroom was still buzzing from Mr. Ghosh's announcement about the short film competition. Nick, Zaid, K, and the rest of the gang huddled together, already brainstorming the wildest, most insane ideas for their project.
Nick couldn't contain his excitement. "Alright, guys, here's the deal. We have no theme restriction. We can do anything we want!" His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
K raised an eyebrow. "So, what exactly do we do? Another rom-com?"
Nick scoffed, "What? Nah, we're not doing that. I've got something way cooler in mind."
"Please tell me it's not a superhero thing," Zaid said, already imagining Nick in a spandex suit, running around the school.
"Nope, I'm thinking horror," Nick said, grinning like a kid in a candy store. "Something eerie, creepy, the kind of thing that gets you jumping out of your seat."
K nodded, clearly on board. "Horror sounds good. I mean, who doesn't want to make people scream?"
"Exactly!" Nick shouted. "It's a perfect mix of creepy and cool. We'll do something like Slender Man—you know, a tall, faceless figure lurking in the shadows. But we'll add our own twist."
Zaid's eyes widened. "A Slender Man movie? That's… intense, but kinda awesome."
Nick was already envisioning the details. "We'll shoot it at my house. My dad's out for the weekend, so we have full access to the place. We can turn my basement into a creepy lair, use the backyard for the 'forest scenes.' It's going to be perfect!"
⸻
Day One: Filming at Nick's House
The first thing Nick and K did was raid Nick's mom's makeup stash. They had to transform themselves into the creepiest versions of the Slender Man myth. K, being the makeup wizard, was in charge of the application.
"Alright, Nick," K said, holding up a tube of powder. "We're going full Pennywise today. It's gonna be so creepy you'll scare your own reflection."
Nick gave him a nervous look. "Are you sure about this?"
K smirked. "Trust me. You'll look like a nightmare. Let's start with the foundation." He began applying powder to Nick's face, the white transforming him into a pasty, almost ghostly figure.
"Uh, I look like I just walked out of a horror movie," Nick said, already feeling weird. "Are you sure I look scary enough?"
K ignored him and pulled out the red lipstick. "It's time for the lips. Get ready for the Pennywise special."
Nick's eyes went wide. "Are you trying to turn me into a circus clown?"
"Well, Pennywise is a clown, but I'm giving you the spooky, 'run-for-your-life' look." K drew bold, sharp red lines that exaggerated Nick's lips, making him look like a deranged version of the Joker. He even put some streaks of lipstick near Nick's cheekbones for that extra sinister vibe.
Zaid walked in just as K finished. "Dude… you look like you belong in a psychotic funhouse. Let's get this show on the road."
⸻
Day Two: The Filming Begins
The first scene was supposed to be shot in Nick's backyard, a large area that could easily be turned into a "spooky forest" with the help of a few strategically placed props. Nick was positioned near a tree, trying his best to maintain his creepy Slender Man persona, while Zaid, K, and Anirudh ran around with their cameras, getting different angles.
The trouble was, Nick kept laughing. Every time K would yell "Action!" Nick would burst out laughing because, in all honesty, he looked ridiculous. His face was so heavily powdered, his lips so exaggerated, that he looked more like a Halloween costume gone wrong than a fear-inducing monster.
"Nick! Focus!" K shouted from behind the camera. "You're supposed to be scary, not a circus act!"
Nick took a deep breath, trying to suppress the laughter. "Right, right. I'm supposed to be terrifying." He tried again, pacing slowly with exaggerated, stiff movements. "Is this working?"
"You look like a weird mime that got lost on Halloween," Zaid commented, filming the whole thing. "But yeah, it's working. It's creepy in its own way."
They shot several takes with Nick lurking in the shadows of the backyard, his creepy silhouette against the dark sky. K and Zaid adjusted the lighting to make the whole scene feel eerie. Every now and then, Nick would step into the frame, his face a bizarre, unsettling combination of pale makeup and over-the-top lipstick.
⸻
Night Time: The Basement Scene
The real fun started when they moved to Nick's basement. With the dim light flickering from an old lamp, the place looked straight out of a horror movie. They set up the camera, and the guys positioned themselves in various parts of the dark basement.
Nick stood motionless in a corner, trying his best to channel his inner Slender Man. Zaid, K, and Anirudh scurried around, making last-minute adjustments, trying to figure out how to make it all come together.
Just as they were about to start shooting, Nick's mom came downstairs with snacks. "Oh, you're filming? How's the movie coming along?"
"Uhh, Mom, I look like a mutant version of a clown," Nick mumbled, trying to hide his face behind his hands.
She smiled knowingly. "It's good to see you so dedicated to your craft. But you know, this face might haunt me for the rest of my life." She handed them a bowl of popcorn, then walked back up.
Nick wiped some makeup off his face. "Alright, let's do this."
The first take was a disaster. Nick's "Slender Man" movements were too stiff, the lighting was off, and the effect just didn't work. But after several takes, they managed to capture something eerie—just enough to make their peers squirm.
⸻
Editing: A Hot Mess of Ideas
The next day, they sat in front of Nick's computer, editing their footage. They didn't have the technical expertise of professional filmmakers, but they made do with what they had.
"Okay, we need a good soundtrack," Zaid said, scrolling through music apps. "Let's see… 'Creepy Forest Sounds'? Check. 'Whispers in the Dark'? Check. Perfect."
But the editing process quickly spiraled into chaos. They had so many different shots, so many ideas, and no clear direction. The horror scenes blended into slapstick comedy, thanks to Nick's accidental facial expressions and K's obsession with dramatic music.
Eventually, they came to a conclusion: their horror film wasn't just scary. It was… a mix of different genres, weird ideas, and unintentional comedy. They called it "The Slender Clown Chronicles."
"Honestly, I don't think this will scare anyone," Nick admitted. "But it's got potential to be a cult classic."
K nodded. "Definitely one of those movies that's so bad, it's actually kinda good."
⸻
When they finally submitted the film, it was far from what they had originally envisioned. It was strange, creepy, and unintentionally hilarious—a bizarre combination of Pennywise and Slender Man, with way too much lipstick and a haunted basement. But despite the chaos, the film turned out to be a hit. Their classmates loved it—and while it wasn't terrifying, it sure made everyone laugh, scream, and cringe all at once.
And honestly? That was good enough for them.
Nick slumped into his chair, dramatically sighing as he looked around the nearly empty classroom. Only ten students in total. It felt more like a secret club than a class. The sunlight filtered through the window, catching dust motes in the air as Nick leaned back and declared:
"Before we continue, the students are divided into two groups—people who have chosen Hindi as their language… and students who have chosen French. And I chose French since I don't know how to read or write Hindi," Nick said with an air of fake superiority. "And between K and Zaid, only I took French."
"Why did you even take French?" Umar whispered from the seat next to him.
"Because I thought it would be romantic," Nick replied. "Turns out, it's just grammar and shame."
The French class was tiny. The size of a failed startup, as K once joked. But despite the small number, the energy in the room was always buzzing. It wasn't because of the language itself, but because of Kahina Ma'am—easily one of the most liked teachers in school. She was patient, cheerful, and somehow managed to make the class feel like a break rather than a burden.
Today was no different. Kahina Ma'am walked in, a cup of green tea in her hand and her signature pastel scarf around her neck. She gave them all a warm smile.
"Bonjour, mes enfants," she greeted, and all ten students echoed a chorus of "Bonjour, Ma'am!"
Anya, always organized and usually the one with the answers, raised her hand.
"Ma'am, we heard about the short film competition from the other classes… can our French group do one too?"
The room lit up instantly. Even Umar straightened up. Kahina Ma'am blinked with pleasant surprise, her eyes sparkling.
Author " here we go again with another short film"
Nick " how is this different from what we just did "
Author " this one is longer and more dramatic "