Dylan Lepore

Author: Dylan Lepore

  • A Poetry Slam About the Film Industry: Lies, Truth, and What We Watch

    A Poetry Slam About the Film Industry: Lies, Truth, and What We Watch


    An Updated Take May 6, 2025

    We go to the theaters.
    It twists, it melts, it rewires our minds.
    Tells us what we want to hear—
    We hear it loud.
    We hear it clear.
    Flashing images that shape our views.
    And what do we say?
    Rewind.

    Rewind back—
    Way back in time.
    Blockbuster? Gone.
    Stores scamming us blind.
    Cash draining from our wallets…
    But for what?
    To see stories that aren’t real?
    To swallow lies
    That change our minds?

    It’s always the same.
    Girl falls in love.
    Boy falls in love.
    LIES.
    Superheroes are just like us?
    LIES.
    Tragic beginnings lead to perfect endings?
    LIES. LIES. LIES. LIES.

    Okay…
    Fast forward.
    Fast forward to the future.
    The future is fast.
    The future is big.

    Netflix. Hulu.
    They shut down the stores.
    They feed us junk—
    At premium prices.
    Netflix and chill?
    Netflix and chill!?
    Scroll, scroll, scroll—
    Nobody watches.
    Nobody cares.
    And yet—
    They lie.
    Everyone lies.

    Pause.
    Pause to now.
    Right now.
    This—this is real.
    This is truth.

    Go.
    Make it your own.
    Tell your story.
    Say what’s real.
    No filters.
    No scripts.
    Just the truth.

    Because you—
    You are the truth.

    Theme:

    The poem is a critique of the film and entertainment industry, especially how it shapes people’s thoughts, expectations, and values through often deceptive or repetitive narratives. It takes the audience on a journey through time—past, present, and future—to explore how the media we consume has changed and what that means for us.

    Section by Section Breakdown:

    1. “We go to the theaters…” (Opening)

    This introduces the central idea: movies have a powerful psychological effect. They distort reality, tell us comforting or exciting lies, and influence how we think and feel.

    “Tells us things we want to hear… Showing us images changing our views…”
    This implies media isn’t neutral—it’s persuasive and can be manipulative.

    2. “Rewind…” (Past)

    The poem rewinds to a nostalgic but critical view of the Blockbuster era—a time when physical video stores still dominated. Even then, there was frustration with how media cost money but often delivered empty content or misleading messages.

    “Girl falls in love / Boy falls in love / LIES”
    This mocks the clichés of Hollywood romance and superhero tropes, suggesting they’re fake and overused.

    3. “Fast forward…” (Present/Future)

    Now in the streaming age—Netflix, Hulu, endless scrolling—the content is cheaper and more accessible, but the quality and meaning are questioned.

    “Meaningless content with a price like that… Nobody watches… They lie.”
    It critiques how platforms produce massive amounts of content with little substance, and how the cycle of deception continues, just in a new form.

    4. “Pause…” (Call to Action)

    This is the emotional climax—a pause for reflection. It shifts from criticism to empowerment.

    “Go out, make it your own. Tell the truth. It’s your story.”
    Instead of being passive consumers of false narratives, we’re called to create authentic stories and be truth-tellers in a media-saturated world.

    Big Idea:

    Don’t believe everything you see on screen. Question media. Create your own truth.
    Be real in a world that’s constantly selling fiction.

    Original:

    A Poetry Slam about the Film Industry 

    This is a Poetry Slam I made in the  11th grade for English class. A lot of people liked it so I decided to post it here. Up above is audio regarding of what it’s supposed to sound like. I hope you guys enjoy and laugh a bit.

    We go to the theaters
    It’s ruining, twisting, melting our mind
    Tells us things we want to hear
    We hear it loud
    We hear it clear
    Showing us images changing our views
    What do we say
    Rewind

    Rewind to the time back in time
    Blockbuster, gone
    Stores ripping us off
    Money leaving my wallet
    For what
    To see images that are untrue
    Telling us lies
    Changing our minds
    The same thing
    Every time
    Girl falls in love
    Boy falls in love
    LIES
    Superheroes are just like you and me
    LIES
    Hard Beginnings to see theatrical endings
    LIES LIES LIES LIES

    Okay…. Fast forward
    Fast forward to the future
    Future is fast, future is big
    Netflix and Hulu closing out the stores
    Meaningless content with a price like that
    Netflix and chill
    Netflix and chill!
    Scrolling through titles nobody watches
    Wasting my time
    They lie
    Everyone lies

    Pause
    Pause to now
    Right now
    This is real
    This is now, this is the truth
    Go out make it your own
    Tell the truth
    It’s your story
    No lies
    Just the truth
    You are the truth

    *To listen to what its meant to sound like click here.

  • PlayStation Plus goes up in price

    PlayStation Plus goes up in price


    Go to PlayStation’s YouTube channel and you will see what the community really thinks about PlayStation Plus. (more…)

  • Why Play Video Games

    Why Play Video Games


    Have you ever wanted to go to a place where you could let go? Where you could be yourself and not worry about anyone but yourself. Where you wanted to go but you just didn’t have the time or money. Well, simple, video games.

    Explore Pirates Bay, Madagascar in Uncharted 4. Visit the depths of the ocean in Bioshock’s Rapture or beautiful skies of Columbia in BioShock Infinite. Explore your creative side in Little Big Plant where dreams run wild. Blow up an airplane attached to a gas station, just cause in the game… Just Cause (see what I did there). Fight aliens and win earth back in Destiny or be on the front lines in Call of Duty or Battlefield. And how could I forget about you sports fan out there: MLB, NCAA, NHL, NBA the list really goes on.

    Probably got the point now but let’s talk some more. Video games change the way we think, feel, hear, see, move and act. We think differently when we are faced with a problem, we do something we know (human instinct) then it flips us upside down then we have to learn a different more creative way (video games). Feeling is a big one. Like music makes you feel when it hits that right note, books take you to that time and place just like you’re with that person, films create depth in a way that’s more than just a thousand words. But video games gets you there, I mean there-there. You are in the moment seeing, hearing, feeling the brush of your daughter’s hair just lying in your arms dead because of some mean jerk “just following orders” (the last of us). This is real, you are there it gets you and you would just have to play the game for yourself to see that. Oh, and when you do you won’t forget that feeling, trust me I know.

    Being into video gadownloadmes is okay, it’s the twenty-first-century. Nerds don’t exist! Only gamers and their passion for moving forward and to create, be creative, be themselves. Everyone plays even if they don’t think or consider it. Solitaire, Angry Birds, Facebook games if you will, heck I’d consider playing with your calculator is good enough for me. The fact you can type 5318008 (do it) and see what you and other people get…..it’s amazing.

    We need this (Not like a drug, or addiction) like a feeling and release from all the bull crap you suck up every day and simply sit down and just play. Play that it! With or without friends or family. Now grab that cape, hammer, torch, or whatever you can make out of your backpack and take the plunge to the best and probably your happiest decision you have ever made. Play.

  • Why We Play First-person vs Why We Play Third Person Games

    Why We Play First-person vs Why We Play Third Person Games


    The first-person viewpoint is the way we see and hear things, just like we’re actually there. We are the soldiers in the midst of battle. We are the peace of mind, the decision maker that kills or saves lives. The vision of a passing soul that is just trying to find its way.

    The first-person viewpoint is easily the most real and fully interactive way of playing games, but there is also VR ( but that’s a different topic for another time) ranging from Skyrim, Borderlands 2, Dishonored and even Ether (which is a must play by the way). These games are great at one thing that is immersion. The way the game sets up the world to convey a sense of realism; it’s really something when you get to explore this world for yourself. The first-person viewpoint has to easily be the best way to play……..or is it?

    The third-person viewpoint is like watching a really great multi-genre movie. From freaking Batman to Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed to The Witcher and even Dead Space. I mean it really is like watching a movie. Playing the Mass Effect Trilogy for the first time was truly something that everyone must do. It takes you to a world never-before-seen in anything else (definitely one of the best experiences of my life is playing that game). Planning and crafting in The Last of Us are something to be scared of because and quite frankly you are pretty scared of that world. You almost feel like you’re this person, but it’s them you’re watching. You’re just replaying a part of their life.

    previews_06_wm_forzahorizon2

    See, third and first-person are weird because sometimes you’re like “wouldn’t this game be better in the third-person” and the other person (which is playing a third-person game) says “wouldn’t this be better in the first-person”. So imagine playing a racing game. Now I love playing in first-person in racing games, whether that be behind the wheel or on the hood, it doesn’t really matter. But the moments where first-person is just not working because too many cars are in the way. You just can switch to third with just a press of a button in those types of games.

    Some games do a good job at this but not as seamless as racing games but they do it none the less. For example Destiny, Halo and Skyrim. Being an in-betweener is ok there’s just not that many games sadly.

    uncharted-3-promo-image-646x325

    Okay, guys, I would love to hear which view do you love the best or are you an in-betweener? Also, my examples of games are just some of what you can expect to me in those genres, like Bioshock and Fable.

  • 13th Annual Food Drive ends Monday

    13th Annual Food Drive ends Monday


    The 13th annual Hokies vs. Hoos Food Drive to benefit the local Feedmore food bank is in full swing and will be ending Monday, February 13th, after an extension given on Friday, February 10th. The cans that students gather are desperately needed for donations to give to families and kids in need who don’t know where their next meal will come from.

    (more…)

  • Graduation details available to seniors

    Graduation details available to seniors


    With only 132 days till graduation, seniors can’t be more excited to finally graduate to the next step. This guide of information will help seniors walk the stage of the VCU Siegel Center.

    (more…)

  • Scholarships available to seniors

    Scholarships available to seniors


    With college applications ending and the acceptance process under way, seniors need scholarships to help pay for the rising prices of college. Every month the counseling office releases a “newsletter” called The James River Ripple that shows all the scholarships that are still available.

    Just to name a few, there is the biweekly Sun Trust off to college scholarship, the ROTC scholarship, the Coca-Cola scholarship, and more coming each and every month.

    The Ripple is always available on the James River website and in the counseling office for seniors only. If the scholarship application requires a transcript use Parchment to send it and sign it off on the pink form (again in the counseling) for the desk aids to send it off.

    These and more are also on various websites like FastWeb and Collegenet.

     

    *This article originally published on James River Current*

     

     

  • Winter Exam Schedule Guide

    Winter Exam Schedule Guide


    The first semester is ending and the end of 2016 is coming, but before we celebrate the holidays and the New Year, there is work to be done. Exams are the thing between you and those sweet Christmas cookies. This guide is going to help you understand the exam schedule. (For seniors exemptions skip down)

    The Schedule

    • Monday, December 12th is a regular school day
    • Tuesday, December 13th is 2nd-period odd exam – full day(tech center students leave at 8:25)
    • Wednesday, December 14th are 1st and 2nd even exams – dismissal at 11:25 (tech center students have to find a ride home after their 1st-period exam or they can sit in ISD until the buses come)
    • Thursday, December 15th are  3rd and 4th odd exams – dismissal at 11:25 (odd day tech center exams – students leave for tech at 7:25)
    • Friday, December 16th are 3rd and 4th even exams – dismissal at 11:25 (even day tech center exams – Students leave for tech at 7:25)

    Make-ups need to be pre-arranged by Friday, December 9th at 2:30pm.

    Senior Exemptions and dates

    Seniors should be notified by their teacher if they are exempt from a midterm no later than Thursday, December 8th, and Friday, December 9th. Seniors must have a B or above in the class they want to be exempted from and no more than five absences in first period and no more than three in all other periods.

    Seniors do not have to be here on Monday, but for students that will be here, there will be review activities for their exams. All underclassmen are expected to be here for the entire week. Students are not allowed to leave during exams, even if they end up finishing the exam or have a pass to leave they must stay for respect of the other test takers.

    For more info, click here.

     

    *This article originally published on James River Current*

  • Big Game, Big Night cap Homecoming Week

    Big Game, Big Night cap Homecoming Week


    Homecoming is upon us again. Spirit Week is in progress and the students are getting ready with dressing up and buying Homecoming tickets. On Friday, Homecoming Night starts with the parade in Riverton at 5:39pm, featuring parade floats from various clubs such as Young Democrats, Drama Club, surfing club, and the Regiment marching band. The football game follows at 7:30 against Midlothian High School. The Homecoming Dance is Saturday from 7pm – 11pm. If you want to buy a ticket to the dance, see Mrs. Oakey during both lunches in the Commons.

    *This article originally published on James River Current*

  • Marching Band plays at Band Night

    Marching Band plays at Band Night


    On Monday, October 10th, Cosby High School hosted the James River Regiment marching band at the annual County Band Night, which featured 10 different bands in the Chesterfield County area. With the entire area around and in Cosby High without power, the participants worried that the event would need to be rescheduled. Power was restored, and the band night continued as scheduled. While there are no rankings given on County Band Night, the Regiment will compete next on Saturday, October 29th at Powhatan High School.

    *This article originally published on James River Current*