Two New Albany High School students are working with Vital Cos. of Columbus to produce a film that likely will be used to promote New Albany.

Junior Kai Doran and senior Taylor Dorrell were chosen by technology and business teacher Leslie Shea, who said both have the background in photography and videography needed for the project.

Doran and Dorrell said they have worked together filming cyclists and skateboarders for videos and short documentaries at a local skate park.

But this project with the Vital Cos. has introduced them to a new way of producing videos, Dorrell said.

"It's very professional," Dorrell said. "To know what they are doing and see what they are doing is a lot different than what we've been doing."

"We've never really went this in-depth," Doran added.

Shea said Doran and Dorrell also are learning how to market videos, and they have the opportunity to make a legacy for themselves in the community.

"How amazing is it for myself and the boys to be part of this," she said.

The film is being funded by a $25,000 grant from the New Albany Community Foundation's Ralph Johnson Fund.

The fund is dedicated to Johnson, superintendent of New Albany-Plain Local Schools from to 1992-2004. Craig Mohre, president of the community foundation, called Johnson "an iconic figure in the community" whose passion for arts and education is well-served by the grant.

Dorrell said the seven-minute video should be completed this month. It will be screened next month at the first Film Festival of Columbus, which is organized by in part by the Vital Cos. and is scheduled Oct. 2-5 at the Gateway Film Center on High Street in Columbus, near the Ohio State University campus.

The film will depict four different aspects of the community: arts, environment, health and lifelong learning. These also are the community foundation's areas of focus.

According to the Vital Cos. website, the film will tell the community's story through "a high school student who has experienced the evolution of New Albany schools."

Johnson, who was recognized with Doran and Dorrell at the Aug. 27 school board meeting, said he experienced firsthand the rapid growth of the New Albany district. When he was hired in 1992, the district had 640 students. When he left in 2004, it had 4,000.