Final edits are underway on a veteran-focused film project involving Westminster High School students and sponsored by Congressman Ed Perlmutter.

The film “Medic!” will debut May 20 at the Joanna Ramsey Theatre at Westminster High School and features the stories of five combat medics who served their country.

The film will ultimately be screened at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and provide a lasting record as part of the Veterans History Project. It is the fourth film sponsored by Perlmutter for the Library of Congress project, and the first involving high school students.

“We were honored to have been chosen as the first high school … to produce a documentary of this magnitude with the congressman’s office,” said Westminster High School video cinema arts teacher Chris Williams, who helped produce the film. “That Congressman Perlmutter was willing to take a chance on a two-year-old high school video production class to produce a documentary on such an important topic is almost unimaginable.”

Williams and his students shot more than 15 hours of footage and spent nearly 50 hours editing it, all in addition to another 100 hours or more of production meetings and research. Williams estimated another 25 to 30 hours of editing will be needed before the film debuts in May.

Students from three classes were involved: Colin Lee’s International Baccalaureate history class provided research and wrote interview questions; Laura Seward’s graphic design and interactive media class created graphics and titles for the film, and designed the movie poster logo; and Williams’ fall students served as production crew for the interviews, while his current students are working as assistant editors and production assistants.

“I am in awe of the job our students have done throughout this process,” Williams said. “They are the ones who have grown to levels they never thought possible. And I’m so very proud of them.”

WHS orchestra teacher Michael Linert and accompanist Patrick Lee are creating an original film score, Williams added.

“The professionalism from the students and teachers involved has been outstanding,” he said.

And the response from the veterans themselves, Williams said, has been equally touching. Williams called the movie the “most emotionally draining project I’ve ever had the pleasure to work on,” and said it provided students not only hands-on video production skills but some softer skills necessary when dealing with a painful and sensitive topic.

“During the interviews, some very deep emotions were stirred and it affected our students as much as it did our vets,” Williams said. “Hearing stories that literally involved life and death gave our students, some who have been considering a career in the military, a very real and personal glimpse at what combat is really like.”

Some veterans were more reluctant than others to tell their stories, but Williams said he and his film crew made every effort to give each vet a voice.

“Our job was to give them a chance to tell their story, and we are grateful for the opportunity to do just that,” he said.

Perlmutter, who represents the 7th Congressional District, praised the students.

“This is important work,” Perlmutter told students in a sit-down March 25, just moments after Perlmutter and Westminster High School Principal Kiffany Kiewiet videotaped their closing comments for the film. “In many cases, these interviews are really the first time these people have shared their story.”