NOISE

**NOISE** is a 2023 film by Luca. It is his first feature film, and is a political satire about a school election. Filmed over the course of a year, NOISE follows Henry Sherman, a yearbook photographer on the edges of the school's society, as he runs for president against the corrupt incumbent Helen Tammany.

## Plot

### PART I

After a sound collage of various political speeches, Henry Sherman wakes up. He walks around a school hallway photographing strangers. Meanwhile, Henry's friend and Quiz Bowl leader Isaac complains to club advisor Mrs. Niedleson when he learns that the team's funds have been cut by the school board. Niedlson explains that the school and the student government that controls the funds prioritize academic groups over other clubs and sports.

At lunch, Henry sits with Isaac and their friend Michael. After explaining his lack of skill and ambition in any field but photography, Henry and Isaac talk to baseball team captain Dan about student president Helen Tammany and her policies of taking funds from sports and small clubs. Henry runs out to attend a yearbook meeting.

Meanwhile, Helen meets with her vice president, Gerald Ford, and two delegates from the debate and math teams, who advise her on her lowered popularity and the need to divert more funds to debate. Henry arrives at the yearbook meeting, which has just ended, and meets club leader Abby, eccentric photographer Eduardo, and Marxist loner Karla Marks. Abby critiques Henry's photography skills, and attempts to dissuade him from covering the school election, noting that only one candidate, a boy named Adam, has ever challenged the school-backed president. Henry walks home, dejected.

Some time later, Isaac meets Stefan, a foreign exchange student from Lorealia, on his walk to school. At the same time, Henry is drawn to an alley behind a parking garage by a rap song. There he meets Adam, who encourages Henry to run for president.

### PART II

Isaac meets Henry, who tells him his plan to run for president. Isaac initially objects, but realizes the idea has potential. As Gerald anxiously reveals the news to Helen, Isaac meets with Eduardo during band class, employing him to make campaign posters. He then convinces Stefan into being Henry's running mate, while Henry employs Michael as a treasurer. During a busy campaign, Dan calls Henry to ask him to prioritize sports funding over smaller clubs, to which Henry agrees.

Helen, now openly taunted by classmates, cries to debate advisor Mr. Richardson about the chance that she will lose. Richardson offers to speak with Principal Cleveland. Henry is approached by the debate leader, Junkai, who convinces him to further abandon his original ideals. A disgusted Isaac walks away. Meanwhile, Principal Cleveland reveals to Mr. Richardson that he sabotaged Adam's campaign and that he is corrupting Henry.

### PART III

Isaac wakes up on a bench and walks around, eventually being drawn to the spot where Henry met Adam. Adam appears and explains that he was wrong about Henry, and echoes Karla's advice that the only way to change the system is with an act of revolution. On election day, Isaac convinces election official Sumuk to give him the ballot box, which he then burns.

In September, it is revealed that due to a technicality, Karla has become president. The two discuss Henry's death in a car accident over the summer, which Karla believes was caused by Principal Cleveland. They skip their next period and walk off into the distance.