Submitted photo Visitors to East Liverpool Junior High language arts classes were (from left) sound engineer Zach Wallace, actor Georin Aquilla, director/producer Josh Menning, and actors Pakob Jarernpone, Emily Kelly and Jason Klingensmith, who told about their experiences in the film industry.

EAST LIVERPOOL –In what is becoming an annual tradition, East Liverpool Junior High School’s eighth grade students had some special visitors during recent language arts classes when award-winning director and producer Josh Menning and several actors regaled them with their experiences in the film industry.

Menning, from Leetonia, has teamed up with language arts teacher John Smith on some film projects, and several years ago, Smith and other language arts teachers Deena Hunt and Heather Hitt invited his “film family” to their classrooms to discuss independent film projects produced by Menning and his wife Danielle.

Following the discussions, students were treated to a viewing of “Gretchen’s Lock,” Menning’s first film.

This year, in addition to Menning, students were able to interact with actors Jason Klingensmith, Georin Aquila, Emily Kelly, Pakon Jarernpone and sound engineer Zach Wallace.

An accountant by trade, Klingensmith is an award-winning actor, director-producer and screenwriter who first became interested in acting when cast in “Captain America:The Winter Soldier.” His most demanding role with Menning Films was portraying a terrorist in the award-winning movie “Unwavering,” which is now in worldwide distribution. He also has a role in Menning’s current production, “Beast of our Fathers.”

Aquila is from Pittsburgh and has a degree in engineering. He has appeared in various television series and several commercials, as well as appearing on stage and the Netflix series, “Mindhunters.” His latest project is playing the lead role of Marlock in “Welcome to the Deadlands” as well as a major role in Menning’s latest film.

East Liverpool High School graduate Emily Kelly also spoke with students, saying, “This was one of our best years with the kids, and I can’t wait to return next year.” She appeared in “Unwavering,” “Gretchen’s Lock” and “Beast of our Fathers” as well as writing, directing and producing.

Jarernpone lives in Akron and played the lead role in “Beast of our Fathers,” playing a federal agent sent to Ohio to investigate the murders of five Bigfoot enthusiasts. He, too, appeared in Menning’s other productions as well as other films.

Wallace explained his role as a crew member, showing students the equipment he uses and also visited with the interactive multimedia classroom with instructor Jason Croxall, where he was interviewed on the radio.

The Mennings have been busy with their projects since releasing “Gretchen’s Lock” in 2016, followed by “Unwavering” in 2017, the documentary, “Gateway to Hope: Overcoming Heroin,” this year and “Beast of our Fathers” due to be released in 2019.

Smith said, “Having the actors in the classroom at the same time the students are watching the film just adds a whole new level of excitement and interest for the kids.”