The two men started the Film Dudes because they’ve always been interested in making films, movies and videos.

Thoemke and Maldonado have been invited to different schools since 2015 to show the students what it would be like to be on the big screen. During the coronavirus pandemic, they did have to take some time off from being in a classroom, but they are hoping to make up for that.

On Feb. 20, they were at Lewis & Clark, working on filming a trailer for “Spy Kids” with students from one of the fourth-grade classes. Before the break for lunch, Thoemke shot the scene from “Spy Kids” in which the two main characters hear from their uncle that their spy parents have been kidnapped and taken hostage.

For the portion being filmed, fourth-grader Porter Bercier wore his best uncle outfit and did multiple takes in which he walked toward the camera while his two classmates Audrey Carnley and Asher Barley-Ellis followed his lead, playing the main characters Carmen and Juni, respectively.

All of the students in the class have parts to play. Some are on screen, while others are more behind the scenes. Bercier, Carnley and Barley-Ellis have active roles in the movie, while Serenity Harden took still photographs during filming and Jackson Lopez held one of the microphones on a pole.

Once all of the main roles had been cast, the Film Dudes made up some new ones for the movie to make sure that everyone was included in the process.

Following the filming, Thoemke and Maldonado will take the footage they collected and begin putting it together for the final product.

Once the project concludes and the trailer is finished, the film is to be shown at the Oak Park ampitheater in April. It will be free for anyone to attend.