For his latest film, director Jason Bannister had an eager, energetic cast and crew who were willing to work for free – any filmmaker’s dream, right? There was just one catch: They had to be done by 3 p.m. so they could catch the school bus home.

Bannister, better known as Mr. Bannister to his fourth-grade class at Nickerson Elementary School in Swanville, has for the past four years written and produced a film with his pupils based on the curriculum they study during the school year. This year’s film is titled “Bookland,” and it takes viewers on a journey through history, with books for passports.

Bannister, who studied theater in college and later went on to earn a master’s degree in education, wanted to make films with his class as soon as he started teaching in Swanville four years ago.

“It’s such a great way to teach, because they remember it,” he said. “If you get your hands involved in a process, that’s the best way to retain information.”

MBNA/Bank of America provided Bannister with grant money to purchase some basic equipment, and he learned the film-editing program Final Cut Pro. The first student movie he directed was a short documentary about Australia, followed by features about the Revolutionary War and the solar system. In “Bookland,” a magic book acts as a portal to different moments in history, from the 19th century up through Woodstock.

The film is Bannister’s biggest and most sophisticated production yet, including a number of community members serving as actors, editors and cameramen, numerous scenes shot on location throughout Waldo County, and even an original score composed by Troy Howard Middle School teacher Justin Bari.

But the stars of the show are the kids. The red-haired, mischievous-looking Colton Ridley plays the lead character, Alex, while the other pupils act as famous people in history, such as Sam Kulikowski as Shoeless Joe Jackson, Grace Bagley as Janis Joplin, Tom Frost as Vincent van Gogh and John Capella as Charles Lindbergh.

“John loves planes,” said Bannister. “His dad built a replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, so in the movie you seem him flying in his plane. He totally loved that. He got all dressed up as a pilot, and he learned about Lindbergh.”

Though much of the filmmaking process is creative fun, some of the kids get a little grumpy when they have to shoot a scene 40 times to get it right.

“They love doing it, but they don’t like the actual filming, because it’s a lot of work and can be kind of tedious,” said Bannister. “But the finished product is very exciting. I’ve been doing this for four years, so the younger students always talk about doing Mr. Bannister’s film.”

“Bookland” will premiere at the Colonial Theatre in Belfast this Saturday, in a private screening for the pupils and their families. The kids get dressed up and arrive at the theater in a limousine.

“The anticipation is high,” he said. “The last week of school we talk to the press, and then there’s the actual premiere and the red carpet and limo and everything. The kids get treated like Hollywood royalty. They get really excited. These kids would never get to have that kind of experience otherwise.”

A public screening for “Bookland” is set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 10, at the Colonial Theatre. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.