Fade To Black:Hillsong

Hillsong is a small-to-medium size town in South Dakota, in the lee of the Black Hills. It is large enough for a local mall, s small hospital and a high school; not large enough for a giant strip mall nor a university (the nearest college is perhaps an hour's drive away.) A lake nearby is home to a few holiday cabins, the occasional boat shed which might see use in the fishing season, and the odd high school party.

There is a small Native American contingent, but for the majority Hillsong has maintained a relatively homogenous population, remaining relatively untouched by the last century or two's waves of immigration.

Hardwood forests on the slopes have provided a basis for a steady industry in timber, and a century-old lumber mill is still a significant employer and source of pride for the town. A little local farming and seasonal tourism are other contributors to the local econom.

Hillsong High is, for want of a better phrase, a typical American High School, as imagined by generations of American High School on television and in the cinema; of course what this means; from the grey emotional desolation of Brick to the high camp of Mean Girls depends very much on your point of view.