The Rockford High School (RHS) Advanced TV Studio students recently competed in a video competition sponsored by the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. Their assignment? Produce a 30-second public service announcement that addresses the issues of distracted driving. The distractions? Everything from texting while driving, to putting on makeup, eating, dropping CDs and reaching to pick them up, drinking, and using cell phones. The students were also instructed to encourage teenage drivers to use their seat belts. The campaign is titled, “Buckle up, heads up, hang up, it all adds up!”
The 25 students in Advanced Broadcast Communications put their heads together to discuss and execute the project. “When it is a teenager that produces the video and its message, I think other teenagers tend to pay more attention to it,” said RHS senior James Springvloed.
“We had so many great ideas and it was tough to narrow the project down to 30 seconds,” RHS senior Ali McNamara explained.
RHS senior Emily Pitcher said, “This project was like making a short film. It is incredible how much hard work goes into making great videos.”
What the groups came up with were powerful public service announcements that impressed Sheriff Tim Erhardt. “Rockford High School always produces quality work in their video department and the class worked so hard on this community project. I was very proud of all of their efforts,” Erhardt said.
The students took second and third places in the video competition, and some of their work will be shown on WOOD-TV 8 during the month of May.
The RHS Broadcast Communications/TV Studio courses are taught by Colleen Pierson, and Jason Springer is the TV Studio technician and RCTV station manager.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Pierson at (616) 863-6030 or cpierson@rockfordschools.org.
Comments by our Readers