Middle school students hesitantly emerged from the limousines that transported them to the Slick Rock Student Film Festival, moving cautiously toward the red carpet walk and the entrance to the Visalia Fox Theatre. In contrast, high school participants “owned” the red carpet – posing for photographers and speaking authoritatively in interviews with the videographer.
“Slick Rock is not only helping students develop as filmmakers, but as confident young adults,” says CHOICES Prevention Programs Supervisor Adam Valencia. “Slick Rock gives participants the real world experience they can use in college and career – the experience of working creatively and collaboratively with teammates and with members of the community.”
The Fox Theatre was abuzz with young filmmakers on Saturday, May 17. The festival, which accepted films from middle and high schools in seven central Valley counties (Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare), received over 400 video entries this year – double the amount submitted in 2013. Middle school students could enter films in seven categories, while high school students had a choice of 14 categories.
To see the winning videos in each of the categories, visit www.SlickRockFestival.org.
Slick Rock is generously supported by the Tulare & Kings Counties Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Tulare County Film Commission, Tulare County Step Up Initiative, and ABC30.