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A group of Nevada Union High School Film Club members are hoping their commercial about safe sneezing and washing hands earns them a $500 prize and statewide exposure.
Alex Ramsey, Daniel Lawson and Ian Lynn, all 14 years old; and 16-year-old Casey Martinson are finalists in the California Department of Public Health's H1N1 (swine flu) public service announcement contest.
“The fact that someone liked it besides us gave us a reason not to stop,” said Martinson, president of the nascent club, which is working on another film this weekend. “Now, it's not like we're the only ones laughing.”
They need supporters in the community to vote online for their minute-long video, especially because voting ends at midnight tonight. If they win the popular vote and pass the judges' scrutiny, their video will be broadcast on television.
The club's entry is a black-and-white, silent-film style vignette, complete with grainy special effects and background music reminiscent of a saloon piano.
Ramsey plays the main character, with Lynn in a supporting role and Lawson running the camera. They demonstrate the proper ways to avoid the flu, such as staying home when sick and getting a flu shot.
The idea of a film club came to the boys late one night at Boy Scout camp — all four are members of Grass Valley Troop 21.
They had no prior experience, but thought it would be fun to make movies when they got to high school. They made a list of all the things they wanted to shoot, and when school started, they incorporated the club, with Mike Cartan as adviser.
They even got a budget from the Associated Student Body — exactly $89.12.
Ramsey, the only one in the group to contract the flu so far, heard of the contest on the news. After collaborating on the script, the four used a handheld camcorder and filmed in Grass Valley's Memorial Park.
Their shoestring budget forced them to edit with a trial version of a video editing software, so a faint watermark adorns the corner of the final product.
More than 100 videos were submitted, and the group's entry is in the top 10.
“It's kind of a confidence boost,” Ramsey said.
Submissions had to provide basic flu-prevention tips, and the goal is to communicate the message from peer to peer.
“It's not like your mom telling you to wash your hands,” said Melinda Beer, spokeswoman for the state public health department. “If your buddy's telling you to wash your hands, you're going to listen.”
Beer said the contest was an effort to reach young people — one of the groups most likely to suffer worst from the H1N1 virus — in the online realm they inhabit.
Other videos from the competition include a claymation pig giving advice about the swine flu, and the story of two friends on a Las Vegas road trip who get in a car
accident when the driver sneezes without covering his mouth.
Old enough for irony
Most other finalists were 17 or older, with the exception of a group of elementary school students who made a video with the help of teachers.
Winning the $500 prize would be a boon for the boys, none of whom have jobs or driver's licenses. They are earmarking any funds to buy new audio equipment for the club.
They're waiting for the announcement of the winner, which could be as soon as a week from now, Beer said.
In the mean time, they're following the advice in their video to avoid getting H1N1.
There's one tip the boys can't follow just yet, though. Swine flu vaccines at Nevada
County school clinics are only available to children 13 and under.
“It's ironic that we can't get the vaccine,” said Ramsey, 14.
To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
Alex Ramsey, Daniel Lawson and Ian Lynn, all 14 years old; and 16-year-old Casey Martinson are finalists in the California Department of Public Health's H1N1 (swine flu) public service announcement contest.
“The fact that someone liked it besides us gave us a reason not to stop,” said Martinson, president of the nascent club, which is working on another film this weekend. “Now, it's not like we're the only ones laughing.”
They need supporters in the community to vote online for their minute-long video, especially because voting ends at midnight tonight. If they win the popular vote and pass the judges' scrutiny, their video will be broadcast on television.
The club's entry is a black-and-white, silent-film style vignette, complete with grainy special effects and background music reminiscent of a saloon piano.
Ramsey plays the main character, with Lynn in a supporting role and Lawson running the camera. They demonstrate the proper ways to avoid the flu, such as staying home when sick and getting a flu shot.
The idea of a film club came to the boys late one night at Boy Scout camp — all four are members of Grass Valley Troop 21.
They had no prior experience, but thought it would be fun to make movies when they got to high school. They made a list of all the things they wanted to shoot, and when school started, they incorporated the club, with Mike Cartan as adviser.
They even got a budget from the Associated Student Body — exactly $89.12.
Ramsey, the only one in the group to contract the flu so far, heard of the contest on the news. After collaborating on the script, the four used a handheld camcorder and filmed in Grass Valley's Memorial Park.
Their shoestring budget forced them to edit with a trial version of a video editing software, so a faint watermark adorns the corner of the final product.
More than 100 videos were submitted, and the group's entry is in the top 10.
“It's kind of a confidence boost,” Ramsey said.
Submissions had to provide basic flu-prevention tips, and the goal is to communicate the message from peer to peer.
“It's not like your mom telling you to wash your hands,” said Melinda Beer, spokeswoman for the state public health department. “If your buddy's telling you to wash your hands, you're going to listen.”
Beer said the contest was an effort to reach young people — one of the groups most likely to suffer worst from the H1N1 virus — in the online realm they inhabit.
Other videos from the competition include a claymation pig giving advice about the swine flu, and the story of two friends on a Las Vegas road trip who get in a car
accident when the driver sneezes without covering his mouth.
Old enough for irony
Most other finalists were 17 or older, with the exception of a group of elementary school students who made a video with the help of teachers.
Winning the $500 prize would be a boon for the boys, none of whom have jobs or driver's licenses. They are earmarking any funds to buy new audio equipment for the club.
They're waiting for the announcement of the winner, which could be as soon as a week from now, Beer said.
In the mean time, they're following the advice in their video to avoid getting H1N1.
There's one tip the boys can't follow just yet, though. Swine flu vaccines at Nevada
County school clinics are only available to children 13 and under.
“It's ironic that we can't get the vaccine,” said Ramsey, 14.
To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
