The fifth-grade media club at Veterans Elementary School is vying for the $10,000 grand prize in the annual Trees Rock video contest sponsored by Scotties Tissues.
The club’s video has been deemed a top 10 finalist in a national competition.
The contest calls for videos that explain the importance of trees. The $10,000 prize is intended for use in a sustainable project, such as tree plantings, outdoor classrooms, greenhouses, gardens and so on.
(Photos courtesy of Veterans Elementary School)
Students led by club co-advisers Susan Forgas and Mario Pineo worked on the video for weeks.
The students came up with the ideas for the segments, wrote the scripts, created costumes, filmed the segments and edited the three-minute video.
The video is based on the concept of someone flipping through the channels at night, landing on commercials or previews of shows.
“The kids kind of brought their own ideas,” Pineo said. “They sort of had an audition. Then we brainstormed how we would put those together and which ones we would include, and which ones made sense,” he said.
One segment is a portion of a mock sportscast hosted by Jack Carbone, playing the role of Jack Woodchuck, and Alyssa Bollent, playing the role of Alyssa Leaf.
Carbone also wrote the script for the segment, and Gadiel Ramirez shot the video.
Bollent also wrote the script for “Jennie the Genie,” with assistance from Caitlan Jamison and Julia Rosenberg.
Jamison played the role of Jennie, Siena Bracciale played Sarah, and Yasmin Fajardo worked the camera.
Isaac Machado played the role of Slash and also wrote the script for “Slash vs Arbor Girl.” Rosenberg played Arbor Girl, Joie Goletz was Woodchuck, and Ava Shortt shot the segment.
Alyssa Forgas, who is Susan Forgas’ niece, handled the camera for the “All Spice” advertisement, which also featured Ella Jennette and Lauren Rossman as rock stars and Lauren Carulli as a makeup artist. Carulli and Jennette co-wrote the ad.
Griffin Roberts played the role of Daniel Wood in one segment. He also created a Twitter page @VoteVes, to help attract votes for the video.
Throughout the process, students handled a variety of chores, shooting video, editing, writing scripts and coming up with costumes.
If the school wins, the students want to spend the money on the butterfly garden, an edible garden and a sensory garden, featuring plants that have scents.
This isn’t the first time Veterans Elementary has had success with the contest.
In 2013, Ryan and Rachel Mish, a brother-and-sister team from the school, placed in the top four.
During the next phase of the contest, which runs through Feb. 7, the public will have a chance to view the videos and vote to determine who wins the grand prize.
To view and vote for Veterans Elementary School’s video, go to ScottiesTreesRock.com.
Published January 20, 2016
