By Danielle Strenke

Kelly Colemanís colleagues at North Branch High School know that the English teacher likes to find new and interesting contests for students to enter each year as part of her English Foundations class.

So when two fellow teachers received information about a new contest offered through Volkswagen and Scholastic, they thought it would be perfect for Coleman.

Coleman said her class is based on script writing and includes learning things like writing, editing and producing their own commercials.

When she learned about the ìFasten Your Seat Belt...Go Far!î contest, the timing couldnít have been better.

ìI have the classes enter a contest every year,î Coleman said. ìOne year we entered a music video contest.î

The Volkswagen and Scholastic contest required the students to write, film and edit 30 second public service announcements (PSA) for viewing by a national teen audience.

The PSAs were centered around the theme of encouraging teens to buckle their safety belts while riding in a vehicle.

Coleman said the parameters of the contest just happened to fit with the timeline for this semesterís classes.

She said the theme of the contest was also important. ìIt is very appropriate especially coming up on prom,î she said.

Colemanís two English Foundations classes set upon the task of coming up with script ideas for their individual PSAs. Coleman said she immediately had several ideas when she heard about the contest, but didnít share them because she wanted the students to come up with their own. ìIt was fun to see what they came up with,î she said.

Junior Jen Hall said her original story idea was modified and changed altogether several times as she worked it through with Coleman.
ìIt was hard to come up with an idea, but Ms. Coleman helped with ideas,î she said.

After the students fine-tuned their script ideas, they completed storyboards for the project. The contest rules required a 6-panel storyboard to be submitted along with the video.

Colemanís stricter guidelines required the students to complete a more involved storyboard, and before that a proposal and copy of the script.

ìThe proposal gives me an idea of what theyíre visualizing,î Coleman said. ìThen we can decide whether or not the ideas are too complicated to be feasible or if they should take the idea a step further.î

Coleman said it helped the students to hear real-life experiences from classmates who were injured in car accidents when they werenít wearing seat belts. ìWe have one student who was more than willing to share his story and show them pictures,î Coleman said.

The classes also brainstormed to get ideas. ìI asked them reasons why some teens donít wear seat belts and we talked about that,î she said. ìWe also talked about what commercials impact them.î

She said most of her students were excited to work on the project. ìThe classes are mostly juniors and seniors who all excel in different areas of production,î she said. ìThey all bring different strengths to the class so itís fun to see that mix.î

The students had three weeks to complete the project. Coleman said they were given ample class time to work on the projects, but some also chose to work on the PSAs outside of class.

ìSome filmed their projects here at school, but some went home or a parking lot somewhere to film,î she said.

The students were able to check out one of three digital cameras available and take them home overnight to work on the project.

Junior Josh Berwald said it didnít take long for him to film his PSA in the parking lot of a gas station in Wyoming.

ìI had a couple of friends getting into a car but one has trouble with his seat belt so he doesnít put it on,î he said.

After the car drives away, the screen turns white with the sound of a crash as solemn music plays.

Berwald said it was an easy project to complete. ìIíve been editing for more than three years so it comes easy for me. I want to do this as a career.î

Coleman said many of the students filmed PSAs that were sad or intended to scare the viewer into wearing their seat belt. ìSome made them funny, but thatís hard to do,î she said.

The students were able to view last yearís contest winners online to get an idea of what they may be up against this year. Coleman said after seeing last yearís winners, she thinks there are a few from her classes that have a chance at winning.

One that stands out, she said, is where a student filmed a group of friends getting into a vehicle and not buckling up. Sounds of a crash follow and the next scene is the car with all of the passengers lying on the ground.

With the help of editing technology, the student was able to put ghost images into the scene, making it appear as though ghosts of each teen are getting up off the ground.

Ghosts rise from each teen except the driver. The driver then gets back in the car. Again, careful editing makes it appear as though the car goes in reverse back to when all the teens enter the car. This time, however, all of them put on their seat belts. Words then appear on the screen ñ life doesnít have rewind. Buckle up.

Coleman said another PSA illustrated that being seriously injured can have the same affect as death on loved ones. A girl getting ready for prom is called to the hospital, where her boyfriend lies in a coma after a car accident.

In the end, 30 students completed the assignment and entered the contest. After the PSAs were sent in, Coleman was contacted by contest organizers. ìThey had never received 30 entries from the same school before. They thought it was fantastic,î she said.

The annual contest draws 14,000 entries each year. The entries are judged and narrowed down to ten finalists.

Coleman said the process to find the ten finalists should be completed by the end of May.

Regardless of whether they win, the students will each receive a Volkswagen hat for entering. ìWeíre excited about getting a hat,î junior Becky McAuliffe said.

Coleman said she is very impressed with Volkswagen and Scholastic. ìTheyíve been very willing to help and give advice,î Coleman said. ìTheyíre very professional, itís a great contest.î

Three finalists in the contest will have their commercial shown on national television.

The three finalistís schools will each receive an Apple G5 computer and film editing software along with a Scholastic $100 gift certificate. One grand prize winner will also receive a $10,000 savings bond.

While she is hopeful that one of her students might win the contest, Coleman is more hopeful that the theme of the contest hits home.
ìI think most of the students here already buckle up, but I hope this encourages all of them to wear seat belts,î she said.

Berwald said commercials on seat belt use may not be immediately effective on teens, but the lesson is probably learned. ìIt probably sinks in somewhere along the line,î he said. Berwald said itís natural for him to put on his seat belt, particularly in driverís training. ìIf you donít put it on right away, you get yelled at,î he said.

McAuliffe said if itís a good, powerful commercial, it would probably have an impact on teens, adding that she always buckles up. Hall said she too is a consistent seat-belt user.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com