Teen Video Fest 2008:

Teen Videofest is a program created by Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) and supported by many community agencies challenging teenagers to speak out—through video—on an aspect of teen health that they feel is important.

The contest portion of the program is open to youth, ages 13-19, who reside in Tarrant County. Participants are provided general health categories from which to draw their topics, are given high-quality VHS tapes and DVDs to use, and must also do most of the production work by themselves—with no direct adult help. They are also provided assistance—if needed—from local video production companies to edit their video.

Ultimately the videos are used by TCPH, schools, and other organizations for public service announcements, in programs and health classes specifically targeted to teens and in other public health education efforts aimed at youth.

How to get started on Teen Videofest 2008:

1. Get a registration packet. It has three (3) forms and three (3) handouts which you must review and/or complete (you may download these forms):

• The Registration Form provides us important information about your team, helps us keep in contact with you, and will help us promote your video.
• The Consent Form covers your responsibilities as a contestant.
• The Talent Release Form is the official permission slip from others who are not on your team, but play a role (through their image and/or voice) in your video.
• The Contest Rules and Guidelines explains the contest, eligibility requirements and how your video will be judged. Keep a copy for your reference.
• The T-shirt competition Rules and Guidelines handout explains the rules for the T-shirt design competition.
• Video Topic Ideas Handout provides a list of possible topics to be produced by contestants

2. Attend a Teen Videofest Workshop. There are three workshops available. One is for Adult Sponsors only and the other two (with lunch included) are open to everyone:

WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: JANUARY 19, 2008
Reed Watson is an award-winning photographer and editor who has been in the TV News business for 30 years. A graduate of the University of Texas, Watson has been successful as a Chief Photographer, Chief Editor and Dallas Bureau Chief. He has participated in the operation and judging of several prestigious competitions as a member of the National Press Photographers Association. Watson is currently working for one of the Big Three Networks in Fort Worth dealing with affiliate relations.

Melissa Kirkendall offers 17 years experience in producing special events, concerts, festivals and films.  Melissa has been involved with numerous video and film projects.  She was the Director/Producer for the Teen A Go-Go Documentary (2006/07), the Production Coordinator for the “Hell Ya” music video (2007) and the Assistant Production Coordinator for the TV series Prison Break (2006/07).  Melissa was recognized as a panelist for the “Music and Film” panel at the Lone Star International Film Festival in 2007.  She has also received “Best Producer” for Music Events by FW Weekly for three consecutive years since 2002.  In 1999, Melissa was named the “Promoter of the Year” by the Fort Worth Star Telegram.  Melissa has been a board member for the Lone Star Film Society since 2003 and currently is on the Board of Directors.

WORKSHOP PRESENTERS: FEBRUARY 9, 2008
Carlos Rosales is currently the Assignment Editor for WFAA TV.  Carlos studied at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, CA and at UT El Paso.  Before becoming an assignment editor, he was a freelance field producer and photojournalist in El Paso.  In 2003, Carlos was the news director for KLUZ Entravision (Univision) in New Mexico.  One if his proudest moments while holding the News Director position at KLUZ, was helping to produce the first Spanish language response to the State of the Union address by President George W. Bush.  In 2006, Carlos received the Lone Star Emmy for the best morning newscast at WFAA.  He has also received the Rocky Mountain Emmy and has been nominated for two Pulitzers. 

Rex McGee is a North Texas native who has been a Hollywood screenwriter and film journalist for 20 years. He assisted six-time Oscar winner Billy Wilder on classic films like Some Like it Hot and Sunset Boulevard. A graduate of USC’s Film School, he wrote the script for the hit film Pure Country, the story of George Strait’s return to his Texas roots. Now living in Cleburne, McGee conducts a creativity workshop called “The Artists Way” for TCU and UTA students. He has recently moderated panels at the Austin Film Festival and the Lone Star International Film Festival. Rex McGee is on the Honorary Board of the Lone Star Film Society.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and by attending you can get ideas and information for your video, learn some technical tips to make your video more presentable, and view winning videos from prior Teen Videofests. We will conduct workshops for groups of 20 or more that register but who were not able to attend any previous workshops. Email info@lonestarfilmsociety.com or call 817-735-1117 to make arrangements.

3. Register by February 22, 2008. Bring, fax, or mail completed forms to:

Teen Videofest 2008
Lone Star Film Society
2900 Photo Avenue, Suite B
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Phone: 817-735-1117   Fax: 817-231-0945

4. Turn in completed videos by 5 pm, Friday, March 21, 2008. Once you register, you have a month to plan, shoot and edit your video.

5. Come to the Teen Videofest Awards Night, . At this event, we will screen the finalist videos, announce the winning teams and award the prizes.

6:30 P.M. Thursday, April 17, 2008
Scott Theater
1300 Gendy St.
Fort Worth, TX 76107

Recognition

Teen Videofest has received endorsement and support from many of Tarrant County’s elected officials. Since Teen Videofest started, winning teens and their families have been invited to County Commissioner’s Court, where their videos are shown before the gathered public, and the teens receive additional recognition for their efforts. In March 2000, the Texas Public Health Association acknowledged Teen Videofest as an excellent health education program targeting at-risk youth. In October 2000, that year’s winning videos and their producers were featured in the Fort Worth Film Festival. The following year, the Texas Medical Association Foundation chose Teen Videofest as their "2001 Champion of Health," and made $5,000 available to seed similar programs. In 2002, neighboring Denton County and LaCrosse County in distant Wisconsin each launched their own versions of Teen Videofest, based on the successful Tarrant County model. That same year, the Tarrant County Mental Health Association recognized TCPH as an "Outstanding Community Partner", and also recognized two Teen Videofest participants (a winner and a non-winner) for their videos that dealt with teen mental health issues.

Teen Videofest 2002 winning videos, along with their producers, also took part in–and were a featured segment of–the inaugural A Minor Video Festival, launched in June by Weatherford College to showcase the works of video producers age 20 and younger. The 2002 Fort Worth Film Festival also featured sample clips and Teen Videofest 2002 finalist videos. Most recently, Teen Videofest was cited as a "2003 Model Practice" by the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) and a new Teen Videofest-like program was started at the Fort Bend Independent School District in Houston.

In 2004, Fort Worth Community Cable partnered with us to produce a new series called “Teens Take on Health.” This series of five programs focuses on teen health issues using Teen Videofest videos from 2001 – 2006. For more information about this series, go to Fort Worth Community Cable Channel 31.

For Educational Use

The primary goal of the annual Teen Videofest program is educating youth and others in the community about teen health issues through positive teen health messages. All videos entered in the contest become the property of Tarrant County Public Health. These videos are available for loan (Dallas/Fort Worth area only) and purchase.

To borrow a video:

* Contact the Health Education Resources Center for assistance
* Videos can be checked out for a period of two (2) weeks
* A total of two (2) videos can be borrowed at one time
* All videos need to be returned to the TCPH (there is a video replacement fee of $50)

To purchase a video:

* Review Video Reference Guide for prices
* Contact the Health Education Resources Center for assistance
* Provide tape number(s) and appropriate mailing information
* Allow two weeks for delivery after receipt of money (cash, money order or company check – no personal checks)

To check out or purchase a video, or for more information or about the Teen Videofest Library, please call 817-321-5339, or contact us by email: ymjones@tarrantcounty.com.

Since these videos are the sole property of TCPH, duplication of a part or all of any of these videos without expressed permission is prohibited.

While we attempted to include all videos submitted to the contest, some are not listed for technical reasons. This listing will be updated annually to reflect new entries.