Independent Producer

Josh's comments on the production of "Illuminate Cyberbullying:"

I wanted to try and create something that would stick out on a very low budget. I got the light bulb idea from "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." I thought it created sort of an "all alone in someone's head feeling". I wrote the dialog thinking of some of the things teenagers would never say, or never think.

I believe there are lot of messed up people online looking to prey on clueless individuals. I thought if I could create a spot that made teenagers being careful look like the cool thing to do, then maybe some would try it. Teenagers like to see a peer taking control of a situation. This generation is all about owning decisions.

I got a few teenagers from my church involved in the process. They did a great job with the dialogue I gave them. Their names are: Tyler Comeaux, Scarlet Plocher, Denzel Dawson, Brooke Small, Brittany Altom, and Franklin Robles.

Watch the winning independent producer entry

School winner

Marvin's comments on "Words Sometimes Really Do Hurt:"

Four years ago I first ventured into film. A fellow filmmaker Daniel Maldonado (Director of Photography) got me interested in filmmaking. I decided to further my education in film by attending classes at San Antonio College.

During this period I began teaching (Technology Literacy Teacher) at Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary in the Edgewood District. In December my wife, also an educator, showed me the SONY PSA Cyberbullying Contest print advertisement in EDUTOPIA, founded by my favorite storyteller, Director George Lucas. In pre-production, I brainstormed with a friend Hugh Haynes and came up with a concept that we felt would comply with all the rules of the contest and also contain relevant content for this PSA. I aimed for a sense of isolation, unknown, and the thought of someone deliberately hurting another through the use of technology in the form of words on a computer screen.

I decided to enter the contest for two reasons. First, being one of the poorest school districts in the city, I felt our students would greatly appreciate the software prizes to use in sharing their stories in a visual manner. Second, this project would be my directorial debut. I really enjoyed directing this project and seeing it come to life from an idea to film. The students who volunteered as talent really did an exceptional job and were very fun to direct. The project itself took approx. 20 pre-production hours, 6 production hours, and 8 post-production hours. The title I decided to use is "Words Sometimes Really Do Hurt".

My future goals are to continue studying film and shooting shorts, as well as continuing my education (Concordia University, ATX Master). If I had one wish, I would really like to meet George Lucas.

Thanks again for the opportunity to win such a prestigious prize for my school and school district.

Watch the winning academic entry