After waiting all day for the VidCon awards ceremony, the time has finally arrived. Seniors Jimi-Paige Thomas and Madison Heim wait for the speaker to announce the winner of the 72 hour movie maker challenge. The speaker announces the third and second place winner-neither of them being Thomas or Heim. At last, he moves on to the first place award. Thomas and Heim have won the competition!
On Nov. 5 and 6, Wildcat Entertainment Television competed at VidCon at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. Seniors Jimi-Paige Thomas and Madison Heim took first in the 72 hour movie maker challenge with their short film titled, “Perfect Playlist.” The filmed starred seniors Brandon Lee and Madison Heim. The movie ranked first in the region. Sophomore and introduction to TV productions Robert Crisp was also awarded first in the editing competition.
VidCon is designed to help students to work on time management and how to work in a realistic situation. It gives students real life experience and puts them in real life situations.
“It teaches us how to lose well and how to win well,” said junior Jordan McDowell.
While at the competition, members of WETV were separated into break-out sessions. During these sessions students were able to listen to professionals in the TV productions field such as anchors and reporters from a local news station.
“We were allowed to ask a lot of questions and we always took lots of notes in the sessions,” said McDowell.
Overall, WETV won two first place awards, two second place awards, and one third place award. A first place award went to seniors Thomas and Heim for their short film called, “Perfect Playlist.” Sophomore Robert Crisp won first place in the editing challenge. The second place awards went to seniors Graham Jordin and Bryn Martens for their Long Form Feature Story entitled, “Micayla Patterson,” and Jordin and senior director Chase Stepp for their 72 Hour Broadcast Journalism Challenge titled, “Academics vs. Athletics.” Heim and senior Zach Nordin took third place for their LPGA Community Package news story.
“It was a very humbling experience to take the program to a regional competition and win,” said WETV supervisor Mr. Trent Jones.
This was the second year that WETV attended and participated in the VidCon competition.