Rookie Roxborough Students Dazzle Greenfield Film Festival

The ceremony just wrapped up, or so students from at the Greenfield Youth Film Festival thought. In the public school's debut appearance at the regional student film contest, students from Derek Stevenson's cinematography class attended movie workshops, produced a collaborative film and strolled down down the red carpet at the Keswick Theater May 1. 

Without receiving an award in the narrative film category they submitted for their short film Fight, students prepared to board the bus from Glenside back to Roxborough. 

Then, a murmur through the crowd told them the awards weren't yet over.

"They called our names, and we had no clue. Most of us didn't hear our names, and half of us were screaming and shouting," Stevenson said.

"We definitely weren't expecting anything, and we walked away with an award."

Roxborough received an award for Outstanding Achievement in Producing. Students Mina McCallum, Erik Krok, Denzil McLean and Everette Edwards accepted the award on behalf of the student production team.

Roxborough at Greenfield

Stevenson's 10th and 11th graders became the first non-magnet city school to attend the fourth-annual film contest organized by the Upper Dublin School District and the Greenfield Foundation. They submitted films Fight and 360 this year.

Festival director Lauren Wernovsky said about 285 films from 26 high schools throughout the Philadelphia suburbs enter the contest.

"You should see their faces. There's a certain number of those kids that really light up," she said of the red carpet walk, let alone the awards. "They feel they can live their dreams."

A free contest, the festival was originally funded by a grant to the Upper Dublin School District. They opened it up regionally, and Roxborough joined in for the first time this year. Industry people from Philadelphia, New York and Los Angels helped judge the contest.

Students trek out to Upper Dublin High School in January for a filmmaking workshop. From there, they were tasked with submitting films.

Stevenson said his students quickly caught the competitive bug. Some students felt Roxborough got "the rookie treatment" and were determined to win.

"They came up to me, and were like 'Stevenson it's on... We're going to win. We're motivated.' I said if you want to we're going to have to work hard.

"They worked their butts off."

Roxborough took him a production award.

The Growing Program 

Roxborough High School's award underscores the growing success of the communication academies established in .

In addition to the cinematography classes, teacher and helped students create both digital and hard-copy editions of a student newspaper, The Ridge Record.

Student films achieved success at both the Greenfield festival and the citywide festival. Formerly magnet schools like Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts only won, but Roxborough took home awards in back-to-back years. They'll advance to a state finals at Dickinson College for Fight, as well.

In 2012-13, three levels of cinematography will be offered—Roxy Cinema 1, 2 and 3 for sophomores, juniors and seniors. Stevenson said there's a buzz to get in.

"We are starting to make some noise. It's boosting enrollment. Kids are asking to get in the program," he said.

Roxborough isn't worried about getting complacent, either. Stevenson's goal is to enter films in every category available.

"As soon as we got back on the bus, they were talking about what kind of film they want to make next year. They want to win again."