Student filmmakers honored in contest that highlights mental health, suicide prevention

Dozens of mental health videos produced by students from Orange County schools have earned regional honors in the Directing Change Program and Film Contest, and four have been selected to advance to a statewide round of judging.

Screenshot from student filmEstablished in 2013, the contest is part of Each Mind Matters: California’s Mental Health Movement and supports statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, and promote the mental health and wellness of students.

Students were tasked with producing 60-second films about suicide prevention and mental health that will be used to support awareness, education and advocacy efforts.

“Through the creation of these videos, students are able to learn about the mental health issues that they and their peers are facing,” said Dr. Lucy Vezzuto, OCDE’s coordinator of social-emotional learning and student mental health. “These students are making an important contribution to reducing the stigma of emotional health issues and encouraging others to ask for help.”

In its first six years, the Directing Change Program has received more than 7,200 films from 10,540 students representing over 400 middle schools, high schools, colleges and community based organizations, according to its website.

A virtual awards ceremony is set to be held at 7 p.m. on May 19 at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/DirectingChangeCA/. In the meantime, here are the winning videos from Orange County, by category:

Suicide Prevention

First Place: “An Awkward Conversation” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Valencia High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
Filmmakers: Roman Tijerina and Ricky Lopez
Advisor: Rod Boaz
View and download

”Stay” (Team Pick, advancing to statewide round of judging)
La Quinta High School Creative Writing, Garden Grove Unified School District
Filmmakers: Benson Truong, Kimbill Ly, Kenneth Tran, Terry Nguyen, Cattu Do and Johnathan Phan
Advisor: Amanda LaPera
View and download

Honorable Mention: ”Reach Out”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Zach, Joey Sparacino and Ryan Robinson
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: ”Together”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Megan Beehler, Bryce Rivera, Sam Terreri and Kira Sugihara
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: ”This is Izabella”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Megan Beehler, Bryce Rivera, Sam Terreri and Kira Sugihara
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: ”Acoustic”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Regina Catahan
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: ”Reach Out”
La Quinta High School Creative Writing, Garden Grove Unified School District
Filmmakers: Michelle Nguyen, Kady Tran, Katherine Pham, Vy Ngo and Julie Tran
Advisor: Amanda LaPera
View and download

Honorable Mention: ”Knowing the Signs”
Santiago High School, Garden Grove Unified School District
Filmmakers: Dillon McCormick, Ever Lopez, Eder Lopez, Daniel Felix and David Franco
Advisor: Tina Heiland
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Honorable Mention: ”The Gift”
Katella High School, Anaheim Union High School District
Filmmakers: Denise Rodriguez and Valeria Magdaleno
Advisor: Jeff Numainville
View and download

Mental Health Matters

First Place: “Baggage” (Advancing to statewide round of judging)
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Rachael Pollak, Mary Lee, Stella Spindler, Xander Lahti, Keira Feng and Madeline Bills
Advisor: Alex Graham
View and download

Second Place: “Origami”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Izabella Perkins and Kira Sugihara
Advisor: Alex Graham
View and download

Third Place: “Hidden” (Team Pick, advancing to statewide round of judging)
Beckman High School, Tustin Unified School District
Filmmakers: Dominick Adunagow, Ryan Chan, Ali Raoufi, Kenneth Adunagow, Haley Nguyen and AJ Marsh
Advisor: Nathan Boice
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Honorable Mention: “Losing Interest”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Kate Williams
Advisor: Alex Graham
View and download

Honorable Mention: “Hang On”
Canyon High School Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Nikki Yar, Ryan Robinson and Bianca Rivera
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: “Hanging Out”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Regina Catahan, Julian D’Angelo, Sebastian Bermudez and Abigail Rios
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: “Shackles”
Canyon High School, Orange Unified School District
Filmmakers: Zoe Lindberg, Colette Tagayun, Cameron Poole, Kourtney Pope and Sean DeFrank
Advisor: Alex Graham
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Honorable Mention: “There is Always Hope”
El Dorado High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
Filmmakers: Augustine Nguyen, Dorna Mohajeri and Audrey Chung
Advisor: Mark Switzer
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Honorable Mention: ”Helping Hand”
Katella High School, Anaheim Union High School District
Filmmakers: Vanessa Diaz, Aleshia Osborn, Nathan Slevcove, Logan Rodriguez, Fabian Calderon, Angel Rivera and Bill Ho
Advisor: Jeff Numainville
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Honorable Mention: ”We’ll Be There”
El Dorado High School, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
Filmmakers: Nicolas Tung and Jason George
Advisor: Mark Switzer
View and download

Through the Lens of Culture – Mental Health Matters

Honorable Mention: “Culture Doesn’t Define Me”
La Quinta HS NAMI On Campus, Garden Grove Unified School District
Filmmakers: Karen Nguyen, Kathleen Nguyen, Michelle Lee, Jane Le, Titania Le , Gina Ngo, Cindy Pham, Kelsy Hua and Andrea Tran
Advisor: Amanda LaPera
Language: English and Vietnamese with English subtitles
A student is confronted about her grades by her mom and feels the cultural pressure of needing to be perfect and keeping her mental health struggles to herself. She realizes she is not alone and holds up the green ribbon as she encourages viewers to reach out.
View and download

SanaMente

Fourth Place: “Salud Mental”
Katella High School, Anaheim Union High School District
Filmmakers: Jaqueline Lujan and Andrea Solis
Advisor: Jeff Numainville
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
Mental health is just as important to care for as our physical health. Sometimes talking about our feelings in the Latino community is hard, but we can all do something to help ourselves or others.
La salud mental es igual de importante de cuidar que nuestra salud física. A veces hablar de nuestros sentimientos es difícil, especialmente en la comunidad latina, pero todos podemos hacer algo para ayudarnos a nosotros mismos o a los demás.
View and download

Honorable Mention: “Primera Generacion”
Innovation High School
Filmmakers: Grace Feliciano
Advisor: Marla del Rosario
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
A girl is feeling pressured and struggling with anxiety from being the first in her family to get an education. She found help on the SanaMente website.
Una niña se siente presionada y esta batallando con ansiedad de ser la primera en su familia a recibir una educación. Encuentra ayuda en el sitio de SanaMente.
View and download

Animated Short

First Place: “Audience of One” (Recognized at Award Ceremony)
La Quinta High School Creative Writing, Garden Grove Unified School District
Filmmaker: Keanu Hua, Brian Ly, Kayla Nguyen and Alexa Wright
Advisor: Amanda LaPera
View and download

Honorable Mention: “Flares and Mazes”
Fullerton College
Filmmakers: Daniel Arevalo
Advisor: Jon-Michael Hattabaugh
View and download

Walk in our Shoes – What is Mental Health

Honorable Mention: “Mental Health Solutions”
Buena Park Junior High, Buena Park School District
Filmmakers: Ambrose Milligan, Alexa Aguilar, Victoria Chirinos, Catelyn Ortiz, Reanna Guerra and Monica Luther
Advisor: Debbie Clark
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Honorable Mention: “How to Help a Friend in Need”
Whitaker Elementary School, Buena Park School District
Filmmakers: TEAM/Members will be Anonymous
Advisor: Megan Vanderwest
View and download


For a complete list of regional winners, visit www.directingchangeca.org/films.