As 2025 gets closer, so does Film Prize Jr., and students are already in the script writing stage for the competition.
With a grant from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana, Film Prize Jr. announced an incentive program where teachers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes can receive some payment for guiding students through the filmmaking process.
Kelly Pederson is the Film Prize Jr. director. She says there’s a lot more that teachers do for Film Prize Jr. than one might think.
“Teachers work so hard, and a lot of our Film Prize Jr. teacher-producers work outside of their classrooms,” she says. “And, we’re acknowledging their hard effort, and we really want to show support when their schools can’t always do the same thing.”
While the incentive program only covers Bossier and Caddo Parishes now, Pederson says Film Prize Jr. aims to expand the program to all Film Prize Jr. teachers across the state.
“Giving them this little extra incentivisation will hopefully get them across the finish line with a little extra security.”
Pederson points out that teachers have to help their students on tight budgets sometimes.
“We want them to feel safe and secure, and understanding that we are here to support them all along the way,” Pederson says.
Cody Reynolds is one teacher in Caddo Parish who is participating in Film Prize Jr. for his fourth year. Mr. Reynolds teaches English and Film Studies at Captain Shreve High School, and he says his experience with Film Prize Jr. has been pretty great.
“I have been able to rely on some amazing experts at Film Prize Jr. They have a really well-oiled machine there,” he says. “They’ve got nothing but great, professional, honest people that want to help. As a teacher sponsor you can reach out to them; they’re there, they’re ready to help. And so, they’ve really been able to help me like that.”
For example, Mr. Reynolds has been able to add a new film class at his school that takes students through the process of Film Prize Jr. Mr. Reynolds says the class is a good creative outlet for his students.
“What I like about my class is that I have a mix of all demographics, all genders, all interests. So many of these kids are taking AP this, you know, honors that, and they’re grinding out trying to figure out where to go to college,” he says. “They can come into my classroom for fifty-five minutes; they can take a breath of fresh air, and they can apply their creative juices and that brain power for something that has a little less stress and a little less pressure on them.”
Mr. Reynolds considers himself to be a facilitator for his students, giving them full control of their projects. He says that he and other teachers have become concerned with how students participate in school.
“We feel like every kid, even in writing essays for English and stuff like that, all they care about is what is the correct answer, instead of finding out their own answer for themselves,” Mr. Reynolds says. “They come up with their ideas, they write their stuff. They shoot it. They edit it. We don’t have any outside influence or anything like that. I see myself as a facilitator. I make sure that their ideas get onto the screen.”
Mr. Reynolds says that the incentive will make it easier for him to assist his students.
“And this is just something that gives me an opportunity to directly influx the program a little bit more with a few extra things here and there.”
Mr. Reynolds says he is grateful for the help of Film Prize Jr., and he appreciates it as something special for his students.
Pederson says Film Prize Jr. is so important to students, and the incentive will help teachers like Mr. Reynolds guide their students.
“So, having an outlet like Film Prize Jr. is what some kids really need. And I’m really happy and proud that we get to be a part of that.”
This is Alaina Atnip with Red River Radio News.