The Screening Room

Tarrant County Teens show off their film making skills with "Teens Take on Health" videos Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the William Eddrington Scott Theater of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center at 1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, 76107. With extensive community support 140 teen teams write, cast, shoot and edit videos about physical and mental health issues that affect teens. Teen VideoFest challenges county youth to inform their peers about the relevant health issues by producing videos which will influence their peers to make healthier choices in their lives.

As a complement to classroom instruction they may have received, the 13-19 year-olds had the chance to attend workshops taught by local network and television professionals and independent filmmakers. After learning shooting, writing, and editing techniques, teens produced either 3 to 5 minute videos or 30 second Public Service Announcements (PSA) which target important health issues and problems through a teen voice.

Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. teen winners will be announced in both the Physical and Mental Health Categories, as well as for 30 second PSAs.

This award-winning program, started in 1999 by Tarrant County Public Health, lets teens explore topics such as alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, violent behavior as well as nutrition and safety. Each of the videos become part of a library for use or purchase by health departments, schools and other community organizations. The winning videos will be shown at the Main Street Arts Fearless Film Festival and the Lone Star International Film Festival, as well as on several web sites and various other media including the Tarrant and Denton County Independent School Districts.

"Teen VideoFest is a truly remarkable opportunity for the youth in Tarrant County to challenge themselves, to help each other and to inform the greater community of the issues that are pressing on them, regardless of what the statistics are telling us," said Therese Moncrief, Event Chairman and Vice President of Lone Star Film Society. "This is a huge collaboration of county, city, public and private organizations which stands alone as a model and inspiration to other communities."

The principal sponsors of Teen VideoFest 2008 are the Lone Star Film Society, Tarrant County Public Health, YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Tarrant County Medical Society Alliance and Foundation, Access Creative, Universal Cinema Services, Tarrant County College Radio and Television Broadcasting NE Campus and Denise Cook Photography. For more information call 817-735-1117 or visit www.lonestarfilmsociety.com.