“I Am Denton” film contest encourages locals to tell the stories of the city

by Courtney Garza of North Texas Daily

The top 20 videos will be screened at the 2014 Thin Line Film Festival.

Big Mike's Coffee in Denton

DENTON — A 30 to 60 second video that “tells the story of the original and independent people in and around Denton” could earn Denton students and locals up to $500.

The Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau is hosting their second “I Am Denton” video contest as a chance for members of the community to produce an original video that tells the stories of people in Denton. Vice president of the bureau, Kim Phillips, takes pride in the contest and the way it lends insight into Denton.

“Ideally we want to meet Denton through interesting characters,” Phillips said. “We want people to deliver their perception of Denton in a short amount of time. That is why the character is so important.”

“I Am Denton” was founded by the DCVB to serve as a library of video clips for social media marketing in Denton. The convention originally wanted contestants to be primarily DISD students in the media arts program who would compete against each other.

In its second year, the contest is taking on a new, broader audience by allowing the general public to enter in addition to DISD students. Audio and video instructor Chris Vochoska coaches and teaches at the Advanced Technology Complex in Denton and holds the contest as a graded class requirement.

“It’s good to get high school students thinking about what great people there are out in the Denton community,” Vochoska said. “I like the fact that it gets them out beyond the school walls and they get to tell someone’s story and how they impact Denton.”

Photo by Alexandra Olivia

Artist Matthew Hoffman created this 100-foot-long by 8-foot-tall installation reading "You Are Beautiful." It was part of the annual 35 Denton music festival on Hickory Street in Denton in March.

While the contest is open to both the public and DISD students, the two will be separated into different categories and cash prize winners will be chosen from each one. First place winners receive $500, second place $250 and third place $100. A “People’s Choice” award winner receives $100. In addition to the cash prizes, the top 10 student videos and top 10 general public videos will each have their entries screened at the 2014 Thin Line Film Festival.

Billy Ryan High School junior and one of Vochoska’s students at Advanced Technology Complex, Ryan Bosquez is a participant in “I Am Denton.” He has chosen his story-telling history teacher, Georgian Burlage, as the subject.

“I’m going for a slice of life through her eyes for visitors to see what to expect in Denton,” Bosquez said. “It’s nice to see where I am in my career with this contest and how I’m judged by my work I put in.”

All videos must be submitted by April 12, and winners will be announced May 7 during the “I Am Denton” awards ceremony.

For more information, visit http://www.escapetodenton.com/i-am-denton-video-contest-2013/.