Royal Oak High Students Honored For Film Work

From ROHS: Royal Oak High School (ROHS) took the spotlight at a series of award ceremonies recognizing outstanding film and video production. Two ROHS video students and their teacher were honored at the annual Courageous Persuaders Film Awards sponsored by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA).

Film and video production teacher Michael Conrad received the Wall Street Journal Courageous Leader Award. Student Scholarships & Award Winners included:

• Michigan Film and Digital Media Office Award – Rebecca Messner – “Was It Worth It?”
• Third Place Courageous Persuaders Award, Dangers of Underage Drinking – Grace Novak – “It Can Wait”

Students were honored for creating videos that raise awareness on the dangers of underage drinking, drinking and driving and texting while driving. The contest drew 807 entries from 223 high schools from 38 states across the U.S. and Canada.

Two ROHS students were honored at the 2017 Michigan Student Film Festival. The Festival is sponsored by The Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts and supported by The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

• Rebecca Messner received a Best in Show for her PSA “Was It Work It?” & Student Silent Film“The Mailman”
• Jarod Clark received a Best in Show for his Documentary “Enough Is Enough” & Student Silent Film “Excellence for Smile”

Rebecca also received the Best Narrative award and Jarod received the John Prussak Best Visionary Documentary. Rebecca and Jarod were also recognized at theNational Student Production Awards sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Jarod received the Director’s Reel Emmy and Rebecca received an Emmy for her PSA “Was It Work It?” and an Emmy for Editor.

"It has been an amazing year,” said Teacher Mike Conrad. “The hard work of these dedicated students is being acknowledged and rewarded and I could not be more proud of them. Their work ethic and choice of content goes far beyond the classroom."

Photo courtesy of ROHS ((left to right): ROHS Teacher Mike Conrad, Rebecca Messner, Jarod Clark)