As we begin to wrap up the year, my students are treated to a great party that we call the Slick Rock Student Film Festival. Over the years, this festival has grown from around 30 entries to well over 200 videos from students all over California’s Central Valley. Instead of a few teachers and admin folk as judges, the festival is now also judged by a number of local news people and producers. One judge is Jim Ward, film critic for the Visalia Times Delta. He came out to our class this week to talk to a few of our students whose films have made the Top 50 films. You can see the story in the Choices section of this Friday’s paper or right here.

Mr. Ward is also featuring his Top 10 favorite films of the festival on his newspaper’s website (look for the Slick Rock Logo under “Featured Videos”). He will post one each day until the festival. Not that I am bragging…ok I am, but 3 of our films are on his list! Sweet!

While I am at it, El Diamante Video gets a few mentions in the Valley Voice, another local paper. Visit their website here and scroll down to “Slick Rock Festival Honors Best Valley Student Films” story by Mr. Pastis.

Hope to see you all this Saturday at the Visalia Fox Theater.