Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/635847
Student Film Wins Award "The teachers have put a lot on my tray. The rest is up to me — I'm on my way." "On My Way" is the name of a short student-created film about the journey from prekindergarten to college. The three-minute movie, completed in 2014, won first place at the California Student Media Festival last June, and was broadcast on PBS in the fall. The adorable animated tale of school life is told in rhyme from a child's point of view. Third-graders from Rio Vista Elementary School created the artwork and poetry, working side by side with high schoolers from Cathedral City High School, who handled the animation and film production. Both schools are part of Palm Springs Unified School District. "It was really cool to have multiage collaboration, and very exciting to have our hard work pay off by winning first place and being shown on PBS," says Matthew Cauthron, who teaches the digital imaging pathway in the Digital Arts Technology Academy, a career technical education program at the high school. Cauthron's students worked one-on-one with students of third-grader teacher Guy Haber- man. Both educators are members of the Palm Springs Teachers Association. The teens coached the younger students on how to outline the story and illustrate it. The animation is a combination of drawing and paper cutouts. "On My Way" looks at friend- ships, the pressure of testing and goal setting, among other things. "It was really fun working with third-graders, letting them choose what they wanted to do and helping it come to life on the big screen," says Ambriel Styve-Hector, now a senior at the high school. "I felt really proud when everything came together." At first the little ones were shy around the teens, but the two generations soon bonded. The high schoolers say that in addition to learning about filmmaking, they learned about patience and the importance of mentoring. "It was an experience I will cherish forever," says senior Norma Vazquez. "My students are now in fih grade, and they still like watch- ing the film," says Haberman. "The story is about growing up and getting older, and it's still very relevant to them." See the film at bit.ly/1TIa4rC. Stoneburner. "I don't often put myself out there to do cool things. But this has shown me that anything is possible and that if I put my mind to some- thing, I can achieve it." For Franco, teaching is a way of giving back to the community where he grew up — and also an escape from the pressures of stardom. "It's great. I get my mind off myself once in a while," he says with a boyish grin. "It's a real relief." Guy Haberman Matthew Cauthron, above left, with Cathedral City High School students who helped make the animated short "On My Way." Video James Franco explains how great teachers have influenced him, and how teaching lets him give others the same opportunities he was given. cta.org/James_Franco 29 February 2016