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First-Ever Green Video Contest Teaches Students About More Than Sustainability
Ioana Patringenaru | April 23, 2007
Two students set out to convert a cattle rancher to vegetarianism. In the process, they discover the value of locally-grown meat and sample some themselves. That’s the storyline of “Meat Jim,” the documentary that took the first-place prize at VidFest, the first-ever student video festival hosted during Earth Week at UCSD.
Students got a chance to get their creative juices flowing for the contest and produced short videos that raise awareness and understanding of sustainability and the environment. Judging the films was challenging, said Cindy Goodman, a member of the festival’s jury and board member of HOME International, the nonprofit organization that co-sponsored the contest. “You wanted to give an honor roll mention to everybody,” she said.
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 Watch "Kids" by Oakley Anderson-Moore video |
Watch "Meat Jim" by Katie Heineman and Madison Sheffield video |
Watch "Measuring the Value of Water" by Michael Cirone video |
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Students were recognized during an awards ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the Fung Auditorium in the Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall. They received written congratulations from Leondardo DiCaprio, delivered by sportscaster and news anchor Jim Lampley. “I applaud your vision, creativity and enthusiasm,” the message read. “The health and natural beauty of our planet largely depends on you and your generation.”
Two friends won the festival’s grand prize, which included a $1,500 check, a DVD signed by DiCaprio and a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” signed by his widow, Audrey Geisel.
“We’re very excited,” said Katie Heineman. “We’ve never made a movie before.”
In their video, Heineman and Madison Sheffield set out to convert to vegetarianism the person who is least likely to give up meat. They found their target in Nevada City, Calif., Sheffield’s family’s home town. His name is Jim Gates and he is a rancher who raises grass-fed cattle. As they talk to Gates, the pair realizes the virtues of growing and selling meat locally. In one of the last scenes, they wolf down burgers made from Gates’ cows.
The movie makes the two students look like flakes, admitted Sheffield, who became a vegetarian recently. But its real message is that it’s important to support local sustainable producers, said Heineman, a vegetarian for the past two years. The two said they now will eat grass-fed, free-range meat because of their experience.
Heineman, an environment systems and policy major, and Sheffield, an international studies and anthropology major, made their documentary over spring break. Gates grew cattle on land owned by Sheffield’s aunt and uncle. That’s how the two students found him. They worked for him for a day, clearing brush, in exchange for his appearance in their work.
The festival’s second prize, including a $1,000 award, went to “Measuring the Value of Water,” by Michael Cirone. The third prize, including a $500 check, went to “Kids,” by Oakley Anderson-Moore.
Organizers said they would like to expand the festival to staff members, faculty, graduate students and the San Diego community next year. |
