Submitted by Connor Chute.
Twenty-one students from Haddam-Killingworth High School’s TV program recently participated in the national Student Television Network Convention in Seattle, Washington. Over 3,000 broadcast journalism and film students from around the country convened to learn and compete against one another in a variety of competitions over the course of four days. 
On March 27, 2019 HKTV students boarded their bus to Bradley airport, where they would embark on an eight-hour flight to Seattle. Settling in at the Hyatt Regency, the students and their two chaperones, Communications teacher Charles Lewis, and VSCTV Producer Chris Morgan, took a walk around the city, and for many of them it was their first time on the west coast. “It was so cool to see the difference in environment – people from different cities with different cultures,” describes junior Brooke Morman. “It was really enlightening.”
The following morning the group woke up early to compete in their first competitions, known as the Crazy 8’s. The students were given a prompt and had eight hours to produce a video. The H-KTV students tackled a documentary and a short film.
The documentary focused on a restaurant called Café Racer, which is a café in Seattle that hosts an art exhibit, and it has also been the victim of a shooting in years past. The short film portrayed a young man with an obsessive-compulsive disorder, who has a fear of mis-stepping. Unfortunately, neither team placed in these competitions.
In the following days there were five more competitions HK competed in, but in much smaller teams with less competitive time restrictions.
HK’s short story was awarded third place. The film was called “Trolley,” and was produced by sophomore Kevin Giulini, senior Kevin Kim and senior Wally Sample. The story showcased three young men waiting for a late trolley, who all come from different backgrounds and situations.
“Our group came together to produce something to be proud of,” said Kim. “The experience of making the video gave some insight into how to work better with other people and on a time limit.” Overall, students took away lessons not only in video production, but in life as well.
Junior Devin Gallant, second year participant, said, “Making amazing content with friends is maybe one of the best feelings ever, but doing it across the country with 21 other people you trust while also having the best time in our high school careers, is simply amazing.”
Photo courtesy of Chris Morgan.
