By Erin Albanese
School News Network
When considering events that have shaped her generation, senior Quiana Wade thought of the killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, and of U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage in 2015.
She included images and messages about both events in her first-place-winning video for the student Mosaic Film Experience Mobile 2018 competition. She was recently awarded $1,000 for the piece. She was also a Top 10 finisher in the contest last year.
Mosaic Film Experience is a film festival for commercial and jury selected works focusing on under-told stories. It was founded in Grand Rapids in 2012.
The criteria this year was to tell a story including the message, “It’s different now,” and to incorporate art.
“The first thing that came to my mind was things that happened in society,” said Quiana, an advance video production student at Wyoming High School.
Mosaic Film Experience Mobile high school winners and finalists also include:
- 2nd place – Mariah Barrera, City High School
- 3rd place – Alyssa Dodd, Careerline Tech Center
Finalists:
- Irene Kuperus, Careerline Tech Center
- Yailine Palomo, Wyoming High School
- Willy Vernom, Kelloggsville High School
- Kyla Kerridge and Halle White, Rockford High School
- Kalil Adams and Jayden Burgen, East Kentwood High School
- Morgan Westrate and Lara Johansen, Byron Center High School
- Sergio Sepulveda, Innovation Central High School
Quiana’s video starts with the narrative: “Being younger than now, I didn’t have to be aware of the things that happen around me, but it’s all different now.” It continues, including images and illustrations representing Trayvon Martin, the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBTQ community and diversity.
She used an iPad to create the video, recording her siblings, friends and her own drawings.
As an African American, she said she’s personally been affected by racial prejudice. She also has friends in the LGBTQ community who she supports.
Quiana said she believes film is a great way to share perspectives and get people thinking. “Perspective is a big thing when it comes to understanding what people go through,” she said.
Quiana plans to major in film production in college, possibly at the Art Institute of Atlanta, in Georgia.
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