By: Genesis Chavez
On May 13th 2022, Redwoods Video students competed in the Slick Rock Music festival. With 600 submissions entered in this year’s competition in 12 categories from students all over the San Joaquin Valley four of Redwoods videos took home the Slick Rock Award which includes “Chose Life” an Opioids Fentanyl Story, “Miss You” a Music Video, Ranger TV Mandy Redden Story and “Return of the Ranger” a sports highlight.
Hannah Johnson was a key editor for the Choose Life Opioids/Fentanyl PSA along with Cinematographer Will Youngquist, who was last year’s Slick Rock Documentary Champion.
As her first year in Redwood Video Hannah Johnson ’25 says “I entered the competition for slick rock because I really wanted to get involved this year ”. As her first year in Redwood Video Hannah Johnson ’25 says “I entered the competition for slick rock because I really wanted to get involved this year ”.
“When Mr.Henshaw proposed the idea and I thought it would be fun to get out of my comfort zone . . . when we won, it was unexpected. Knowing that our work was valued by others was the best feeling.” Johnson says.
Another video that took home a Slick Rock Award was a music video titled “Miss You ” by Kylen Gray – Jacobsen, and dancer Campbell Crites who supported the love song about a missing girl.
Behind the scenes of the successful music video Henshaw adds “The cinematography team of Will Youngquist and Nikko Gutierrez capture the song’s tone and brilliance. Dance Force veteran Mandy Redden led the dance choreography.”
“Return of the Ranger”, a sports highlight, also took with it a Slick Rock award. Ashlyn Cripps ‘24 explains what inspired the theme of the highlight ; “Capturing one of Redwoods biggest aspects coming back from Covid. Football at Redwood is a big part of the school. When the crowd is hype in the stands, and when a touchdown is scored . . . We really wanted to capture the Ranger spirit that comes along with football.”
Kate Rosson ’24 who was also part of the editorial team behind the sports highlight video explains some of the challenges faced “The moment you look away or put down the camera is the moment a huge touchdown happens, so it can be difficult to know when and when not to film”.
Clara Houser ’24 says; “working on the game footage is getting the right shots at the right time was a challenge. As in getting the right angle of a touchdown at the right moment . . . Some of the choices we made as we edited are which shots to use at which times and when to time it during the music”
For the first time Redwood Video has taken a broadcasting award. Anchored by Ambrose Bueno ’23 and Emerson Pressley ’22, who is returning now as a second time Slick Rock winner. The broadcast focused on the story of Mandy Redden, a real life cancer survivor. The broadcast goes into her story as she fought. Reporters Alayla Ayala and Natalie McDonnell captured the broadcasting and were also the editors.
Henshaw reflects on this years Slick Rock festival after it returns in person after two years of being online.
“This year’s Slick Rock was really special as it was the first time the festival was in-person for over two years.”
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