11 June 2013
FILMMAKING: Poly has a clean sweep at the Take Back the Wall anti-graffiti contest.
By Kira Roybal, Staff Writer
Graffiti is often the domineering “art form” in urban areas. It can be seen everywhere: on billboards, stop signs and even school buildings. Where does the epidemic end? To answer this question, other forms of art, such as film production, have taken a stand against the crime. Such are the origins of Riverside’s Take Back the Wall program, an anti-graffiti contest for which contestants can create either a poster or an infomercial.
The dynamic duo of best buds Favian Coronado (11) and Stephen Tyler (11) took first place in the video contest. Their video, entitled “Whispers from the Wall,” features Coronado playing a tagger who spray-paints graffiti onto the wall of a building; as he walks away, his creation comes to life and teaches him the negative repercussions of vandalism as well as alternative ways to express himself.
“Graffiti is vulgar. It’s not art. You can express yourself in so many other ways without degrading the community around you,” Tyler said.
With Tyler’s keen sense of cinematography and Coronado’s skills in graphic design, this pair was a sure-fire-hit in the contest. However, their biggest problem was not the filming or editing of their 60 second video, but rather the submission of the video itself. In the last 10 minutes of the deadline, Coronado and Tyler rushed to City Hall with their infomercial. Their blitz into the building, as well as the frazzled looks on their faces, nearly earned them a bear-hug tackle from the security guard. After making it into the lobby, the pair had to find the correct floor and office. “That was the longest elevator ride of my life,” Coronado said.
The hard work and hours that Coronado and Tyler put into making their video paid off in the end; the duo was not only recognized in a city council meeting but also received a $1,000 cash prize. What did they do with the money you might ask? They spent it on Coachella tickets and computer system upgrades, of course.
Coronado and Tyler were not the only contestants from Poly who placed in the competition. In fact, Poly contestants entirely swept the competition, taking first, second and third place. “It’s invigorating to know that all of us created a video, and we all got considered the best at it,” Tyler said.
All of the place holders are also close friends. They bounced video ideas back and forth amongst themselves and gave each other pointers on how to improve their videos. Kendall Morris (11) and Cole Nelson (11) took second place, and Steven Nevin (12) took third place. There seems to be a film production culture developing at Poly. Tyler starred in the RUSD AP classes video; he and Coronado, as well as their film-savvy friends, also volunteer for RUSD media, which records major school district events such as the upcoming senior graduation ceremony.
“We already plan on doing this contest next year,” Tyler said. This duo is completely dedicated to utilizing and improving its film production skills and artistic visions. Coronado plans to involve graphic design and visual effects in his career path, and Tyler aspires with all his heart to become a director. Let’s wish them luck on their journey to the competitive, cut-throat world of cinematography.