The Slick Rock Student Film Festival stands as a testament to the power of film in education, having been established in 2004 by the Visalia Unified School District. Born from an initiative to enhance student writing skills, the festival’s inception was fueled by a federal grant secured in 2003. This funding, championed by Congressman Devin Nunes, aimed to tackle low writing test scores by engaging students in scriptwriting and the visual language of film, encouraging them to craft compelling narratives.
Although the initial federal support concluded in 2005, the Slick Rock Film Festival persevered, bolstered by the enthusiastic backing of community partners and technological resources. Its reach expanded from Tulare County to encompass the entire Central Valley, becoming a celebrated regional event. Since 2013, the Tulare County Office of Education, under its CHARACTER COUNTS! program, has proudly continued the legacy, administering the festival and nurturing the next generation of filmmakers.
The Slick Rock Student Film Festival serves as a dynamic platform, actively involving students in enriching and fulfilling creative endeavors. By cultivating their imaginative abilities, Slick Rock equips students with essential skills to thrive and compete effectively in today’s globalized economy. This project-based competition challenges students to produce videos across diverse genres, catering to authentic, real-world audiences and fostering meaningful interactions with their local communities.
Alignment with California State Standards
The festival’s commitment to educational excellence is further underscored by its alignment with the California Arts Standards (CAS), adopted by the California State Board of Education in 2019. These comprehensive standards cover five artistic disciplines – Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts – for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
Structured around four artistic processes – Creating, Performing/Presenting/Producing, Responding, and Connecting – the CAS framework is designed to provide a robust arts education. These artistic processes are further defined:
- Creating: Envisioning and developing original artistic concepts and works across all arts disciplines.
- Performing (Dance, Music, Theatre): Bringing artistic ideas to life through interpretation and presentation.
- Presenting (Visual Arts): Sharing and interpreting artistic work with an audience.
- Producing (Media Arts): Realizing and showcasing artistic ideas and works through media.
- Responding: Comprehending and critically evaluating the ways in which arts convey meaning.
- Connecting: Establishing meaningful relationships between artistic works, personal experiences, and broader contexts.
The Slick Rock Student Film Festival embodies these principles, providing a valuable avenue for students to engage with media arts, develop critical skills, and express their creativity within a structured and supportive framework.
