A trio of successful Russellville High School athletes have become award-winning film producers.
Representing the Russellville Area Technology Center, the team of Johnny Drumgole, Pedro Bradshaw and DeShawn Mason won the Region 2 championship in Digital Video Production at the FBLA regional competition in Owensboro last Tuesday, Feb. 28.
The video is entitled “The Escape” and briefly chronicles the determined effort of Bradshaw to become a basketball standout who attracts the attention of college basketball coaches.
According to RATC’s FBLA Advisor, Paulette Smith, “It shows a mini documentary of a dream of one determined, young man from a small school to make it to the next level. They put a lot of thought into the outcome, which I say was outstanding!”
Bradshaw was a finalist for Mr. Basketball in Kentucky and has signed to play collegiately for Belmont University. Mason was his teammate on Russellville’s regional finalist team. He was also a teammate of Drumgole, both of them standouts on the Panthers’ state semifinalist football team each of the last two years.
“These three boys are very good students and put a lot of effort in their classwork as well and are able to shine on and off the court,” Smith says. “They are all multiple sportsmen and have been members of the RHS DECA and the Russellville Area Technology Center FBLA organizations for their four years of high school. They have made regional, stated and national levels several times and are always exemplary in student leadership whenever representing our schools, for which I am so proud of them. They each have their own specific talents and used technology to work together to produce and outstanding digital piece.”
They followed the 2017 National Leadership Conference guidelines to: create a promotional video for a new, member original TV series or movie. The rating had to meet “G” requirements. They could use any method to capture or create moving images. They chose to use a program called "Filmora." The presentation had to include sources used to research the topic; development and design process; use of different video techniques; a list of equipment and software used; and copyright information for pictures, music, or other items. The video was limited to two to four minutes and was pre-judged in January prior to the regional competition.
Their accomplishment qualifies them for the State Leadership Conference April 17-19 at the Galt House in Louisville. Smith notes that they have received numerous hits on the video and many thanks from other teachers and administration.
Their advisor, Paulette Smith, understands both perseverance and athletics. She was a track star and cheerleader at RHS before marrying Jimmy Smith, the greatest passer in Panther football history who is a member of the Russellville Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame. One of their sons, Jermarcus, was also an outstanding quarterback for the Panthers. Another son, Ron, played in the College World Series for the University of Louisville and has worked at a high level in sports ever since. Their daughter, Paulecia, played softball for the Lady Panthers.
After working as secretary to the mayor of Russellville for several years and as receptionist at the Russellville Schools’ Central Office, she went to college and became a teacher at RHS. Three years ago, she transferred to the technology center to teach business/accounting and finance.
Also participating in the FBLA Conference in Owensboro were Mateah Black, Titiana Day, Shailyn Milan, Gabriella Poirier, Aracely Soto-Gomez, and Jalonda Wells.
To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/g7MbMjIi3TM.