On May 19, 2005, the first annual Paws Movie Night began at CSDR’s Social Hall. Six TV production classes produced at least a 15-minute movie each. All the classes competed against each other for the best movie award. Who were the judges? Here is a hint: they are Deaf and famous in the Deaf community. They are: Bernard Bragg, Terrylene, Jevon Whetter, Joe Josslyn and Wayne Betts, Jr. They were chosen to choose the best movie from all six.

In the duration of four months, the students worked on their movie within their class. First, they came up with what kind of movie they would like to produce. Second, they discussed the movie script. Third, they shoot the different scenes; it was tedious for many people because they had to bring the same clothes for a specific scene, and sometimes they forgot to bring the school closed down and then, some students can come and save the school. Later on, we realized that it was not a good story since it doesn’t have the pow-wow we needed. We changed it and decided to base the movie on a true story. We were having so many great ideas with the story, and it ended up a great movie. We hosted the Paws TV movie night, took care of the tickets and the seating chart, the judging papers, certificates, and so on. It was nerve wrecking for us because not only did we have to make a movie, we also had to host the Paws TV movie night event, but we made it through very well.

Over 200 people attended and enjoyed our movies. The judges had a hard time deciding the first, second and third place movie. After all of six movies ended, the judges went into a room to deliberate. All of us were nervous about which place their movie would be in. When the judges came out, they announced: the first place is “Love Poems”, second place is “Lies Within”, and third place is “She was a Good Girl”. There were other winners, such as “Best Supporting Actress” went to Brittany Castle, “Best Supporting Actor” went to Ali Farisidian, “Best Actress” went to Marisol Rivera, “Best Actor” went to Patrick Bangeas, “Best Commercial” went to Joey Weir, “Best Public Service Announcement” went to Jesse Brown, and “Best Director” went to Michelle Olson.

After the awards were given out, our TV Production Teacher Yoon Lee came on stage, we gave him a balloon, a thank you card and one HUMONGOUS hug from all of us.