V.A.D.D. Video Against Drunk Driving

By James Ehrmann / BETTENDORF HIGH SCHOOL GROWL / November 2001

Memento. Usual Suspects. Fight Club. Unbreakable.

Those are just a few of the many films that have inspired Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, both ‘03. Back in seventh grade they began making their own short scripted movies with their friends, but it wasn’t until a year ago that things really started moving; writing more detailed scripts with more detailed dialogue.

As things progressed, they created a name for themselves - Bluebox Limited, which can be found online at http://www.geocities.com/blueboxltd/. Beck and Woods also spent a few thousand dollars on video equipment, including
two Sony digital video cameras, microphones, a new Sony computer, and a $600 non-linear editing program.

In their past short films they had used music from major movies, such as “The Sixth Sense.” In June of 2001, they found Justin R. Durban, a 23 year old college student from Kentucky, who composed his own music for films. Credited as Edgen Animations, found at http://www.edgen.com/ , they have used Durban’s music in their past four movies. They have eight short films finished, ranging in length from 6 to 53 minutes.

Their latest is entitled, “Yearbook,” and tells the stories of four teenagers and how drinking and driving affects their lives. It starts Jake Conner, ‘03, John Beck, ’03, Kelly McConville, ’02, and Ian Wiley, ’03, who recently joined with Bluebox Limited. Besides playing a major role in “Yearbook”, Wiley is currently working on a new script.

Both Beck and Woods plan to take the film to SADD and various other organizations, including local TV stations.

“We created ‘Yearbook’ as a learning tool for teenagers. Drinking and driving is not a cool thing to be doing, and that’s what we want to show others,” Beck says.

Yearbook began production in early September, and should be finished by mid-November.

“We want to get this movie out to as many places possible so we can show that drinking and driving doesn’t affect a few people, but its impact can be felt by many,” said Woods. The two hope to release it regionally to surrounding schools as well.

Both Beck and Woods plan to attend film school at USC or UCLA in Los Angeles, or Columbia in Chicago.