Film Made by Local Students Moves on to State Competition

Screenshot from the short film “One Pill Can Kill”

“One Pill Can Kill”, a short film made by students at Casterlin High School in Blocksburg, has won the 2023 Elks Drug Awareness competition for the Elks Northwest District. The film has been forwarded to the Elks’ California/Hawaii state contest.

The video, spearheaded by student Tenzin Wood, took top honors in the Eureka Lodge #652 Drug Awareness Competition before moving on to the district competition where it continued to be recognized.

The Elks Drug Awareness Program holds annual contests for drug awareness through essay, poster, and film submissions. The California/Hawaii Elks Association (CHEA) website reads,

The Drug Awareness Program of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is dedicated to preventing the use of illicit drugs by the youth of our country as well as informing them of the dangers caused by the use of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. This mission will be accomplished by directing resources to our various targeted audiences, both young and old, based upon set priorities and with the assistance of our committed partners, we will be able to actively educate our communities by providing them with scientific based prevention programs and drug awareness information.

The students, with the help of teen filmmaker, Griffin Loch, produced the short film about the dangers of fentanyl coupled with peer pressure. Shot at Casterlin’s rural location, the short film presents a scenario where a student brings pills to the campus that he was given from a man in Alderpoint. Tenzin enters a dream sequence where, as a medical professional, he gives a press conference about the dangers of fentanyl and “fake pills” before snapping back to reality where he discourages his friends from taking the pills, insisting they turn them over to the police or a trusted adult, instead.

Tenzin leaves viewers with a bit of advice, “Never take candy from strangers, maybe not even from your friends.”

At the January 12 school board meeting, Casterlin High School principal Susan O’Hara, presented the video to the Southern Humboldt Unified School District board and administration. O’Hara stated that the film was “student driven” and that she was “really proud of the students.”

SHUSD Board President, Cinnamon, O’Neill-Paula said that in addition to delivering the important message, the film would likely inspire other students in creative endeavors.

To date, the film has won $200 in prize money. At the state level, the film could win up to $400 for top honors.