Sedona International Film Festival
by Scott Moker ~Social Media Intern.
I’ve lived in Sedona my whole life (17 years) and attended at least one movie for the festival every year. This year, however, was the first year I became a part of the social media for Best of Arizona TV. I worked with Allen Elfman to help promote the Sedona International Film Festival.
We attended 3 movies, 2 of which I attended with my school (Sedona Red Rock High School). This is the Festival’s way of getting the youth of Sedona involved.
Darin Karuzas, Principal of Sedona Red Rock High School, said the Film Festival brings different aspects of the arts and culture to our students. Being involved in the Film Festival as a high school student helped expose me to the social media world, and the people in it. Being a part of Best of Arizona TV, along with the training by Allen Elfman, I learned small yet useful life skills, like reading a persons body language.
Being part of this social media team showed me more than the social media world and how to read a persons body language. It showed me that you have to trust the person/people you are working with that they will do their job and you will do your job to the best of your ability. And at the end of the day your whole team has to work together to broadcast your intel and pictures on your site(s).
With todays technology its all about Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. So whats a better way to spread the word about an event than through the most used social media sites around, and who better to spread that intel than the most frequent users. Teenagers! I am a Junior at Sedona Red Rock High School. I’m interested in entering the world of business after high school.
Working with social media was a great way to “show me the trailhead” of the business world. It was a true accolade to be able to work with Best of Arizona TV and get that kind of exposure.
At Red Rock High I am a member of the National Honor Society (NHS). In the National Honor Society you have to have a certain amount of community service hours. Being part of Best of Arizona TV helped me to acquire all of my hours while being exposed to some of the best movies I’ve ever seen plus going to an after party with exquisite food and an interesting array of people . While attending this after party I was able to interview people like Ed Asner who said “the Sedona International Film Festival is the hot place to be”, Sam Troia, a long time host of Film Festival after parties, who said “this has been my way of giving back to my community, and giving people a chance to forget about their everyday lives and just enjoy themselves for a night.” and J. David William, executive producer for the movie Letters (shown in the festival) and member of Film Crest Entertainment, who said “the Film Festival looks at films for both their artistic and commercial value. I am a huge fan of the Sedona International Film Festival.”
I would encourage high schools student to try to become more involved in the film festival in future years, especially if you are a member of the National Honor Society or any other organization that requires community service hours. It was a great experience and I hope to work with Best of Arizona TV again in next years Film Festival!