Plön high school students secure victory in nationwide film contest
"Firefighter, Firefighter! That's the Dream, Kid!"
5 teenage whiz-kids from Plön's elite school stole the show at the national "vocatium Video Competition," pocketing a sweet €1,400 prize for their two-minute masterpiece, "From Dream to Reality." This powerhouse team - Mika Schneider, Erik Pitzner, Marleen Seligmann, Leonard Sillmann, and Titus Zernial - left more than a hundred other entries in the dust. The award ceremony in Kiel saw around a dozen bigwigs from associations, the Federal Employment Agency, and the business sector, all buzzing about the film and its creators.
Organized yearly by the Initiative for Transparent Career and Study Orientation (IfT) during the "vocatium Fairs," the competition aims to paint a vibrant, accessible picture of training and study paths for youngsters. The competition encourages students to creatively express their vision for their future careers, and our Plön buddies hit the nail on the head.
Their film commences with a little tyke playing with a fire truck, dreamily uttering, "Firefighter - no brainer." The scene swiftly transitions to a high-octane fire brigade rescue operation, complete with flashing lights and cool camera angles, all happening at the local volunteer fire department in Preetz. The film deftly juxtaposes childish dreams against the harsh realities of the profession. In subsequent scenes, the kids explore other career paths like crafts, medicine, administration, and research, making each segment sharp, concise, and awe-inspiring. The film concludes with a powerful message, "Chase your dreams and listen to your inner child." Mona Wittelmann, project manager of the video competition at IfT, was smitten, praising the film's "red thread." Björn Petersen from the Kiel Chamber of Industry and Commerce applauded the film for beautifully distilling career choices to the essentials. Ingo Scheuse, CEO of the Kiel Chamber of Commerce, was blown away, expressing, "That's top-notch quality," and questioning how these young filmmakers managed to pull this off at their age.
"Selecting the right concept was the trickiest part," explains Marleen Seligmann. After brainstorming numerous ideas, they succeeded through teamwork, with each member bringing their unique skills to the table. Titus Zernial and Mika Schneider doubled as camera operators, while Marleen handled the editing. Choosing appropriate sequences was no walk in the park either. "We had to axe several brilliant shots because of time constraints,” Marleen admitted. Their work spanned about two months in total.
The teen prodigies didn't need external help, having already honed their filmmaking craft through school projects under the watchful eye of their Latin teacher, Detlev Kraack. They've got big plans for the prize money, aiming to cover the costs and contribute to their graduation ball. This selfless move showcases that their film isn't just an inspirational call for big dreams; it's a testament to team spirit, creativity, and the courage to carve one's own path, even at a young age.
Drawing inspiration from their award-winning film, "From Dream to Reality," the Plön team of Mika Schneider, Erik Pitzner, Marleen Seligmann, Leonard Sillmann, and Titus Zernial intend to channel their €1,400 prize money towards their education-and-self-development, specifically, by financing their graduation ball and covering related costs. The film, a blend of their lifestyle and career aspirations, clearly demonstrates their determination to chase their dreams and embrace an enterprising approach in their education and self-development.
