Francisco Vazquez, a Springs School sixth grader, has had his big break. Recently, he was on the radio with WLNG talking about winning an environmentalism and earth video contest the focus of which was keeping East Hampton clean.
Last school year, his fifth grade teacher, Laura Dunham, signed him up for this local film contest because she knew how much he enjoys making short films and videos as a hobby. “We were emailed a video contest flier and I instantly knew Francisco had to enter it after he had been showing the class all his other films,” Mrs. Dunham said. Francisco said that after he received the flier, he knew he had a big project ahead of him, and at times it was hard. Regardless, he never gave up and managed to finish his film.
A few weeks later, he was invited to see his film and the other entries on a big screen at LTV Studios in Wainscott, where the winners were announced. When Francisco realized he had won, he said he could not think straight. His family was crying, and he was just beside himself with emotion. He even won $300 in prize money.
Francisco says he wants to use this money to buy a new camera and more professional equipment, and for his family. “What’s most important is that he made some really great connections with the people who organized the contest,” Mrs. Dunham said. Films are his passion, and it’s clear that Francisco will continue to make amazing ones.
By Rafaela DeMartis, 7th Grade