ROHS program provides hard-hitting lesson in reality

By MANDY BOURGEOIS, Chronicle staff writer

On Wednesday, May 3, students crowded the parking lot outside Red Oak High School, looking upon a grisly scene involving two vehicles in a head-on collision involving the deadly mixture of high school students driving while intoxicated.

Although the accident was simply a scene from the Project Success/HADDIT Shattered Dreams 2006, emotions were hard to control as Red Oak High School juniors and seniors watched their classmates act out the event that portrayed an accident that leaves two students dead at the scene and others in critical condition.

“It’s really emotional for all those kids,” said Red Oak ISD Police Chief Scott Lindsey. “When they saw each other in the scenes, the crying and stuff was all natural.”

Shattered Dreams 2006 took six months of planning, months of filming, hundreds of hours of editing and hard work by about 60 people involved to create an 108 minute film. The film addresses a day in the life of 14 high school students who are involved in a horrific accident caused by driving while intoxicated. Lindsey explained that the movie showcases the daily life of the students, including time spent at school, baseball games, a party, and ultimately, the wreck scene, hospitals and funerals.

Students involved with the program helped write the script, incorporating scenes from their own lives into the film.

“They helped write the movie. They hit some areas that we had never hit before,” Lindsey said, explaining that the film addresses touchy subjects that are part of a teenager’s everyday life. “We didn’t want a movie at a 40-year-old’s perspective, but a 16-or 17-year-old’s perspective.”

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 1:12 PM CDT
By MANDY BOURGEOIS,

Chronicle staff writer

The film addressed the death of some of the characters as well, which called for the involvement of the parents. In one scene, parents of one of the fatally injured students are filmed looking at their daughter in a casket.

“We have some very brave parents,” Lindsey said. “It’s very emotional.”

Ultimately, the difficult and emotional project proved beneficial for the parent and child relationships.

“The parents in the program all have to write a letter to their kids, and the kids write letters to the parents. The letters were exchanged last Thursday morning,’ Lindsey said. “It brings these kids closer together by expressing things they wouldn’t express on a daily basis.”

The students involved also became good friends throughout the project, committing time and their beliefs to the entire program.

“The kids we had in those positions are from all walks of life. A lot of these kids didn’t know each other before,” Lindsey said. “They have to sign a contract that they will not drink and drive, ride with anyone who has been drinking, and refrain from drinking until they are of the legal age of 21. They hold each other to that contract.

“It’s a great group of kids.”

The wreck scene, although not the final scene of the movie, was filmed last, and was witnessed by high school seniors and juniors. The scene was staged in front of Red Oak High School on Louise Ritter Boulevard, with D&W Wrecker service placing a truck and a car in such a way to portray a head-on collision. The student actors then took their places inside the vehicles, each with make-up applied to suggest major injuries.

“Karen Pickard did the make-up and made the injuries look so realistic that when we got to the hospital, one of the doctors really thought it was an injury,” Lindsey said.

The student body arrived in time to see emergency services respond, including the Red Oak ISD Police Department, Red Oak Fire and Police Departments, Ovilla Fire Department, Glenn Heights Fire Department, a DPS officer, East Texas EMS and CareFlite. The students were tended to as if in a real emergency, with one victim actually leaving the scene via CareFlite. Red Oak Funeral Home was also on hand, taking two of the victims from the scene in body bags.

Although the senior and junior classes witnessed the wreck-scene, the rest of the film will not be viewed until May 15. Those interested in the film are invited to the viewing at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Red Oak.

“By calling attention to the issue, students and staff will hopefully be more cautious as we enter into a very busy time in our school year,” said Red Oak ISD superintendent Craig Stockstill. “I am appreciative of the amount of community involvement in the Shattered Dreams.”

Surrounding fire departments and police departments, and various businesses and individuals in Red Oak and in other cities played a large part in the success of this year’s Shattered Dreams. Also, Lindsey said the quality film they now have would not have been possible without the dedication of Allen and Kimberly Oliver of Allen J. Oliver Productions. The two filmed many hours of film, only to edit for many more hours, and pushed to get the film ready for the May 15 viewing.

“Allen and Kimberly are just incredible. It’s passion. They want to make an impact,” Lindsey said. “We owe everything to Allen and Kimberly for their time.”

Perhaps the whole film, involving wrecks and funerals and difficult subjects seems too graphic to some members of the community. But to Lindsey, teenage drinking and driving has been a platform he has taken as his fight in the community. After witnessing too many real-life trauma scenes as a polic officer working accidents caused by drinking and driving as a police officer, Lindsey feels the need to educate the students.

“The kids are too educated to soft coat things,” Lindsey said. “The kids want it to reach as far as it can. We hope it has a big impact.

“Hopefully we’ll keep some kids alive.”

Special thanks to MANDY BOURGEOIS and the Ellis County Chronicle
original story and printable version here