24 DECEMBER 2023 By Jennifer Marshall One of Arcadia’s connections to fame is award-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who started his film career when he was a student at Arcadia High. During his junior year, he created his first feature film, Firelight , which was screened at the Phoenix Little Theater in March 1964. Now, another talented teen may be on her way to Tinseltown, as Xavier senior Sejal Patel just won her first Student Production Pillar award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). Sejal won for her Public Service Announcement, titled “Don’t Text While Driving.” “The National Student P roduct ion Awa rd s (through NATAS) recognize outstanding achievement in video production,” Xavier Marketing Director Lisa Zuba said. “NATAS promotes excellence by showcasing work created by high school students in news, craft and programming categories.” Sejal initially created her PSA for a scholarship opportunity sponsored by the Project Yellow Light Advertisement Competition, which highlights the dangers of – and calls for an end to – texting and driving. “My dad found the Project Yellow Light challenge and suggested that I do it,” Sejal said. “I was brainstorming how to make my ad different and more appealing to teens than the current texting-while-driving advertisements.” Her solution? Dogs! “I thought using my dogs, Coral and Ginger, would be silly and different from other PSAs,” she said. While she didn’t win the scholarship, Sejal decided to also enter the PSA in the Student Production category through NATAS. “The most difficult challenge was getting my dogs to cooperate while filming,” Sejal said. “One of them is a pro since she’s been in many of my films, but my new dog kept lying in the street or running back to my house!” The PSA is only 25 seconds long, so Sejal filmed it all in one day and it took a little over a week to edit. Because she was standing up on the side of a golf cart for many shots, she used her cell phone to shoot the video. “I am the sole creator of my PSA and most of my films. I produce, write, direct, and edit everything,” Sejal said. “My dad was a huge help with driving the golf cart. He was in charge of moving the fake dog paws, and helped me handle the puppies since they definitely do not cooperate most of the time!” She entered her PSA through the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, which covers Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and El Centro, California – meaning Sejal’s PSA went head- to-head with 291 total entries (high school and college) from across the region. “I wasn’t able to attend the awards gala, because of my soccer game the same day. After, I watched the live recording and saw that my PSA had won. I was shocked since I wasn’t expecting that specific film to win anything!” Sejal said. While she missed the formal ceremony, this ambitious filmmaker hopes to have another to attend in the future. She’s currently finishing up her college applications – and is looking forward to the college film projects that she’ll have next fall. “I want to major in film production and pursue a career in Hollywood. I want to become a director or producer of sitcoms and hope to bring people together through laughter,” Sejal said. Readers can view the PSA by searching for Sejal Patel at vimeo.com. Watch out Spielberg – Sejal is on her way! Sejal Patel won a Student Production Pillar for her PSA. The stars of Sejal’s PSA, Coral and Ginger. PHOTO COURTESY OF XAVIER PREP “I hope to bring people together through laughter.” NMLS #2408347 BK #1041294 FHA Loans Construction Loans Private Money Loans Commercial Loans VA Loans Investor Loans HELOC's Jumbo Loans Conventional Loans Bridge Loans Portfolio Loans Bank Statement Loans A l w a y s h e r e f o r Y O U highplacemortgage.com | 602.463.3780 | 2930 E Camelback Rd, Suite 175 Phoenix, AZ 85016