Middle school students present their documentary to Mansfield International Film Festival

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, PASSION.

Four 7th Grade Girls and their teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Howson from North Belton Middle School, joined industry leaders for the Women in Film Panel Discussion at the Mansfield International Film Festival on International Women’s Day on March 8. The young students were awarded the SCLC Distinguished Stone of Hope Award in History for their 10-minute history documentary entitled, Before Little Rock: Tragedy in a Small Town in Texas.

“This was truly divine providence. No one could have written a better script for these young ladies’ experience,” says, Pastor Kyev Tatum, creator of the Mansfield Civil Rights Tour, former 3rd vice president of the Texas State Conference of Branches of the NAACP and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in Fort Worth, Texas.

“When asked by the judges at the Heart of Texas History Fair why this story should be told, the students from North Belton Middle School answered with, “If we don’t tell these stories now, they will be lost one day. We deserve to know the truth, good or bad, about our history. Because it is that truth that makes us better.”

Panel members have agreed to critique the students’ documentary before they held to the state history competition later this April at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas.

Women in Film panelists included Kerri Navarro and Rebecca Case. The panel was moderated by Vivian Fullerlove.

• Kerri Navarro, is a Lone Star Emmy Award-winning producer based in Dallas, Texas. With over 15 years of experience, Kerri and her team of associates have produced and directed for television, radio, long and short format films and corporate videos. Kerri’s passion is working side-by-side with her clients to develop and shape their creative vision. Clients also value her organizational and logistical strength, as well as her unwavering positive attitude in the face of production challenges. Kerri has been freelancing for the past three years as a production manager for film & television. She is the past President of the Dallas Producers Association and a past Vice President of Women in Film Dallas.
• Rebecca Case is an experienced producer and production operations manager with a strong background in agency and corporate content production. With a background running a video production and creative services agency, as well as managing operations within larger organizations, her broad experience in project management, team leadership, and production has allowed her to effectively lead production crews and cross-functional teams, manage collaborative client relationships, and deliver high-profile projects on time and on budget. Rebecca is also the current Vice President of the Dallas Producers Association and the assistant operations director for the Oak Cliff Film Festival.
• Vivian Fullerlove is a broadcast professional from East Texas, with twenty years experience in radio, television and film. Having represented such international companies as Revlon Cosmetics, Fox Searchlight Films and The Gap as an actor and model, she brings not only a winning combination of vibrant enthusiasm and wit to any project, but also the kind of high caliber professionalism one would expect from a seasoned veteran.In addition to an extensive on screen resume, Fullerlove is an accomplished theatre actress having starred in a number of productions including Carson McCullers’ “The Member of the Wedding,” Noel Harrison’s hilarious romp “Noises Off”, William Inge’s classic “Bus Stop”, and the Dallas Children’s Theatre’s touring production of “Young King Arthur.”She can be seen on the weekly entertainment show Reel Critics! Audiences can also look forward to her debut as a series regular on the new Netflix comedy Corporate America. Vivian plays MEL, the sassy, Southern, no-nonsense office manager with a heart of gold.

Mansfield Civil Rights Tour 

Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr. leads New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth.