THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030042
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION CRITIC
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
THE SCENE IS an after-graduation party. Wanda is drinking heavily. After one too many drinks, she collapses in a coma.
``You just got your diploma and so you think you're smart. Instead, you do something to tear your whole world apart.''
``Project Class Action,'' a joint effort by Virginia's public television stations that dramatizes the heavy price youngsters pay for taking up violence and abusing drugs and alcohol, will air Sunday at 5 p.m. on WHRO.
A second program in the series is scheduled for the same time and station on Nov. 12.
The producers of ``Class Action'' recruited students from around the state, including 18-year-old Stephen Kilcullen of Maury High in Norfolk, to appear in the vignettes that bring home the message of ``Class Action.''
Kilcullen is at the party where Wanda loses control.
Rap lyrics preach prevention and self-esteem along with the videos.
``Class Action'' was produced with middle and high school students in mind. This statewide public safety initiative also embraces a classroom video and study guide. The governor's office, the office of the secretary of public safety and Virginia's PBS stations shared in the project financed by a grant from the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act.
Before the tapings, Kilcullen admitted that he wondered whether ``Class Action'' might not be a corny and un-cool approach to meeting the problems of substance abuse and violence in schools. After taking part in four days of shooting in Richmond last August, Kilcullen is convinced that ``Class Action'' will capture and hold the attention of teens.
``They'll definitely get something out of it,'' the senior said. And the rap isn't half bad.
Abigail McDowell of Norfolk and Michael Brinn and Raquel Lay of Virginia Beach also took part in the ``Class Action'' video. by CNB