Ring the bell and call in the band, we finally have the winners of this year's YouthNoise/Nike-sponsored Beat Gasoline competition! It's been a long journey but the tallies have been counted. Now it's time to give credit where credit's due. Among the winners are:
1st Place
Beat Gasoline: Bicycle, video by khizamazwi
No words were needed to make this video, "Bicycle" unfolds magically using moving imagery set against a hardcore musical soundtrack. This 2-minute story takes the viewer through a day-long journey from the point-of-view of one lone biker blazing through the streets of Los Angeles with two pedal-powered wheels. Well-crafted and uniquely produced, khizamazwi gets high fives all around for this masterpiece!
1st place winner receives a BMX bike, $1000 Global Giving Card and a Nike prize pack!
2nd Place
I Beat Gasoline, featuring Rene.
Rene, an 8-year-old skater phenom would certainly give P-Rod a run for his money! This 30-second video features Rene doing what he does best and making yours truly seriously consider riding a skateboard to work -- uh, well, maybe through Central Park. It only takes seconds for viewers to appreciate Rene's story and quickly recognize that he'll most certainly become an inspiring adult athlete one day. Mad props to Rene for using his passion as a way to beat gas!
2nd place winner receives a $750 card and a Nike prize pack!
Honorable Mention
The People's Choice Bike Ride Final, video by Jkeevil's
Jkeevil's video requires the viewer to do more than just watch, but also engage with its moving imagery. This artistic piece is from the point-of-view of a San Fransisco rider observing the city while riding through its pristine, yet environmentally challenged streets. One memorable shot in particular is of a ship likened to an oil rig boat. The camera shot mimics the perspective of peeping through a submarine ship's periscope, as if looking at itself through itself. The camera shots function as a self-reflective metaphor, asking us not to simply exist within our environments but to contemplate our purpose within these environments, particulalry in making them better and more sustainable. Big ups to Jkeevil for making us think beyond the surface!
The People's Choice award winner will recieve a $500 card and Nike shoes.
Super-duper congrats to all the winners! Another BIG shout out to all of the contestants that participated in the Beat Gasoline contest. Your efforts mean so much for the cause. Even though the Beat Gasoline contest is over, the movement of finding new and alternative means of transportion has just begun! Continue to make change by spreading your videos and photography around to family and friends!
