Ethan Eigenfeldt, a student at Langley Walnut Grove Secondary School, earned both the Actsafe Student Video Award and the Actsafe Aspiring Filmmaker Award for his video titled “No buts – Listen to your gut.” Robin Schooley from contest sponsor WorkSafe BC described it as “the overwhelming favourite.”
The humorous two-minute video delivers a serious safety message and features three characters in an office narrowly averting a potentially unpleasant incident. Eigenfeldt won a $1,000 prize for himself and secured $1,500 for his school.
Additionally, the Actsafe Filmmaker Award, recently added to WorkSafeBC’s student safety video contest, offers a behind-the-scenes tour of a current production, lunch with a prominent Canadian filmmaker, and a screening of the winning film at a Directors Guild of Canada event.
Eigenfeldt emphasized that a light touch resonates well with the targeted audience of young workers and officials at WorkSafe.
“They appreciate it when you inject humor into a serious topic,” he explained.
Eigenfeldt expressed gratitude for the casting process, noting one actor was found through an online ad, while friends filled the remaining roles.
A fan of comedy, Eigenfeldt cited Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom as his current favorite film.
Currently, he is gearing up to pursue film studies at Simon Fraser University, aiming to eventually direct big-budget films.
According to his teacher, video production instructor Ryan Radford, Eigenfeldt has consistently stood out as a student, earning multiple awards.
“Ethan has been passionate about video since elementary school,” Radford remarked.
This marks Eigenfeldt’s third win of the Actsafe Student Video Award, having received an honorable mention previously and securing first place last year.
Radford pointed out that Eigenfeldt is believed to be the first contestant to win the contest back-to-back.
2018 WorkSafeBC Student Safety Video Contest
Radford noted that Eigenfeldt is believed to have become the first contestant to win the contest back-to-back.
The 2018 WorkSafeBC student safety video contest, now in its twelfth year, focused on the theme “Listen to your gut,” urging participants to demonstrate how trusting their instincts enhances workplace safety.
This year, students from 30 schools across B.C. submitted 45 entries, with over 150 students participating.
Since its inception in 2006, the contest has received 607 entries, with approximately 2,000 students participating.
The contest, open to B.C. students in Grades 8-12, evaluates entries based on their impact on safety messaging, original creative concept, and technical execution.