By Susan Stevenot Sullivan

Donnie Pickell, a parishioner of St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro and a junior at West Georgia College in Carrollton, is the winner of an honorable mention in The Christophers’ seventh annual video contest for college students.

The contest theme, “One Person Can Make a Difference,” is a hallmark of The Christophers, a non-profit international media association. “By their vision and their enthusiasm,” said the organization’s director, Father John Catoir, “participants demonstrate that the leaders of tomorrow still dream of a better world.”

Pickell, who won $500 for his entry, “Grave Danger,” chose to focus on the topic of drunk driving. He wrote, directed, filmed and appears as the principal character in the video, which is the mental narration of a young man who could have saved his brother’s life.

In the film, Pickell said, the main character invites his brother to his residence for a birthday visit. While his brother is on the way, the main character stands by as a drunk friend drives off, with tragic results.

With help from friends, Pickell filmed the 8mm project over two days. Another day was spent on editing, music and credits.

Pickell said the concept for the video came to him one day when he and a friend went to a grocery store in Carrollton and observed two drunk men in the parking lot.

“We sat and wondered what we could do,” Pickell remembered. “Finally they drove away. It bothered me that I didn’t try harder to do something about it.”

Pickell, a mass communications major, has been making videos since seventh grade. The Christopher project is not his first success. He won first prize for an action/comedy he entered in a contest sponsored by Channel 13, which is located near the college.

In addition to his studies, Pickell is currently involved in a year-long project making a freshman orientation video for the college.

After graduation he hopes to go to film school and to study acting and writing, which is why his prize money is in the bank.