Ferndale High School’s ‘Every Fifteen Minutes’ Produces Short Film

This is a press release from Ferndale High School:

Through the dedication of students, staff, first/last responders, and local artists, Ferndale High School has delivered a powerful and emotional message for students and the greater Humboldt County community through its presentation of the Every Fifteen Minutes program, a nationally recognized initiative designed to confront the devastating realities of impaired and distracted driving.

This year’s production was directed by local filmmaker Griffin Loch, whose previous feature film, The Undistilled, premiered in Arcata just last year.

Set against the unique backdrop of Humboldt County’s winding highways and rural roads, the program carries a deeply personal significance for local families and first responders who have witnessed the tragic consequences of driving under the influence year after year.

Under Loch’s direction, the accompanying film aims to elevate the experience into something unforgettable for students and audiences alike. Combining emotionally grounded performances with striking visual imagery, the production went to great lengths to immerse viewers in the intensity and heartbreak that can unfold in a single moment of poor decision-making. Through carefully crafted cinematography, dramatic staging, and realistic emergency response sequences, the film is designed not simply to be watched but deeply felt.

The student organizers, Michaela Ellsmore and Rolland McClurg, along with the CHP, emphasized that Every Fifteen Minutes is ultimately about conversation, reflection, and prevention. By blending the education with cinematic storytelling, Ferndale High School aimed to create an experience that resonates long after the final scene fades. Encouraging everyone to think critically about the choices they make behind the wheel and the lives those choices can affect forever.

SEE THE FILM HERE:

Every Fifteen Minutes (2026) Ferndale High School

This program and film would not be possible without the immense support and program development of MRS. ALEXANDRE, MR. Michael, MRS. Noga, Mr. LICONA, California Highway Patrol, Humboldt County Sheriff, Ferndale police, Ferndale Volunteer Fire, CalFire, and Cal-ore.