WINNERS of That Sugar Film song competition The Rolling Oates had a visit from actor and director Damon Gameau on Wednesday.
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The Armidale School students submitted an original song and took out the competition against hundreds of entries.
That Sugar Film director Damon Gameau said the students had nailed the brief.
“We got so many fantastic entries and you could tell the kids had really put effort into it, I like to think that entire process meant that they understand a bit more about food,” he said.
“We had quite a few criteria that we based it on, originality was a big one.
“What was great about these guys is that they stepped out a little bit and made an original with all the key themes in there, they understood the balanced message and that came across, it was great to see someone really take the ball and run with it and reinvent something.”
That Sugar Film is a documentary that looks at how a high sugar diet affects the human body.
The film’s message has been turned into action kits that have been distributed to more than a thousand schools.
Mr Gameau said it was important that education on a balanced diet began with young children.
“The point of releasing the film and these action kits is that often I’ll go to schools and talk to kids and you can just see that they get it,” he said.
“They want to know more about it and they have really fantastic questions.
“I hope that they’ll be teaching their parents in many ways, it kind of becomes this great reverse education process.”
The film was aimed at adults but has many child friendly components that Mr Gameau believes helps the message get across to students in an entertaining way.
“The goal was to get this message through to the generation that needs it the most in terms of cutting them off at the pass with the mixed messages they’re getting from the industry,” he said.
“It’s important to make sure they understand this at a young age so they develop the right eating patterns, because it’s harder to undo further down the track.”
The students also won $500 worth of resources, bowling passes, a bike and books.