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Statewide
first place CABE essay: "My Bilingual Rewards." |
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Southern California scholarship winner Optimist Oratorical Competition |
Cereal
Medicino (actor, 3rd grade) |
Get Used
to It! (actor, 4th grade) |
Flour and Bluto (writer/director/ actor) |
Written by Alex Carr (click to read) |
Auditioning Truths and Lies (actor) |
Written by Alex Carr (video below) |
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Alex Caratti (Carr), a graduate of Valley Center High School attending Cal State San Marcos in the fall, is the youngest winner of a San Diego Press Club award (in an adult category) in the organization's 39-year history for an article he wrote for his hometown newspaper. Alex is a multiple San Diego County iVIE (Innovative Video in Education) award-winning filmmaker. His first short film, which he wrote and directed, and is still the only iVIE ever to have been won by the his town's Upper School. |
In 2010, Alex took home a first place iVIE trophy for his moving and inspirational short, Boy on the Moon, making him the first and still only person in the school's history to win a first place iVIE. Later that year, Boy on the Moon was named an official selection at the Fallbrook Film Festival and won a special Judges' Best of Show award created just for Boy in his home town's annual film festival. For the project, Alex directed a small army of actors, crew, and technicians. Boy on the Moon, along with more than a dozen films made by Alex and his sister, Sammi, have enjoyedthousands of YouTube views. Watch Boy on the Moon: |
Alex maintained a 4.0+ cumulative GPA thoughout high school, was school treasurer, and was designated an AP Scholar by the College Board. He was also chosen to represent his school at Boys' State in Sacramento.
Alex won the 2007 statewide CABE competition for his essay, "My Bilingual Rewards," written in both English and Spanish. Alex has particpated in his school district's bilingual program since first grade and, as such, is a fluent Spanish speaker. In fact, he delivered much of his acceptance speech at CABE's annual convention in Long Beach in Spanish. He has also been a GATE student in both math and language arts since he began school.
In addition to his writing and directing pursuits, Alex was chosen to be on Valley Center's Youth Soccer All Stars team five years in a row and is a founding member of his hometown's Rugby League.
Alex has received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa, letters of congratulations from San Diego Supervisor Bill Horn, and various commendations from CA state assemblypersons and senators.
Alex also received a scholarship way back in middle school for winning the Optimist Oratorical Competition for all of
Southern California
by writing and delivering, "America: Why Me? Why Not?" Watch it here:
Alex composed and arranged the song Smart Alecks for his school's jazz band–the first student ever to do so according to the band's director. He also took home a Best Soloist trophy from the noted Coronado Jazz Festival for his sax playing.
Alex was voted Most Likely to Succeed by his junior high peers. He was also chosen as an Optimist "Student of the Quarter" and was named school valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 grade average. He was a member of the Californa Scholarship Federation and the Valley Center High Drama Club.
As far back as elementary school Alex was making movies both for school and for his own pleasure. In fourth grade he wrote and drew the cartoon short, An Adventure on a Strange Planet. In 2006 he wrote and directed Alex's Seven Steps to Super Videos. He was asked by the Valley Center/Pauma School Board to create and present a short documentary he titled Midway Magic about an overnight visit to the fabled aircraft carrier.
Alex had a lead role in the original ensemble production of Auditioning Truths and Lies, which premiered at the Maxine Theater to a packed house and critical praise. In junior high, Alex had a lead in Pirates of Penzance. Alex did sound and video tech for the Valley Center Community Theater's production of It's a Wonderful Life and played the parts of Scrooge as a Young Man and the Ghost of Christmas Future in recent adaptations of A Christmas Carol as well as an important role in his high school's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Alex also shot and edited a recent townhall meeting conducted by Congressman Darrell Issa. He says he had a lot of fun up on the camera platform with pros from all the major broadcast and cable networks (he even nudged out CBS for a choice spot!).
