Local RCSJ Student Wins Film Prize, Raises Media Literacy Concerns

In September at The Levoy Theatre in Millville, RCSJ Cumberland student Chris Bruno received the Best Music Video award at the CUT International Film Festival for his piece titled "Crows in a Cave, I Don’t Need This." Bruno, a sophomore in the Radio, Television and Film program, assembled an animatic that blends several rock and metal subgenres and delivers a cautionary message about exploitative online channels aimed at children.

“It’s a blend of alternative rock, alternative metal, grunge, post grunge, gothic rock and shoegaze,” Bruno said. He described the work as an allegory for the proliferation of content farms on social media and the potential harm they pose to young viewers. “The whole thing is basically like an allegory for the ongoing trend of content farms on social media,” he said. “Like those channels that post … mean-spirited stuff day after day, week after week [online]. They intend to market it toward kids, and it’s really not for anybody. The main message of the video,” he continued, “is that it’s the task of Generations X, Y, and Z to lead Generation Alpha … away from these content farms and to encourage them to watch better, more suitable content for children.”

Mental health experts have warned that repeated exposure to aggressive or manipulative online material can increase anxiety and behavioral challenges among children. In Cumberland County the festival recognition of a local student work that directly addresses those concerns underscores both a cultural and public health conversation. Media literacy and parental guidance are part of the local response, while educators note that accessible arts education can empower students to create counter narratives and healthier content spaces.

Bruno said the project began as a live action idea but evolved into an animatic because of logistical obstacles and the availability of online collaboration tools. “Honestly, I didn’t expect it to happen. I was only expecting to be able to put it out there…it’s not even the finished product. It’s a proof of concept. It’s an animatic,” he said. “Originally, I planned for the video to be … live action, but after being reminded of the laborious process of scheduling and trying to get my actors together, I decided to make it animated.” He added that remote production made the work feasible. “Everything can be done online, and from the safety and confines of everybody’s individual homes. From voice acting to the animation to the editing, all that good stuff. That’s what I decided to stick with.”

Nathaniel Clark, RTF professor and coordinator at RCSJ Cumberland, praised Bruno and pointed to a string of recent student successes at CUT as evidence of the college program’s community impact. “Chris is a very conscientious student,” Clark said. “He created that video as a proof of concept for a live action short, and it was amazing. Stay tuned for the stop motion version of ‘Crows in a Cave, I Don’t Need This’ coming soon!”

Bruno’s win follows consecutive years of RCSJ students showcasing short films at CUT, and it offers a local example of how arts programs contribute to social equity by giving students from Cumberland County pathways into creative careers and public conversation. For information about Rowan College of South Jersey’s Communications and Creative and Performing Arts Division, visit RCSJ.edu/ArtsHumanities.