Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today spoke to students at John Burroughs High School in Burbank where he called on tech-savvy teenagers, budding actors, aspiring directors - or anyone interested in healthy living - to join the fight against H1N1, commonly called swine flu. The Governor challenged Californians to enter the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Film Fest - "Lights, Camera, Save Lives" - a competition to create a short video highlighting the steps to avoid H1N1 and seasonal flu. 

"With the best and brightest talent right here in California, I cannot think of a better way to spread the word about protecting ourselves and others from the H1N1 flu this year," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This competition allows Californians to use their creative new media skills to develop innovative and effective videos that will remind all of us what steps we can take to slow the spread of both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus."

There will be four winners selected from two language categories, English and Spanish, and a gold and silver award will be granted in each category. The grand prize is a $500 gift card provided by the non-profit California Immunization Coalition and all four of the selected winning videos will air on television and be featured on Web sites.

"It is crucial for Californians to learn and practice these simple but effective preventive measures - wash your hands, cough into your sleeve, stay home when you're sick and get vaccinated," said Dr. Mark Horton, director of CDPH. "We are anxious to enlist as many voices as possible to bring these important messages into California communities."

Both amateur and professional California residents are invited to create a 15, 30 or 60 second video that will motivate people to take steps that will help prevent the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu. The video must promote one or more of the following health messages:

• Wash your hands frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve
• Stay home if you are sick
• Get vaccinated

For contest details, including rules, resources and video ideas, visit CDPHfilmfest.org.  Entry deadline to post videos is October, 16, 2009.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently conducted a similar contest. Entries can be seen at www.youtube.com/video_response_view_all?v=gteC4AALn08%20.