Virginia: Teen-Produced Videos Teach AIDS Awareness

The Norfolk-based Teen AIDS Peer Corps recently produced the fourth in a series of HIV/AIDS awareness videos, scripted and acted by teens for teens. TAPC is committed to offering peer-led advice on love, sex, and relationships. "Beach Party," the video recently shot on an Ocean View beach, is TAPC's first public service announcement to broach condom use.

In the film, volunteer college-age and high school locals are gathered on a beach, playing in the water, talking and listening to music. A boy whispers into a girl's ear and begins leading her away. A friend tries to persuade the girl to stay, while another youth discreetly slaps a condom into the boy's hand.

"It's very fast and upbeat, and you don't know what the video is about until the very end," said John Chittick, TAPC's founder.

Last year, a Virginia Department of Health report said the eastern part of the state had the highest percentage of HIV/AIDS cases, about one new diagnosis per day. Noting the high STD rate among teens in Hampton Roads, Chittick relocated TAPC from Massachusetts to Norfolk.

"Teen AIDS had operated a long time in the Northeast, but when I saw the numbers I realized this was an area that needed attention," Chittick said.

"Beach Party" is scheduled to begin airing locally by World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.

For more information, visit www.teenaids.org.

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