Every 15 minutes someone dies due to a alcohol related accidents

This is a two-day program that the local PD and CHP focusing on high school students, which challenges them to make drinking, driving, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions.This is a long process from setting the scene, picking actors, to using realistic make up and tools. Hoping to change students decisions and minds about drinking and driving under then influence.

Talking to the actors of “Every 15 Minutes” was very interesting. Hearing about their friends and family that have been involved in a alcohol related incidents pulled me even more closer to their stories. One actor from “Every 15 Minutes” that really pulled and put me in his shoes was Matthew Fisher. Asking him about how was it like to be an actor and experience this program he replied, “It was intense. Everything just felt so real at the moment everything was happening around me.”

“During the assembly that’s when it really hit me,” Osvaldo answered, “the video was so realistic I didn’t even blink, I give props to whoever took part in this program.” Students were so surprised and shocked on how it all played out, “everything worked out according to plan,” said a CHP officer. That whole week throughout Cesar Chavez High School, a Grim Reaper went into class rooms every 15 minutes and took random students as victims for other students to feel what is it like to lose a close friend. They also staked makeshift graves outside to remind students to think about smart decisions to make in the future.

Elijah Torres the intoxicated driver took on a really big roll. He experienced being arrested and sitting in a cell for multiple counts of murder and DUI. Though it was acting, it really made his side of the story real as if yourself was getting arrested and put behind bars. All eyes were on Elijah as he walked in with a bright orange jump suit and handcuffed from his ankles to his wrists, escorted by two officers.

While talking to Matthew he mentioned that he seen it from both sides. From a photographer to a actor. “While I took pictures of this event during my sophomore year I didn’t get the whole true real experience as when I was acting it out,” he said. Hoping that this is a eye opener for students throughout California that drinking and driving is real and it can take a close friend’s life when you least expect it.