To kick off the summer fun, Coca-Cola US launched the Behind the Lens Youth Filmmaking Contest, a national online competition empowering 13-19 year-old amateur filmmakers to demonstrate their creativity. Within its Birthday Bash 15, one of the largest R&B and hip hop concerts in the South, Coca-Cola encouraged teens to showcase their filmmaking talents.

In early summer, the US teenagers were invited to answer two essay questions (#1 “Describe what influences you creatively” and #2 “Why should you be considered for this once-in-a-lifetime film crew experience?”) for a chance to become a part of the Coca-Cola Behind the Lens film crews. Out of more than 200 applicants, 11 teens were selected and received an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta to attend Birthday Bash 15 concert on June 19. Two teams of winners were interviewing and capturing the backstage experience of R&B star Monica and hip hop rising star Roscoe Dash before, during and after the concert.

The teen filmmakers spent five intensive days learning to develop, shoot and edit the film that would feature one of the two headlining artists. Now that production has wrapped, the teens have uploaded their final production online for America to vote for the video they believe possesses the most public appeal. Is it Team Monica or Team Roscoe? Voting is open through September 10.

The teens are not going to receive any money prizes, but the experience they obtained is worthless.

“Through the Behind the Lens competition, we provided teens an avenue to use their talent and individuality to build skills and work together as a team to create an unforgettable experience,” said Yolanda White, Assistant Vice President, African American Consumer Marketing, Coca-Cola North America.