PIKE
"I NEVER expected all of this," said Rosanna Pike, during one of the few moments she didn't have a camera filming her every move.
An ABC film crew visited the island on Tuesday and Wednesday to do a feature on the Jamaican champion for the Scripps Howard Spelling Bee which takes place on May 31 and June 1 in Washington D.C. This was the latest event in what has been a dream six months for the reigning Gleaner Children's Own Spelling Bee champion.
Since winning the title on February 8, she has been fêted at a special luncheon at Friends On The Deck (where her mother works) on February 26, then paraded through her Waterhouse community on May 7 in a motorcade. A week ago, she was presented with a laptop computer by Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. (JPS) officials.
NATURAL HANGOUT SPOTS
The crew from ABC Sports, led by Feature Producer T.L. Fiedler, wanted to capture Rosanna in her natural hangout spots; at home, church and just capture her being a child surrounded by her friends. They were attracted to Rosanna's story because her profile doesn't fit the 'norm' of spellers that compete in the Scripps Howard.
"We have your average kids and your middle class kids but her story is unique, because of where she's from, having the background she has," Fiedler said. "Also, there's a different culture here. This is an island, the setting is different."
Fiedler and her three-man crew met Rosanna at her home about 10:30 a.m. and spent the morning getting to know more about her, her grandmother as well as her brothers and cousins. Rosanna then led the team to St. Patrick's Church where she met with some of her friends. They demonstrated their sign language skills (which Rosanna is crazy about), played games and did lots of dancing; another of Rosanna's passions.
TRAINING SESSION
After that, it was back to the house for interviews. The crew spent much time setting up their location and interacting with Rosanna's relatives, even getting them involved in setting up the equipment. There were plenty of questions for Rosanna, with her mother Sherril and grandmother Evelyn watching closely. The interview lasted approximately one hour.
Yesterday, the crew filmed Rosanna at Ardenne High and for a few minutes with her coach Reverend Glen Archer, during their training session later that afternoon. The feature, after much editing, will run for about three minutes on ABC on June 1, at 7:00 a.m. local time.
Rosanna leaves the island this Saturday for Washington D.C. where she'll continue her preparations for the Scripps Howard Competition.
