Story by Cristina Guerra, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
Photograph by Daniel Familia
Name: Craig Wallace
Age: 16
School: Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School
Role: Grip
Favorite Color: Red
One word you would use to describe yourself: Weird
One word the Media Lab crew would use to describe you: Intellectual
What was your favorite part of the Ghetto Talks production?: My favorite part was seeing the final product come together.
What are you most proud?: Personally, I’m proud that I’m still in school and doing well. As for our crew, I’m proud that we’re back together for the Ghetto Talks Response Project.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: Five years from now I see myself in college majoring in a media-related field.
How do you think being part of Media Lab and the Ghetto Talks production will help you in your future plans?: It will help my resume and show diversity.
Who is one person you would like to meet?: Megan Foxx!
Story by Nicholas Mendez, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
The Media Lab team arrived on the set of New York 1 News in Chelsea at about 8:30 this morning. We were all tired but amazed by the studio and the fact that we were getting to interview a media representative, someone who is part of the process of defining the word ghetto.
News anchor Kristen Shaughnessy has been with New York 1 since 1995. She grew up in upstate New York in a home with no television because her parents wanted her to form her own educated opinions without being influenced by the media.
Today Kristen brings the news into people’s homes every day. “Being a news reporter requires you to be cautious,” she said. She explained that you can’t report the news until it has been confirmed by at least three sources.
Kristen spoke about how she never uses the word ghetto and cautioned others not to use it. She also offered insightful advice on what people that face hardship need to do to get somewhere in life. She held countless jobs bartending and waitressing before becoming a journalist, for example. “It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you end up that matters,” she said.
After interviewing her for a couple of minutes, we followed Kristen on a tour of the studio. We got to see the different pieces that go into making a newscast. From the set to the control and make up rooms, we saw how the anchors and other reporters ready themselves for their shoots. We experienced first-hand the steps that go into making a television broadcast. We also got to toy around with being on set: we sat in the very chairs that the anchors sit in to do the news!
After the tour, we shot some extra b-roll and called it a day. It was an extremely early start, but we got some insightful responses from Kristen. Being in New York 1 Studios provided a fun experience that we won’t soon forget!
Story and Photographs by Daniel Familia, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
On Saturday, May 1st the Media Lab crew spent the afternoon with Life Stories. Life Stories is an advanced drama program sponsored by the Urban Arts Partnership in which high school students from across New York City learn acting techniques. We wanted to capture the actors’ reactions to our film Ghetto Talks, so we decided to shoot a response piece in which they acted upon the word ghetto.
I wasn’t sure what to expect because I’ve never worked with a drama crew. Until now, our team has been interviewing parents, educators and media professionals about their response to our film. It has always been non-fiction, one-on-one interview style. This experience really pushed us as filmmakers because we had to be very aware of the filmmakers’ space and the actors’ space. At one point, the two crews even switched roles!
The Life Stories crew performed a series of three acts. The first was the "I am, You are, Thou art" act, in which five students expressed their connection to the word ghetto with the opening lines "Ghetto, I am . . . Ghetto, you are . . . and Ghetto, thou art." The second act was a rant, which was a kind of monologue in which each performer expressed his or her feelings about the word. The third act involved a series of improv skits inspired by information the Life Stories crew had picked up from our film. The skits were very funny and made both crews laugh a lot.
One of my favorite lines from all the acts was "Ghetto: you are 125th Street." I liked this line because it not only evoked the negative side of the ghetto, such as the projects, but it also eluded to the ghetto’s powerful history, such as the contributions made by the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance and community activists today.
I really enjoyed working with the Life Stories crew because their stories were well portrayed. As youth of color, many members of the Media Lab crew felt a personal connection with them.
On behalf of the Media Lab team, I want to give a big thanks to the Life Stories crew for their work! . . . And to all our followers: the Editing Room is buzzing this month as we go into post-production on the Ghetto Talks Response Project. Keep checking back for news on how the response pieces are shaping up!
On April 25th, the Life Stories Youth Ensemble premiered AMERICANA, 5 Short Plays exploring the American Dream to a sold out audience at The Acorn Theater at Theater Row. The talented ensemble brought the house down with their brilliant performances.
As one audience member put it,
"Ever since I left the theater, I’ve been a bit dizzy and emotional as a result of power of the ensemble’s truly courageous and life-changing work. Each and every cast took bold risks, made brave choices and allowed us to be witness to it."
Check out pictures from the world-premier performance of AMERICANA.
Cyndia, Shakeyva and Juanise star in Dominique Morisseau's "Love.Lies.Liberation."
Maxine tempts Devantae and Taylor in "American Dream Rehab" by Natalia Naman.
Chris tells Petra "I just don't do relationships," in Josh Koenigsberg's "Locked Up."
Sydney, Eric, and Lerone duel it out in Harrison Rivers' "The Truth About Marsupials."
Josh and Isaiah taunt Diogenes in "How to Learned to Sing," by Jon Kern.
Brittany sings, "I'm a mess right now," in "How to Learn to Sing."
Our packed house looks on!
Students speak about the process with playwrights during Q&A session.
In preparation for our final performance on April 25-26th, Lifestories students will be working with Victor Maog, a professional director. Victor will join us for four sessions (totalling 24 hours!) to refine, tighten and theatricalize the 5 short plays which are a part of AMERICANA, our spring show. Basically to help bring our work to the next level.
Victor is a New York City-based stage director and educator considered "one of the nation's leading young Asian-American directors" (Denver Post). He creates plays and musicals that inspire dialogue, push theatricality, and reach out to both mainstream and marginalized audiences. A perfect match for the Lifestories crew.
Check out pictures of Victor working with the talented ensemble. As you can see, the chemistry was instantaneous. Thank you Victor for helping us make AMERICANA a truly amazing show!
Victor working with the cast of Natalia Naman's AMERICAN DREAM REHAB. 
Victor working with the cast of Jon Kern's HOW TO LEARN TO SING.
Victor helps theatricalize Josh Koenigsberg's LOCKED UP.
Preparing for the curtain call with the full cast.
