Documentary

Meet the Filmmaker: Regina Bonsu

07 Jun 2010, 1:45 PM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

 

Story by Joshua Davis, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
Photograph by Daniel Familia
 Regina Bonsu, Interviewer 
Name: Regina Bonsu
Grade: Sophomore
School: Mott Haven Preparatory School
Role: Producer, Interviewer
What are you planning to do with the knowledge gained from working on this project? I plan to get more people involved on important issues like language use and to enlighten them on how to become activists.
Why did you choose to be in the Media Lab program? I wanted to gain more knowledge and experience within the film industry.
What did you like most about working on the project? I got to meet new people and learn a technical skill set.

 

 
Story by Craig Wallace, Editor, and Joshua Davis, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
 Anthony Davis, Housing Director and Father of Producer Joshua Davis
Last month, Anthony Davis, the father of Ghetto Talks II producer Joshua Davis, sat down with the Media Lab crew for an interview.  Mr. Davis shared his insight about the word ghetto as well as his reaction to our original film.  Our crew consisted of Nick Mendez as director, Joshua Davis as interviewer, and former Media Lab student Brittany Clough as guest producer. 
 
Mr. Davis talked about his life growing up in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn and the role of gentrification in that section of the borough.  For example, he told us that his grandmother’s house is now worth several times the price at which she purchased it. 
 
Mr. Davis also talked about growing up and watching Good Times and The Cosby Show, programs that portrayed the average African-American family in a positive light.  He feels that these days African-American families are portrayed in a more negative light on television.
 
Mr. Davis also argued that his son’s generation is changing how language is used.  The new generation flips words that were once used to oppress people; words such as the N word are now used without any reservation to simply mean “hello” or “what’s up?” 
 
Although there were many distractions and cuts during the filming, it was eye-opening to hear a parent’s perspective on the word. 
 
More to come on how this interview will be integrated with Carmel Sanon's interview for our parent response piece.

 

Meet the Filmmaker: Fatima Rainey

07 Jun 2010, 12:49 AM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

 
Story and Photograph by Daniel Familia
Fatima Rainey, Editor, Ghetto Talks II
 
Name: Fatima Rainey
Age: 17
School: The Facing History School
Role: Editor
Favorite Color: Green
One word to describe yourself: Awesome
One word the Media Lab crew would use to describe you: Outlandish
Most memorable moment of the Ghetto Talks production: I enjoyed interviewing members of our crew to see how they felt about the word ghetto.
Plans for next year: I plan to attend Hampshire College and to major in Neuroscience.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: Starting medical school
How has being a filmmaker inspired you?: Being a filmmaker has inspired me to use other outlets to help people.
Favorite quotation: Just do it!

 

Meet the Filmmaker: Robert Matos

18 May 2010, 12:34 AM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

 

 
Story by Fatima Rainey
Photograph by Daniel Familia
Emerging Filmmaker Robert Matos 
Name: Robert Matos
Age: 15
School: Food and Finance High School
Role: Interviewer, Cinematographer
Favorite Color: Blue
One word you would use to describe yourself: Extreme
One word the Media Lab crew would use to describe you: Survivalist
Most memorable moment working on the Ghetto Talks production: Watching our finished film for the first time
Plans for next year: I plan to become lead editor.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: I see myself pursuing a career as a documentarian.
How has being a filmmaker inspired you?: It has inspired me to send a message.  I want to inspire my community through film.
Favorite Quotation: “The strongest man on Earth is the man that stands most alone.”

 

 

Story by Sotonye Douglas, Co-director, Ghetto Talks II



On Tuesday, April 27, the Media Lab crew attended the 2010 Our City, My Story film festival hosted by the Tribeca Film Institute.  Ghetto Talks was one of thirteen films chosen to be in this year’s festival.  It was an astonishing night—from the red carpet to the big screen!  New York 1 and other major media outlets were there to cover the event.  We felt like superstars walking down the red carpet with all the photographers taking our picture.

Some of the films at the Tribeca screening took a lot of personal conviction to complete.  Others were funny but proved a clear and concise point.  I was surprised by how much you can achieve when you put your mind to a cause and devote your heart.

Cinematographer Shamrod Lockwood and I represented Ghetto Talks during the Question and Answer period after the screening.   At first I was nervous to go in front of the auditorium full of people.  My nerves took over and I felt overwhelmed, but I proudly stood and expressed my feelings.  I was happy to represent the Media Lab crew.  

 


One audience member asked the filmmakers to discuss how much assistance program supervisors provided in the production of our films.  Sham and I answered that the Urban Arts Partnership teachers basically put the camera in our hands and told us we had six weeks to complete our project.  The concept was completely derived from our own choices, and filming and editing were completely run by us.  Though we did receive some assistance with networking—our supervisors reached out to actor Anthony Mackie, writer Cora Daniels, and recording artist Pharoahe Monch—, student producers organized the rest.

After the screenings the Media Lab crew walked around and mingled with other filmmakers.  We discussed the filmmaking process, congratulated each other and exchanged contact information.  

 

It was an incredible night!  You can check out a video about our experience here: http://www.urbanarts.org/news/view/27.

 

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