Video Log #1: Behind the Scenes on the Ghetto Talks Response Project

06 Mar 2010, 11:34 AM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

Producer Daniel Familia checks in with the Ghetto Talks Production Team.  Edited by Fatima Rainey.

Multimedia Master Class at the Heritage School

05 Mar 2010, 2:26 PM by Lisa LH, Urban Arts Master Classes

At the Heritage School next week, students in the Multimedia class will have a Master Class with David Weiner, the New York Editor for the Huffington Post.  Students in this class spent their first semester learning the basics of graphic design and journalism, including: conducting online research; taking digital photographs; writing and conducting interviews from a journalistic perspective; creating digital media using InDesign and uploading that media to blog sites. This semester, students are taking on various roles-- creating, designing and producing the school’s yearbook and on-line magazine. The focus will be on identifying and reporting on issues of importance to their community and peers; and how to use technology to enhance their own media literacy as well as make them more effective communicators.

Check out their online magazine:

In preparation of the Master Class, students have read a selection of articles David has written.  During the class, David will discuss these articles and how they affected change.  He will also discuss some tips for researching, interviewing and writing for on-line media sources, as well as ways to engage readers around an issue.

 David Weiner is the New York Editor of The Huffington Post and an accomplished writer. The Huffington Post launched in 2005 as an American news website and aggregated blog, featuring various news sources and columnists. The site offers progressive coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, the green movement, world news, and comedy, and is a top destination for news, blogs, and original content.

An Educator's Perspective on Ghetto Talks

03 Mar 2010, 7:09 PM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

By Joshua Davis, Co-Director, Ghetto Talks II

Today the Urban Arts Partnership Media Lab Team interviewed Mr. Matt Brown, principal of the Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School in East Flatbush inside the Tilden Campus.  We booked the interview because we felt that speaking to a person who has traveled around the United States and the world to places that may experience the word ghetto differently was essential to our documentary.  We were curious about Mr. Brown’s experiences before coming to New York City and about why he chose to help found a new high school in Brooklyn.  The stories he shared with us about working in Africa, Los Angeles and for the Outward Bound program were interesting, especially the connections he made to our film Ghetto Talks.  

Mr. Brown stated that he had no real association with the word ghetto until he watched our film.  He said we pushed him to think more deeply about how the word was used in the past versus how it’s used today.  His call to action is to stress to his family, students and staff the importance of using the word in a positive sense instead of a negative one.

After we interviewed Mr. Brown we captured some b-roll of the school setting and everyday life at Kurt Hahn.  We’ll combine this footage with the b-roll we shot at our first in-school screening.

This was my first time directing an interview so I learned a lot about the director’s responsibilities on this shoot.  Basically, the director makes the final decisions and keeps the project running efficiently.  I think I did a great job.  In the words of Mr. Brown: “Ya’ll really are professionals.”

Thanks for reading the Ghetto Talks blog, and keep checking back.  We’d love to read your comments.

Ghetto Talks: First In-school Screening!

09 Feb 2010, 10:49 PM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

By Omar Cyrille, Assistant Cinematographer, Ghetto Talks II

Ghetto Talks, an original documentary by Advanced Media Lab students at Urban Arts Partnership, had its first in-school screening at Kurt Hahn High School in Brooklyn tonight.  Current students, teachers and parents attended the screening.  Personally, I was extremely nervous to present our project.  As the lights went down the audience became very attentive.  I expected some students to talk and joke around with the content of the film, but surprisingly they were on the edge of their seats.  Parents were nodding in agreement with the message of our film.

I’ve seen Ghetto Talks around six times and it still puts a smile on my face when I see the work our student crew put together.  Everyone put in countless hours over a three-month period to make this 16-minute documentary.  When the credits rolled, the lights turned on and I heard the massive claps from pleased peers and their parents, all I could do was think about how the hard work and long sessions had been worth it.

We also used the Kurt Hahn screening as an opportunity to get some b-roll and verité footage with Principal Matt Brown, who will be the subject of the next response piece in our Ghetto Talks II production.  I was assistant cinematographer tonight, so I captured footage of the Q&A while student presenters SoSo Douglas and Joshua Davis fielded questions and comments from the audience.

I was really surprised at their reactions. At first nobody was saying anything.  A teacher from Kurt Hahn opened the floor with his very entertaining comment.  He opened the door for parents to walk through and throw their insight in.  It reminded me of a classroom.  People agreed and disagreed respectfully.  The questions and answers could have gone on all night.  

I really appreciated when a parent explained the word ghetto as a mindset because I feel the same way.  She said that people have it set in their minds that they need to act and be a certain way.  Another woman said that some people aren’t poor but they don’t want to move out of the ghetto because they feel they need to be in the ghetto to feel like themselves.  They’re trapped in their own minds.

Our first screening left our audience with questions and awareness on the word ghetto.  I’m sure that people didn’t realize how much the word is used.  It was a great event.  Be sure to check back on our blog to find out when the next screening is!

Meet the Filmmaker: Sotonye Douglas

06 Feb 2010, 11:01 AM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

By Daniel Familia, Producer, Ghetto Talks II