Media

Ghetto Talks on the Film Festival Circuit!

26 Mar 2010, 12:42 AM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

 

 
The student filmmakers at the Urban Arts Media Lab are pleased to announce that Ghetto Talks is an official selection at the following festivals:
 
The New York Youth Media Arts Show at Sony Wonder Technology Center on March 11. Students screened their creations in film, video, photography, and computer multi-media. Media Lab Filmmakers Cristina Guerra, Nicholas Mendez, and Fatima Rainey represented the Ghetto Talks production team at this event. Check out Nick’s blog at http://www.urbanarts.org/current-programs/post/121.
 
Tribeca Film Institute’s Our City, My Story.  Check out Ghetto Talks on April 30 at 12:00pm at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center.  Visit www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth/our_city to learn more.
 
National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY). The NFFTY is the largest and most influential film festival for young filmmakers (age 22 and under) in the U.S. The festival includes film screenings, filmmaking panels, and opportunities for young filmmakers to network with industry professionals and each other.  NFFTY 2010 will occur from April 29 – May 2 in Seattle, Washington.  To learn more about the festival, visit www.nffty.org.
 
The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF).  The NYIIFVF is one of the largest independent film festivals in the world. NYIIFVF 2010 will occur in July at Village East Cinema.  Ghetto Talks screening dates and times are TBA.

Please come out to support our film!

 

Meet the Filmmaker: Joshua Davis

20 Mar 2010, 5:53 PM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

 
Story by Fatima Rainey, Editor, Ghetto Talks II
Photograph by Daniel Familia
Joshua Davis
 
Name: Joshua Davis
Age: 16
School: Kurt Hahn Expeditionary Learning School
How did you become involved with Media Lab? My principal recommended the Urban Arts Partnership program to me. 
What has been your favorite part of working on Ghetto Talks? I like contributing to the message that we are trying to get out. 
Where do you see this project going in the near future? I want this film to be a topic of conversation in people’s living rooms.  
What aspect of filmmaking have you come to like so far?  I like interviewing because I like to understand people better and directing because I like to be a leader. 
How do you think working on this project has affected you as a member of society? I’ve stopped using the word ghetto in a negative sense, and I try to spread awareness about the word and what it actually means.
 

The Master Class on Monday, March 8th was great!!  David Weiner shared information about how he got involved with online journalism, some of the stories he wrote that had a big impact, and how the Huffington Post functions.  We'll be in touch with David throughout the rest of the year as we work on our final project, the school's yearbook.

 

Here are some of the students' reflections:

 

How has this master class influenced how you think about your art?
This Master Class is great because it has given me an idea of what I can do when it comes to designing and writing my article.  (Evelyn R.)
 
How has this master class influenced how you think about your art?
It made me think about all of the good opportunities there are involving art.  (Jeremy T.)
 
Please share at least one thing you learned during today’s master class.
I learned that it takes time to be successful and even though there is a lot of rejection involved, it's important to just keep moving forward in what you do.  (Jeanette A.)
 
What did you enjoy the most about the master class?  Please be specific.
I enjoyed the advice and commentary David gave about our previous projects.  I also enjoyed the personal experiences David shared with us. (Dayla Q.)
 
Please share at least one thing you learned during today’s master class.
I learned that rejection should never become an obstacle in the path of your goals.  (Dayla Q.)
 
What did you enjoy the most about the master class?  Please be specific.
I enjoyed that David Weiner told us about the Huffington Post structure like the Sales and Advertising, Editing, and Bloggers.  Also, I like that Mr. Weiner taught us an important lesson about the audience. (Jacqueline A.)
 
How has this master class influenced how you think about your art?
The Master Class influenced how I should write my article for the yearbook.  The class taught me about what is best for the reader and the subject.  (Jacqueline A.)
 
What did you enjoy the most about the master class?  Please be specific.
One thing I enjoyed was Mr. Weiner being cool and respectful, telling us how he enjoys his career.  This Master Class influenced me to express my opinions and let my audience hear what I’m trying to say.  (Taylor H.)
 
Please share at least one thing you learned during today’s master class.
One thing I learned is it takes time to be successful.  (Taylor H.)
  
Please share at least one thing you learned during today’s master class.
One thing I learned was no matter how many times you’ve been rejected, you should keep trying.  (Sage)

 

Story by Nicholas Mendez, Producer, Ghetto Talks II

This afternoon student filmmakers Cristina Guerra, Fatima Rainey and I attended the New York Youth Media Art Show hosted by Sony Wonder Technology Center.  As part of the Urban Arts Partnership Media Lab Team, we went in representation of our production Ghetto Talks.
 
Getting the film out into the world through screenings like this one is crucial to the development of the Ghetto Talks Response Project.  We also wanted to raise awareness about the use of the word ghetto.
 
The people at SONY brought together student films that address common issues in today’s society.  There were films about planet earth, a documentary about bullying, and a student-run public access show that depicted the hazards of American bombs dropped over a small island near Puerto Rico.  (I firmly believe that all students should look into public access television—what a great way to get your message out!  We were lucky . . . at the end of the day we got to try our hands at television by making a pretend newscast.) 
 
After the viewing of the documentaries, special guest New York 1 News anchor Kirsten Shaughnessy addressed the crowd of media hopefuls.  She spoke about her personal background and the hard work it took to become an anchor.  She also shared clips of some of her work with New York 1.  We were inspired – especially considering that Ms. Shaughnessy came from a home that did not have a television and she is now an anchor for a well-respected news company!  I got her autograph and shook her hand, inviting her to book an interview for the Ghetto Talks Response Project.
 
The festival showed us that student filmmakers are emerging in high schools all over the city, whether they choose to work with or without a team.  We also learned about a summer program at SUNY Oswego in which students work intensely to create a documentary of their choice on issues that matter to them.  Both Cristina Guerra and Fatima Rainey applied to this prestigious program.  Let’s wish them luck! 
 
The New York Youth Media Art Show was exciting, yet humbling.  We learned that it takes hard work to be recognized.  One thing we know for sure: we are not wrong for letting others hear our voices and for addressing issues that are important to us.
 
Keep checking back in for updates on the Ghetto Talks Response Project!

 

Meet the Filmmaker: Christina Guerra

08 Mar 2010, 12:55 AM by Elizabeth Rodd, Urban Arts MediaLab

  

Story by Nicholas Mendez, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
Photograph by Daniel Familia
Cristina Guerra, Student Filmmaker
Name: Christina Guerra
Age: 17
School: Facing History
Role: I had different roles in this production, but I mostly did editing.
Where did you grow up?: Washington Heights
How is living in the Heights?: It’s hard because I don’t relate to the people that live in our neighborhood. Most people see the people in that neighborhood as ghetto; they think they don’t do anything with their lives.
What is your experience with the word ghetto?: I’ve never really had an experience with the word ghetto, and I’ve never been called “ghetto.”
How did it feel to be a part of this film?: It was a humbling and bright experience for me. It felt good to bring awareness to teens who throw the word around, not even knowing its background.
What was the best part of making the film?: I liked learning how to edit and how to be a director.
Who is your idol?: I look up to myself!

 

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