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!
Story by Cristina Guerra, Producer, Ghetto Talks II
Photographed by Marlin Almonte
On Saturday, April 17, the Ghetto Talks production crew filmed the final segment for our Educator Response Piece. Guidance Counselor Johnny Ventura from Mott Haven Prep Academy in the Bronx sat down with us for an exclusive interview. Mr. Ventura shared some moving stories about his childhood to which many people can relate.
From standing in a cheese line to seeing many of his friends fail, Mr. Ventura has been through life-changing experiences that made him who he is today. He said that working with children in New York City is his passion because many of his students come from a similar upbringing. Several of our crewmembers said afterwards that they felt a personal connection with him.
Mr. Ventura was incredibly candid about his past and present. He talked about being ashamed of where you come from. For example, he once had a friend who saw him waiting on the cheese line and decided to make him the subject of a joke about social standing. Ironically, the kid was from the same neighborhood as Mr. Ventura.
As far as content goes, having Mr. Ventura in for an interview was a step in the right direction for the Ghetto Talks Response Project. His views helped flush out our Educator Response Piece: now we can say that the piece integrates insights from across a spectrum of educators--from the school leadership level to the classroom/curriculum level to the student/family level. In general, we have found that educators’ personal backgrounds shape their views on the word ghetto but that their day-to-day interactions with students give them a more contemporary understanding of how the word’s use and meaning have changed.
What a great interview! Mr. Ventura even performed a verse that he wrote about his life. He is a talented lyricist whose poetry is honest and insightful. We thank him for sharing his stories and art with us!
Now on to the editing process. . . . More to come from the Media Lab editing room!
Story by Sotonye Douglas, Co-Director, Ghetto Talks II
Photographed by Marlin Almonte
Name: Daniel Familia
Age: 17
School: City-as-School
Role: I took part in a little bit of everything.
One Word to Describe Yourself: Unique
What was your favorite part of the Ghetto Talks production?: I loved being behind-the-scenes on the Cora Daniels interview.
What did you gain from the experience?: I gained confidence in approaching people.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?: I see myself as a college graduate with a degree in language.
Who is one person you would like to meet?: I wish I could meet Frida Kahlo; her art was personal, social and surreal.
What are you most proud of?: I am most proud of being an artist. I get to create and express myself.
Story by Robert Matos, Editor, Ghetto Talks II
Photographed by Marlin Almonte
Last Saturday the Ghetto Talks production crew from Urban Arts Partnership interviewed Facing History High School teacher and poet Emily Haines. Today I was selected to log and capture the footage.
Ms. Haines contributed a great deal to the Ghetto Talks Response Project. For me, the two poems she shared with us were the most interesting part of her interview; I think they will really move our audience. Take this verse from her poem: “boys are turned into soldiers using only their clothing and their fists to make it in the world.”
Ms. Haines also shared with us her perspective on growing up in the ghetto as an outsider looking in. “I was in a school that would provide me with more opportunities because of the way that I spoke and because of my skin color. This inequality would anger me.”
For me as an editor, this interview was great practice in identifying emotional clips that will create an emotional peak for the viewer. I would like to learn more about how to edit projects so that they reach the widest possible audience.
That's all for today from the Ghetto Talks Response Project. Check back next week for Cristina Guerra's blog about our interview with Mott Haven guidance counselor and poet John Ventura.
More great news to share!
Ghetto Talks is an official selection of the 16th Annual Los Angeles Film Festival to be held June 17 - 27 and will screen in the Future Filmmakers Showcase. Recently named the #1 film festival in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Film Festival showcases the best of American and international independent cinema and is presented by the Los Angeles Times. Drawing a diverse audience of over 80,000 people, the Festival brings together filmmakers and their films with enthusiastic audiences and film industry professionals.
Keep checking back for more festival screenings!
