History

Youth CineMedia (YCM) is a grassroots non-profit organization that is committed to creating change through the lens of today's youth. YCM began in 2002 with a single camera donated by Grammy Award Winner and Rage Against The Machine's front man, Zach De La Rocha. In the late nineties, YCM founder and director Osiris Castañeda worked with De la Rocha while Castañeda was producing a Cannes Film Festival award-winning documentary.

Castañeda wanted to continue using media to educate underserved populations and inspire social change. Castañeda saw an opportunity to take his own experiences and translate them to help educate and inspire a new generation of filmmakers, while giving job skills to at-risk youth. He started teaching classes in parking lots, apartment complexes, garages, alleys, parks and any place where at-risk or gang related youth gathered.

In the past eight years the program has grown by leaps and bounds. In 2005 YCM was awarded $250,000 by the US Department of Education for a Community Technology Grant, chosen as one of a dozen organizations in the entire country to receive such a distinction. Currently, more than 850 students from throughout Santa Barbara have learned video/music production, photography, graphic design, acting, and other skills that have led to job opportunities and higher education. YCM students utilize state of the art equipment and master computer programs including but not limited to: Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, LiveType and Logic Pro. Youth CineMedia has also started successful satellite programs in Albuquerque,NM (2010) Guadalupe, California (2003) and Brooklyn, New York (2006).

YCM recently taught the "My Life" curriculum through a contract with The State of New Mexico's Children Youth and Families Department. YCM instructed young adults serving time in three juvenile hall facilities. The inspiring course resulted in a 25-minute documentary and a 100-page book. YCM also had successful media technology and documentary production courses at Los Prietos Boys Camp and Academy in 2009/2010. Through YCM's instruction Los Prietos students produced 7 and 15-minute promotional videos on programming and education at the camp. The videos will be used to supplement the information on Santa Barbara County Probation's website as well as during Los Prietos parent orientation. In addition, Youth CineMedia has taken Los Prietos Boys Camp students on day trips to the Channel Islands to produce environmental videos and photography. The students work will soon be featured on PBS' website in conjunction with a television show highlighting the Islands. In addition, each year YCM students' documentaries and short films are screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and The Ventura Film Festival. This past January 12 films were screened and the topics ranged from environmental education films to DUI awareness.

YCM has also had success in obtaining contracts to provide media services. One such example is a current agreement between the City of Santa Barbara and YCM. The City's Creeks Division funds Youth CineMedia to produce environmental videos and print and radio ads, which have appeared on local television and publications like Tinta Latina and El Mexicano. We have also produced HIV/AIDS awareness PSAs that will be aired nationally, and are in production of suicide prevention public service announcements for our communities' youth. Additional projects include: The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department's Every 15 Minutes program (perils of teen drunk driving), The Channel Islands (highlighting 5 National Parks for PBS website), University of California Santa Barbara (photography collaboration with YCM, the University of Santa Barbara California (UCSB), and renowned Philadelphia photographer Zoe Strauss).

It is our philosophy that through learning a discipline in the arts, our youth can develop stronger character traits, allowing them to be more creative and productive people. Youth CineMedia empowers youth with information and skills that they use to cultivate new ideas and find their own voices regarding issues important to them. Upon completion of YCM courses many students are able to pursue film and photography in college and/or gain employment within the film or video production industry.