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YCM Official "Great Wall of LA" documentarian
August 21, 2011
Santa Barbara's Youth CineMedia program has been selected as the official documentarian of "The Great Wall of Los Angeles" restoration project.
Recently the student filmmakers interviewed Garth A. Ross from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The video short produced features Ross' visit to "The Great Wall of Los Angeles."
Watch as he explores the mural, discusses it's impact on community and marvels at its "virtuosity."?
The Great Wall of Los Angeles Project was created and directed by California muralist Judy Baca, SPARC's Founder/Artistic Director. Currently, The Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) is restoring and preserving "The Great Wall of Los Angeles" mural. It's a half-mile long monument and a landmark to the history of America and California from prehistoric times to the 1950's.
Begun in 1976 and completed over five summers, the Great Wall employed over 400 youth and their families from diverse, social and economic backgrounds working with artists, oral historians, ethnologists, scholars, and hundreds of community members. "The Great Wall" is painted on a half -mile section of the concrete retaining wall of the Tujunga Wash in the San Fernando Valley.
This summer Santa Barbara Youth CineMedia students are packing up their HD documentary making equipment and cameras and hitting the road several times a week to Los Angeles to produce this documentary. The mural is one of the country's most respected and largest inter-racial harmony projects.
Youth CineMedia Founder and Director Osiris Castaneda says, "It is truly an honor to be chosen to document such a monumental project. It's a life changing experience for the local at-risk youth producing the mural documentary. We are having a great time and meeting amazing artist at the same time!" The documentary will premiere at the Youth CineMedia screening in the 2012 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Youth CineMedia Great Wall story on Edhat.com
Youth CineMedia team now news correspondents for Edhat, one of the most successful news websites in the country.
http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1394&ic=93Local teen learns to cope through film making
Posted: Feb 3, 2011 5:11 PM by Monica Quintero - Source: KSBY News
http://www.ksby.com/news/local-teen-learns-to-cope-through-film-making/
A local group is working to change the lives of trouble teens through making movies. Youth CineMedia is a nonprofit in Santa Barbara that started in 2002. Since then, it's helped more than 1,300 area students. KSBY News spoke to one young man who turned his life around and is using his creativity for something positive.
Among the stars at the International Film Festival last week, a future star. Juan Bello, Youth CineMedia student, said, "I'm probably going to be famous one day." The 15-year-old is on the red carpet and headed in a better direction. Before getting involved with Youth CineMedia two years ago, he faced serious challenges at school. Bello said, "Yes, I was in trouble but now that I've gone to this program it has really changed my life."
The at-risk teens also have a chance to produce documentaries on topics they feel passionate about. There is one documentary that will soon be showcased. It features ten incarcerated youth who open up their hearts to give viewers an insight into their lives behind bars for murder and drug deals gone bad. They also talk about gang life and the tragic decisions that forever altered their lives.
Regina Ruiz, Youth CineMedia Co-Director, said, "The impact that this has on every kids life, you see it first in their attitude. Then, you see it in their home life and you see it go into their school life. Bello said, "It has helped me see things in a different way." The program is changing one local teen at a time. Bello never thought he'd be on the red carpet and despite having a troubled past, it seems he's now a star in the making.
The documentary that will soon be showcased is called "My Life: Real Stories by Incarcerated Youth." It along with a couple of other documentaries by the students will be shown this Sunday, February 6th starting at 10 am at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara.
Local nonprofit aims to transform troubled teens through filmmaking
Posted: Feb 3, 2011 10:08 AM by Monica Quintero - Source: KSBY News
http://www1.ksby.com/news/local-nonprofit-aims-to-transform-troubled-teens-through-filmmaking/
A local nonprofit is working to transform at-risk teens through a film-making program.
Youth CineMedia 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 past eight years, the unique program has grown tremendously.
In 2005, Youth CineMedia was awarded $250,000 by the U.S. 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.
Watch KSBY News at 5 and 6 for more on this inspiring story.
"My Life"
Emotional, inspirational and compelling documentary films... on one screen.
Professionally produced by at-risk, underprivileged teens... free for the public with Q&A following. Sunday February 6th, 10am-Noon Lobero Theatre.
My Life: Real Stories by Incarcerated Youth
10 incarcerated youth in Albuquerque, New Mexico open up their cell blocks and their hearts
to give viewers an unprecedented insight into their lives behind bars for murder, drug deals gone bad,
the gang life and the tragic decisions made by young minds that forever altered their lives.
Spilling Away The Future
The Santa Barbara oil spill then, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill now. This short takes a look at the dangers
of off-shore oil drilling and the consequences of putting corporate profits before our planet and oceans.
Original song "She Keeps on Giving" by Alba Vargas and Ethan Davis.
Goooooooooal!
Preserving our planet one person at a time. From the field to the streets, the goal is always the same.
PSA The City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division
"YCM Student Receives Chamber of Commerce Youth Businessman of the Year!"
Chamber's Star Awards to recognize youth achievement
ANGEL PACHECO, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
January 21, 2011 6:05 AM
For the first time in its 136 year-history, the Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce will recognize youths, and organizations that serve youths, as part of its annual Star Awards today.
Michael Holliday, who will be inducted as the chamber's 125th chairman, will present the Star Awards, which recognize businesses and individuals for their contributions to the local quality of life, a news release said.
The annual, sold-out luncheon will be held at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Zoo will be honored as the first-ever recipient of the Youth Organization Award, which recognizes "excellence and dedication in serving our area youth". The primary focus in the nomination was the Guest Experience Summer Program, which provided teenagers with entry-level customer service positions at the zoo. The summer employees were rotated within the retail, restaurant and guest services-admissions departments.
The Youth Businessman Award will go to Santa Barbara City College student Gonzalo Rios, of Youth CineMedia, who is preparing to transfer to a Los Angeles film school.
"He has turned his life around dramatically", Youth CineMedia founder Osiris Castenada said of Mr. Rios in a statement. "When I met him six years ago, he was addicted to meth and an active gang member. Now he is an outstanding community member, on the board of directors of two organizations, has a 3.6 GPA, no longer uses drugs and has removed himself from the gang life.
Cruise For Cause A Success!
On March 24, 2010 Youth CineMedia supporters, students and parents boarded the Channel Cat to raise funding for YCM's "One Camera, One Planet, One Vision" program. The money raised will go towards environmental films and student field trips. Thank you to all who joined us for this wonderful event! Click here to look at the pictures from the Cruise For A Cause.
Youth CineMedia, Inc. Officially Its Own Non-Profit!
April 3, 2010
After a decade of support from umbrella organizations Youth CineMedia has gained 501(c)(3) tax exempt status! Youth CineMedia is currently forming its board with influential community members and those who have a love for film. Please contact us if you are interested in joining our team!
Youth CineMedia Screening At The Ventura Film Society Festival.
March 27, 2010
Youth CineMedia filmmakers had an inspirational one hour film screening in Ventura for the second consecutive year. A dozen Youth CineMedia filmmakers took questions from the audience following the successful screening.
Youth CineMedia Screening At The Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
February 6, 2010.
For the sixth consecutive year Youth CineMedia filmmakers premiered their films on the big screen on an international stage. 15 new films were screened ranging from "The Drama Kings" to "Under water...on Air." The two hour screening concluded with a Q&A with the audience.
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