Local Initiative Teaches Teens to Challenge Racial Stereotypes Through Visual Storytelling
August 29, 2014
The #NoFilter Project Encourages Empowerment Art In Traditional and Emerging Media
COLUMBIA, SC – The #NoFilter Project and Reel2Real Productions are launching a three week youth workshop on the fundamentals of film production for kids ages 10 to 16. The workshops will take place every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13th through Sept. 27th at North Springs Park located at 1320 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229. Total cost of participation is $35. This includes light breakfast, lunch, and all class materials.
Each session will begin with discussion on self-image and how African American youth are portrayed in the media. Local filmographer and owner of Reel2Real Productions, Caletta Bailey, will spend time training participants in basic filmmaking including writing, directing, and visual storytelling. The final project will be a student-created public service announcement to be a part of a larger online campaign, entitled, #YBAV: Young, Black, and Viral.
“In response to the Ferguson tragedy, many are taking to social media to protest the media’s use of racial stereotypes in villainizing African American youth, particularly black males,” explains Tiye Gordon, creator and project coordinator of The #NoFilter Project. “Our goal through these workshops,” she continues, “is for youth of color to have an unfiltered conversation about issues affecting African-American teens and to identify individual and group voice so that they can communicate their experiences by engaging in dialogue and creative processes.”
The #NoFilter Project is an organization that uses media, digital, and visual literacy strategies to reduce racial stereotypes activated by mainstream society and pop-culture. As advocates of media and digital education, the organization implements programming that focuses on visual arts, wellness and media, and digital citizenship. The #Nofilter Project’s goal is to equip African-American youth in South Carolina with critical thinking, creative communication and computer, visual and aural literacy skills so that that may be productive citizens in an evolving digital-media world.
For course registration, or participation as a sponsor, please contact Ms. Gordon at (803) 667-7804 or [email protected].
