Program:

Blur 14.5min, video, 2000
Director: Lindsey Curtis, Kim Laforge, Megan Lang, Nathaniel Orchard, Holly Parker, Betty Ann Reilly, Noelle Shaffer, Robin Walsh

An experimental film, BLUR is composed of six personal stories, each addressing various issues around teens: homelessness, motherhood, depression and suicide, alcoholism, and alienation. All six stories are linked together by an abstract transitional scene, with the premise of the film to show our commonality. Shifting the focus from ourselves to those around us, we begin to eliminate the BLUR that exists between us, as we start to walk a mile in another's shoes. Lindsey Curtis, Kim Laforge, Megan Lang, Nathaniel Orchard, Holly Parker, Betty Ann Reilly, Noelle Shaffer, Robin Walsh. All the filmmakers are 12 to15 years old. For all but one, this was their first film, part of a 10 week class held each year at the South Boston Arts Academy, an after school program. Instructors: Julie Polvinen and Jared Katsiane. For more information contact Jared Katsiane at Katsiane@aol.com

What Dreams May Become 2.5min , video, 2000
Director: Ramla Siraji
A personal and emotional look at various elements of architecture in Boston. The images are complimented by piano work by Chopin.

Power 5.5min, video, 2000
Director: Shayla Cole, James Joseph and Saje Willis
A girl walks through her neighborhood; troubled by memories of interactions she's had with her peers, the police and her parents. She decides to rewrite all the times she did not act in her own defense.

Ramla, Saje, Shayla and James are all teen producers at the Community Art Center's Teen Media Program in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The two pieces being shown were produced as part of the Teen Media Program's 2000 summer workshop. Each week the youth were given a word and had 5 days to put together a piece which explored a personal reaction to that word. For more information contact Joe Douillette at joe@communityartcenter.org, http://www.doityourdamnself.org

Jump 2K 12min, video, 2000
Director: Melissa Li, Matt O'Keefe, Emilie Nims

The year is 1999, Y2K fever grips the entire world. Due to an exporter forgetting to carry the #1, China is $6 trillion in debt and now they want to destroy our country. . . . Jump 2K Director Melissa Li is currently a senior at Boston Latin School. She discovered filmmaking and video production when she entered the Fast Forward program at the Institute of Contemporary Art in 1998, and became immediately intrigued about being behind the camera. She completed a 25-minute video "Past the Pride" in the summer of 1999. She is currently producing a short 16mm film, through Filmshack Productions, called "Caught Up." Melissa plans on majoring in film in college an becoming a very famous director someday. Jump 2K Assistant Director Matt O'Keefe is 17-years-old, and attends Another Course to College, otherwise known as ACC. After graduating from college, he hopes to obtain a job in either the movie or music industry. He plays guitar in the ban, Furious George. He is dedicated to making movies and hope to continue doing so in the later years of his life. Jump 2K Co-writer and Production Assistant Emilie Nims has been involved in many smaller productions preceeding her work at the ICA. She is hoping to complete a short film by the end of Spring 2001. A high school graduate of the greater Boston area, Emilie hopes to continue her education in all aspects of filmmaking at the Massachusetts College of Art next fall. She is currently living on Cape Cod and working in a movie theatre. The Institute of Contemporary Art's Fast Forward program is an afterschool media literacy program in which Boston high school learn digital video production skills. Founded in 1998, the two-year pilot program offered participants the chance to make short sci-fi features through extensive exercises in acting, production, and writing. Additionaly, Fast Forward Project Coordinator Allen Bush introduced the new generation of Boston video artists to a number of prominent local filmmakers and artists. Robert Patton Spruill (Squeeze), Roland Tec (All the Rage), Lynda Patton (New African Company), James Spruill (Boston University), Alan Piper (Starving Artist), Ari Newman (Next Stop Wonderland) and others conducted workshops and became mentors to the group. Fast Forward 2000 focuses on documentary making. Students representing almost every Boston neighborhood are learning camera,editing, planning, and interviewing skills, and attending workshops by local filmmakers. Each participant will produce a documentary that will look at issues or people in their own community. The work will become a look at Boston neighborhoods through the eyes of teens and an educational resource of unlimited value to viewers in Boston and beyond. Fast Forward participants, 1998-2000: Melissa Li, Liz Hillman, Candace Daley, Maryellen Murphy, Matt O'Keefe, Ian Matthews, Juan Segarra, Michelle Romano, Daniel Skidmore, Paul Lyons, Sam Price, Emilie Nims, Tom DeRocco, Constantine Firinidis. For more information contact Allen Bush at allen@stratocomm.com

Bugging Out 18min, video, 2000
Director: Anadson Ducasse

"Bugging Out", created by Haitian-American Anadson Ducasse, is an inside look at the experiences of a teenager living at the Mystic Housing Developments in Somerville. Anadson's video combines dream-like moments and illuminates what is dear to him, without hiding the harsh realities of inner-city life. The Mirror Project teaches inner-city teenagers in Greater Boston, Massachusetts and other areas of the country, how to create videos about their everyday experiences. This process helps teens discover, develop, and express their vision. Through their participation in the project, young people from historically marginalized ethnic, racial and social groups become more aware of themselves and their community. Since Colombian-born Roberto Arivalo, Project Director, founded the project in 1992, young people have created more than 150 award-winning videos showcased nationally. For more information contact Roberto Arivalo at roberto_arevalo@hotmail.com.