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FESTIVAL DATES: NOVEMBER 10, 13, 14, 2009 Community TV Network 2418 W. Bloomingdale, Chicago IL 60647 Contact: Denise Zaccardi (773) 278-8500 or (773) 636-7716 After one of the most violent years for Chicago youth, they finally have something to cheer about: three Community TV Network (CTVN) youth produced videos were selected this year at the 12th annual “Do It Your Damn Self!” (DIYDS) National Youth and Video Film Festival. DIYDS!! festival organizers received 150 entries this year, and only 15 were selected to appear at the festival. CTVN will be sending the young producers to Boston where they will view their videos at the public screening held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, participate in a question and answer panel, and celebrate their accomplishments at the festival. “It is about knowing what you want to do and going for it,” said Kory Jackson, 19, writer and script director for Applying for Change, a narrative video produced during one of CTVN’s after school programs. Applying for Change teaches a life lesson, as Kory puts it, that sometimes you have friends to support you, and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes the biggest influence in your life might also be the most negative, and one needs to have the courage to do the right thing. The students were thrilled, “When you see people doing good things, that [makes] you want to do it,” says Shacarra Washington, 16, an actor and editor for the film. Production wasn’t easy, Kory shares his feelings “I feel shocked because I know all we had to go through,” from meeting deadlines, to working with a 24 member team to create a unified vision, the process was both challenging and rewarding. Applying for Change can be viewed on CTVN’s Hard Cover channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/hardcoverchicago. If You Don’t Stand for Something You Might Fall for Anything, produced during a CTVN video class at Sullivan House High School, is a striking film documenting depression among the teen population. The production team blended research and personal testimonials to educate the audience on the condition which affects 1 in 8 teens. Krystal Newson, a Sullivan House High School student shares what her experience with depression has taught her: “I feel like everybody’s story is different, so you learn from [everyone’s] story.” The third winning video is #17, a powerful tribute to Chicago youth who have lost their lives to gun violence. “It’s been a rough year, people out here getting killed over hats like these,” says one CCA student interviewed in the video. The video features students discussing violence in the streets, “It’s real crazy how you can talk to one person, and the next day [they’re] not there. When you face that reality, it’s hard to accept it…It affected me deeply,” shared another student at CCA. #17 was created by the 2008 video production class at CCA Academy. The film memorializes Channon Taylor, 18, a student at CCA Academy in North Lawndale, who was shot on March 8, 2008. He was the 17th youth killed this school year. If You Don’t Stand for Something You Might Fall for Anything and #17 were created through a partnership with the Alternative School Network. About CTVN: CTVN is a not for profit organization dedicated to teaching low-income African American and Latino youth of Chicago to use video as an educational tool and means to have their voices heard and visions seen. CTVN is currently seeking funds to send the producers to watch their videos on the big screen and attend the award ceremony taking place in Boston, November 14-16. To learn more about CTVN visit their website at www.ctvnetwork.org. For more information on the DIYDS!! National Youth and Video Film Festival, please visit www.diyds.org. October 27, 2008 (617) 388-4992 (CAMBRIDGE, MA) - The award-winning Teen Media Program (TMP) of the Community Art Center, Inc. proudly presents the 12th Annual “Do It Your Damn Self!!” National Youth Video and Film Festival on November 14-15, 2008 at the Boston Public Library and M.I.T.’s Wong Auditorium. The DIYDS!! Festival was created in 1996 by four inner-city teenage girls who felt misrepresented in the media and wanted their videos seen by a wider audience. It now serves as a tool of empowerment for youth to gain important leadership and public speaking skills as well as express their vision of the role they play in society. Racism in Espanola (Espanola High School, Espanola, NM) Applying for Change (Community Television Network, Chicago, IL) Filmmakers from around the country will arrive in Cambridge Friday Nov. 14th to participate in a panel discussion at the School Screening at Boston Public Library from 10am - 2:00 pm. Over 300 students and teachers from the Boston area will attend the screening and workshop. On Saturday families and children are invited to join the first ever CommUNITY Media Day at Central Square Theater from 1-3 pm, featuring workshops for families, a screening of the new DIYDS!! Jr features films by 6-12 year old filmmakers and The Chickens of Ventura Fabien, directed by Nina Hassan. Saturday evening brings the ticketed public Premiere Screening to M.I.T.’s Wong Auditorium. A moderated discussion and Q&A session with filmmakers allows the audience to interface with the films in a unique way. Celebration follows at the Premiere Party at MIT’s Morss Hall from 9-12 pm. Tickets for the Premiere Screening or Premiere Party can be purchased online at www.diyds.org. To schedule interviews with teens or festival staff, call Lumina at (617)868-7100x17. For more information visit www.diyds.org. DIYDS!! 08 is hosted by MIT and the Boston Public Library with major funding from United Way, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Draper, Novartis and 484 Phi Alpha Foundation.
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