Contributed photos
This Citizen Contribution was submitted by Dawn M. Slade of DMS Communications.
It may not win an Oscar. Yet it may be the most important film they ever make.
Young filmmakers as part of a group called Young Filmmakers from four different schools — James Hillhouse High School, King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School, Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, and Eli Whitney Technical High School — joined forces to write, film, edit, and premiere a documentary on the effect of the War on Drugs on the New Haven community of Newhallville.
The documentary was filmed by Young Filmmakers, and premiered on Saturday, June 22, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., under a tent by the Long Island Sound.
The premiere was attended by Young Filmmakers and their families, interviewees featured in the film, and members of the community. Two showings of the documentary were held, at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Between showings, a panel of Young Filmmakers answered questions from attendees concerning the documentary and the impact of drugs on youth, their families, and their communities.
After noshing on roasted chicken, stuffed spinach bread, green salad, and fresh fruit platters, the awards ceremony took place under the tent. Awards ranged from the cinematographer award to the multi-talented award.
The Young Filmmakers include Ynyce Gallishaw, Mozay Harris, Aleik Griffiths, Anahla Griffiths, Corin Smith, Jahsai Johnson, Ibrahim-Nyiass M. Abubakari, Abdul-Rahman M. Abubakari, Teairra Curtis, and Montaya Worthy Ladson. Young Filmmakers who participated in the program and created music for the documentary include Teairra Curtis, Axel Rosado, and Lilli Encarnacion. Additional Young Filmmakers worked on photography for the program at Hillhouse High School.
The documentary was created through Resurgence Now, Inc.’s Young Filmmakers Program. Resurgence Now Inc is a New Haven-based nonprofit. The Young Filmmakers Program was funded with a grant from The Prosperity Foundation, Inc., which is spearheaded by Executive Director Orsella Hughes.
Two film crews worked on site in Newhallville during the school year and their entire spring break to write and edit interview questions, then conduct interviews of current and past Newhallville residents and business owners, at various locations in Newhallville. The film instructor and program coordinator is Veronica B. Chandler, a young filmmaker and Executive Director of Blue Plum Productions, Inc. Blue Plum Productions is a nonprofit organization which teaches filmmaking skills to youth, to increase youth access to the arts. Blue Plum Productions, Inc. teaches youth how to write scripts, operate professional camera equipment, conduct interviews, secure permission to use interviewees’ names and likenesses, produce, cast, edit, design sets and costumes, and market films.
“Working with the Young Filmmakers was extremely rewarding,” says Chandler. “The kids blossomed from first-time camera operators to full-blown creative directors, resulting in a fantastic audiovisual presentation.”
Young Filmmakers conducted and filmed 28 interviews of Newhallville residents, stakeholders, and business owners. Young Filmmakers then edited the film. While the documentary does not sugar coat the impact of drugs on Newhallville, it showcases how Newhallville, a proud New Haven community, has demonstrated strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
“I’m really happy that my daughter had the opportunity to experience the Young Filmmakers Program,” said Manesha Gallishaw, mother of Ynyce Gallishaw. “I loved the Newhallville documentary and was impressed that all the kids — especially my daughter — got out of their comfort zone to complete this project. Watching my daughter made me proud. This was a stepping stone for her!”
“It was beautiful. I really enjoyed it,” says Ms. Rosa Joyner, Mozay Harris’ grandmother. Ms. Joyner watched the documentary and actively participated in the panel discussion, which was led by Manesha Gallishaw.
To measure and showcase the filmmaking skills they learned during the Young Filmmakers Program, under the tutelage of Blue Plum Productions, Young Filmmakers will participate in this year’s 48-Hour Film Project from July 26 to July 28. They will have 48 hours to write, cast, design costumes and sets for, film, edit, and submit an original short film.
Resurgence Now’s collaborative partners, Abraham’s Promise, Inc. Executive Director Barry Abraham and Managing Director Ann Slade, and Culturally Correct Creative, Inc., Executive Director Reginald Slade, supported the Young Filmmakers Program by providing transportation, refreshments, and a crew to help set up and break down the tables and chairs for the premiere.
Young Filmmakers Program also received community support from Yale Repertory Theatre, which donated free tickets to The Far Country, and Shubert Theatre, which provided discounted tickets to STOMP. These field trips helped expose the young filmmakers to professional set design in two vastly different genre.
A third showing of the documentary will take place in late summer in Newhallville. For more information on the late summer showing, contact Dawn M. Slade, DMS Communications (203) 675‑8157.
