The Global Parish project...it's an initiative that casts young people documenting their life stories on video. Fifteen young people participated in the project, learning various camera techniques and scripting through poetry. Today the two week workshop ended with the youths showing off their new skills.
Khalil Fantauzzi
"Today the kids actually learn how to used iMovie and Final Cut pro to actually put the images to the words. So today after all the hard work of gathering the photos and really proud of their photography was the day that we recorded their voices and now we have this new collage of their audio as well as the photographs that kind of talk about what their life is like."
"They came in with very little knowledge; the majority of them have never printed an image. A lot of them have never shot a video camera and so we actually really got them from knowing absolutely nothing about photography and videography to being confortable
learning how to mic somebody, learning how to get the lighting right, learning how to ask any questions. So they came in with the poetry skills and we kind of help them used their poetry skills to actually learn about video and photography skills as well."
Eli Fantauzzi
"It's been great. The energy in the room everyday has been so powerful and strong and I've learnt a lot and hopefully the students have learnt a lot as well."
Monica Bodden
"You guys are wrapping up? This is the last thing?"
Eli Fantauzzi
"This is the last day of the workshops'. We are going to edit and presenting our work along with our first film "Inventos - Hip Hop Cubano" here at the Mexican on Tuesday at 2 o' clock."
The Fantauzzi brothers will be showing one of their very own documentaries on hip-hop in Cuba, titled "Inventos - Hip Hop Cubano". That video makes its Belizean debut at the Mexican Institute next week Tuesday at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
In related news, this afternoon the young producers also took part in a three hour workshop which was facilitated by prize winning poet and children's book author Willie Perdomo.
Melanie Nyabinghi, Coordinator
"Actually we just started a workshop for another 3 hours with a brother named Willie Perdomo who is actually an internationally known "Def Jam" poet and teacher. He is actually doing some really great work with us to inspire us to produce more writing - to look at identity - to look at culture - to look at how we build esteem, how we build youth empowerment with writing as our medium."
Monica Bodden
"How long will he be working with the kids?"
Melanie Nyabinghi, Coordinator
"Well today for three hours and actually today from 5-6 at the Mexican institute, we will actually be presenting the work that we produce in the workshop. also from 7-9 at the View Restaurant we will be doing another exhibition of our work, more of a meet and greet with Willie Perdomo and the Youth Voices crew and tomorrow we are actually travelling to Dangriga to do another intensive writing workshop. Not quite sure of the venue but we are going to be there so we definitely want people to come out if they are in the Dangriga area find out where Youth Voices is and we are happy to bring them on in and get some more writing skills and practicing."
If you'd like to meet Willie Perdomo in person, he's having a meet and greet at the View Restaurant on Newtown Barracks tonight.
