Student Filmmakers Win Big
Roberto Clemente Community Academy’s CTE (Career and Technical Education) Broadcast Technology Program is pleased to share the accomplishments and achievements of its students. It has been a very productive year for our students with many proud moments.
First, we’d like to congratulate junior student Louis Salgado for making the cut in the 2016 CineYouth Film Festival. Louis’s film Chicago tells the story of how, despite all the violence on our streets, a young man sees a different kind of city… one that has inspired him. Louis’s film has been chosen as an Official Selection of CineYouth 2016 (May 5-7), presented by the Chicago International Film Festival. CineYouth is the Chicago International Film Festival’s yearly film festival that showcases short films made by filmmakers 22 years old and younger from around the world. CineYouth strives to encourage the talent of young artists and to provide them with opportunities to tell their stories, network with their peers, and be recognized for their creativity.
Secondly, we’d like to recognize senior student Manny Velazquez for being awarded a $2,500 academic scholarship from the Union League Boys and Girls Club. Manny was selected from many other applicants who interviewed with representatives from the club. Club members were impressed by Manny’s passion and drive to become the next great horror film director. Manny will be starting Columbia College in the fall, and he is also working on his fourth feature length movie called Psychedelia. For a list of all his credits, please visit his IMDb page.
Thirdly, we’d like to acknowledge all of our senior and junior students who are currently wrapping up their short documentary films. Students were challenged to find a topic that would promote civic engagement, instigate good dialogue, or educate the masses. The goal was also to inspire them to find their own voice on matters of universal civic importance. Many wonderful topics emerged from our students, topics such as:
- understanding how music plays a vital role in the connectivity of people, societies, and communities
- coping and learning to live with diabetes
- immigration reform vs. racist rhetoric with footage from the UIC Trump rally
- overcoming suicidal tendencies
- and so much more…
Please check out our website in the coming weeks for links to the videos.
Finally, our junior and sophomore students will be gaining real working experience by assisting on the production of a local documentary film about the 1977 riots in Humboldt Park, currently being filmed in the community.
Our thanks to our administrators Dr. Marcey Sorensen and Jamie Crosen for their unwavering support and to all the teachers and staff at Clemente who have time and time again supported our students’ work in one way or another especially, Henry Van Loon and Curtis Simmons.
We are inspired and motivated by these examples of our young people finding fulfillment, learning new skills, and telling great stories.
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By Mildred Amador