12th Grade
English and Multimedia
Rachel Nichols and Margaret Noble
In this second year of the High Tech High Media Arts collaboration with UCSD, 12th grade students produced three minute films grounded in amazing true stories from, and about, the adults in their lives. Humor, pain, and human endurance color these stories that describe the various, unpredictable journeys of life. Watch and, we promise, you will laugh, cry, wince, or say “awwww.”
This semester long project has been a collaboration of students’ multimedia and English classes. This project began with each student conducting one 45-minute interview with an adult whom they admired or about whom they wanted to know more. Then, as part of the story building process, each student transcribed their own 45-minute interview. Using their own transcription as a guide, students then edited their sound work into a seven minute story. Lastly, and after many rounds of critiques, each seven minute story became a beautiful and concise three minute piece. Through this process, students learned to carefully find and craft a meaningful story. The classes nominated their final 7 selections (out of 50 total) for cinematic production.
Next, students moved into visual production through an extensive film practicum program with UCSD’s ArtPower! program. ArtPower! recognizes that creative learners make creative teachers, and teaching and learning go both ways. In spring 2013, ArtPower! Film, Sixth College, and the Department of Visual Arts, along with our 12th grade students at High Tech High Media Arts, embarked on a ten-week creative mentorship program where UCSD students collaborated with and mentored our 12th grade students in order to produce these very special short films. This project was also facilitated by UCSD’s Visual Arts Department faculty member Michael Trigilio, ArtPower!’s Curator Rebecca Webb and Associate Director for the Practicum, Diane A. Forbes Berthoud.
These final films culminated into the following projects and were shown at the 5th Annual Artpower! Student Film Festival at The Loft on UCSD’s campus.
Complete the Puzzle
One woman’s true story of a surprising disconnect with her family.
Students: F.P., B.C., H.L., and I.H.
UCSD Mentor: Andy Tan
The Story of My Own Bias
A young woman’s struggle to overcome hatred.
Students: K.W., A.W., R.W., and C.S.
UCSD Mentor: Sheyna Medoff
Shattered
A teenage girl who fights to save her mother and herself.
Students: N.C., J.V., J.C., C.M. and L.L.
UCSD Mentor: Diana Li
Bypassing Hatred
An exploration of cruelty and body image.
Students: A.G., D.R., M.H., C.B., and S.B.
UCSD Mentor: Rusteen Honardoost
Something Old, Something New
The story of a love that challenges traditional cultural values.
Students: M.G., T.V., C.B., M.M., and K.O.
UCSD Mentors: Shane Konno and Ben Steen
La Revolución
The story of a couple’s run-in with an unexpected political uprising.
Students: D.V., A.P., J.R., E.H., and C.S.
UCSD Mentor: Rhiann Suen
Not Afraid
The story of violence and courage in a Detroit.
Students: L.D., L.P., B.D., D.H., J.M.
UCSD Mentor: Matthew Schiefer