Lights, Camera, Action!

This spring, residents from the Teen Leadership Center began an eight-week workshop where they will learn all aspects of the filmmaking process. Each student will direct a short film that will capture his journey on the road to becoming a drug-free, productive young adult. The workshop, funded by a grant from the Citi Employee Community Fund, will culminate in a final screening of their short films at an Odyssey House-sponsored film festival.

The focus of the workshop is on teaching filmmaking skills such as developing a concept, identifying key elements, creating a timeline and scheduling interviews.  In addition, the participants also learn technical skills including operating a camera and editing footage.

The theme for the participants' short films is "Treatment Works." The films will present a comprehensive portrait of the teens' growth and development during treatment. The final films will be used to both engage and educate other teens in treatment at Odyssey House. Adolescent girls in the Lafayette Avenue program will have the opportunity to participate in a similar workshop in the fall.

The filmmaking workshop is a part of Odyssey House's commitment to enhancing the educational experience of teens in our residential treatment services and sharing their accomplishments with other community-based groups dedicated to helping teens succeed.

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