'The opportunity to tell a story'

Source: Sentinel and Enterprise
Author: Cheryl A. Cuddahy

LEOMINSTER -- Fresh Films, a nonprofit youth organization that runs a free career readiness program, has a mission to transform the lives of teenagers by inviting them to explore the collaborative, creative and technical sides of filmmaking.

Fresh Films offers two after-school programs in the area, now through the end of the school year, at the Spanish American Center and Fitchburg High School.

The programs are the same in the sense that both are part of the national program, using the same curriculum, syllabus, and equipment.

"With so many jobs available, we wanted to reach as many talented young people as possible," said Sharlene Richards, Fresh Films Outreach Specialist. "Students get to build a portfolio of video content during the program, and gain experience on projects to create music videos, documentaries, social media content, and more."

The program is free and never requires previous experience or a particular GPA, just a commitment to learn and collaborate.

This filmmaking program also offers industry professionals from companies like Sony, Roku, and more.

"Teen participants do not simply receive a camera and get turned loose," said Richards. "Instead, they apprentice under the close mentor of professionals and college interns, along with local instructors."

Leading the program at the Spanish American Center is Andrea Seward.

Seward is the owner of Habakkuk Media Services in Leominster. She has over 27 years' experience providing media and design services to a wide range of clientele.

She has delivered over 600 audio, video, and photography services for print and web projects, and is a specialist in studio and location lighting and digital retouching.

Seward is professionally trained in utilizing state-of-the-art applications in video production and digital photography, as well as training and teaching.

"I believe that the word 'film' in the program's title belies the complete package that is afforded to the students," said Seward. "The students learn and are exposed to AI tools, graphic arts, photography, soft skills, and team building - a host of tools that will afford each student a marketable skill - and I'm thrilled to be a part of that."

Seward adds how much she loves how valuable the information is and the fact that the students don't have to pay.

"It's incredible," she said. "We get tremendous support from Fresh Films, if I were a student this program would be the highlight of my formative education."

Brunildo Rodriguez, who leads the program at Fitchburg High School, agrees with Seward on the importance of this program.

Rodriguez is an educator with 28 years of classroom experience. Prior to teaching, he enjoyed a successful career in television broadcasting. He worked as a line producer for Noticiero Telemundo/CNN, a national Spanish language newscast, and as producer on Noticiero CNN Internacional, an international Spanish language newscast.

In addition to his national broadcast experience, Rodriguez was producer of The Monitor Channel's international Spanish language news broadcast "El Monitor de Hoy".

Furthermore, Rodriguez worked as producer of the AQUI program at WCVB-TV where he was the recipient of an Emmy Award from the New England Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

"I enjoy being part of the program because it offers the youth the opportunity to tell a story from their perspective," said Rodriguez. "It allows them to be creative while gaining meaningful and marketable skills that are transferable to any industry. Furthermore, it was a program similar to this that made a difference in my life when I was in high school that led me to a career in broadcasting - Fresh Films works!"

Attending the program at the Spanish American Center is Jade Mitchell, a ninth-grade student at Leominster High School, who says she likes the program because it teaches her how to do a lot of different things.

"After starting this program, I realized all the hard work that goes into making a film," she said. "You learn the basic knowledge of what goes into a production and now when I watch television or a movie, I notice all the things that I am learning in this program. I am excited to have a career plan to become a director."

Fresh Films began as an afterschool program in 2002, engaging youth attending Chicago Public Schools. By 2006, Fresh Films expanded to other cities around the nation to teach underserved teens mediamaking skills, build social and emotional learning, and build confidence as the teens develop skills that prepare them for college and the workforce.

The yearly program is currently offered in Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Phoenix, New Jersey/NY Metro, Atlanta, and the Quad Cities.

"I love teaching and the students seem to catch on quickly," Seward said. "They are discovering what areas they do like."

"One enjoys bossing - I mean - directing," Seward says with a laugh. "Another enjoys engaging from behind the camera, while another enjoys watching for continuity - it is all quite exciting."