On Thursday, the students of the American Indian Summer Institute spent the day shooting "PSAs" (Public Service Announcements). The students worked in three teams of 7-8 students, each of which were assigned production mentors from Hollywood to assist in the shoot. One notable mentor was Chuck Banner of BannerCaswell Productions, a production and post-production studio specializing in cable television and private network content. His team got the opportunity to shoot in his production house, while the other two teams shot around the UCLA campus. These two teams worked hard throughout the entire day, utilizing as much daylight as possible for their outdoor shoot. The BannerCaswell team worked into the wee hours of the morning, shooting with a green screen and recording a rap to go with their PSA.

Two student teams shooting around the UCLA Campus.

The BannerCaswell team, shooting in front of a green screen.

The students spent Friday editing their footage into a final 30-second cut. One student from each team worked closely with an editor, while the others got a tour of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and heard a presentation from the Indigenous Language Institute, which encapsulated the week's media training by highlighting the importance of incorporating Native language into the students' future media works.

Later, Friday evening, the students celebrated the completion of the week's training by attending a spectacular dinner and reception, hosted by Fox Entertainment and the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. The dinner featured a preview screening of the final PSAs to an audience of Fox executives and National Geographic VIPs, and all of the students received certificates of completion.

Students receiving their certificates of completion from Fox Studios.

On Saturday, the week wrapped up with an amazing screening of new films for the All Roads International Film Showcase.

Congratulations to the students for completing the rigorous but fun week of training and workshops. Check back tomorrow for a re-cap of the International Showcase!

Article by Claire Ensslin

Yesterday at the American Indian Summer Institute, the students spent the day at Fox Studios. Presenters Marsha Cole and Kevin Considine shared valuable insight about working in Hollywood, and later that day, the students attended the WGAW (Writer's Guild of America, West) Reading Series, presented by the WGAW American Indian Writers Committee and the Fox American Indian Summer Institute.

Marsha Cole, one of the presenters, is a sought-after motivational speaker and trainer for youth career preparation, who began her own career in the entertainment industry at the age of seventeen. "We need to prepare our youth for careers and provide them with the necessary tools to compete in the marketplace," she says.

Kevin Considine, another presenter, founded Hollywood CPR, a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 © (3) organization, in 1997. He was inspired by the arts, which helped him break through the walls erected by academia and led him to a successful career in the entertainment industry.

The American Indian Writer's Committee, who hosted the reading series, represents the professional and creative interests of American Indian writers. It works to mentor, encourage, empower and increase the visibility and employment of writers of American Indian heritage. The series featured staged readings of short scenes from unproduced screenplays or teleplays by WGA members.

Here's what the students had to say:

"I learned that you have to be very enthusiastic, really believe in your project, and that you can't be shy. At times I was being the typical Native, holding myself back, but I learned today that I need to push myself."
-Carey Tully

"The most exciting part of coming here to Fox today was getting to know the writers...They shared [their knowledge of] how things happen in Hollywood and this gave me a better perspective for how to approach what I eventually want to do."
-Kelly McCabe

"Today has changed my whole perspective...it's been a great opportunity to hear the insight of these professionals in their fields...so far [the program] has surpassed any expectations that I had...they keep us really busy."
-Dietrich Wilke

The week will end with an amazing showcase of new International films hosted by the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. Buy your tickets today!

Check back daily for more updates on this exciting program!

Article by Claire Ensslin

The 2008 All Roads Film Festival arrived in Hollywood, CA providing a refreshing glimpse into our planet's many cultural treasures amidst the staid breeze of uncertainty that had settled within the west coast valley. As K'NAAN's "Smile" oozed from the stage and into the LA night, a sense of positive vibrations seemed to sweep the prudence one faces when encountering a new discovery. According to All Roads Film Project director, Francene Blythe, "All Roads is place to travel around the world without going too far awary from home." She officially opened the festival reflecting upon the pillars that set the 5th year into being.

"Images & Stories: A New Generation" provides the thematic centerpiece for the film and photography showcased throughout the 2008 festival. With 29 dynamic films and 4 captivating photography exhibits collectively representing 20 cultures from 15 countries, the LA launch provided the broad strokes of a vast cultural landscape of past traditions, contemporary stories and new ideas. Stand out films and programs included, The Linguists, which chronicles a whirlwind expedition of Enduring Voices, a National Geographic initiative, that seeks to document endangered languages before the last fluent speaker dies. Two of the film's principals, lead researcher David Harrison and Johnny Hill Jr., one of last fluent speakers of Chemehuevi, were on hand to provide greater depth into the film's back-story and revitalization efforts, an omnipresent theme addressed throughout the festival. Last night, All Roads hosted a pre-festival event at the Mexican Cultural Institute showcasing the revitalization of the son music tradition along the Tesechoacán.River in the state of Veracruz, Mexico Persian Portraits was also a refreshing surprise. Programmed by Iran's Documentary Experimental Film Center as a cultural bridge through film, the program's five dynamic films portray a wide range of thematic ideas and emotions through the eyes of contemporary Iranian society. The festival also served host to three All Roads Seed Grantees making their North American and World Premieres respectfully, Welcome to Ernurmino!, What Was Promised and Keao.

The students of Hollywood High School were treated to a screening of the social documentary Super Amigos during the festival's LA run. The students, between the ages of 16-18, were enraptured by the film from start to finish as the adventures of the "Super Amigos" revealed themselves on the silver screen.
According to one of the teachers, Barbara Gordon, this behaviour was a rare exhibition for the group. After the film, Superbarrio engaged the students in a spirited dialogue about the social causes featured in the film. It was striking just how in touch the students were with the human rights issues afflicting this continents megalopolis'. Several implored the Mexican "luchador" to come to their city to help champion their respective causes.

Images courtesy of Becky Hale, National Geographic Society