Hi everyone,
I sent a brief email to two film department professors up at UAF, asking if they knew of a way for us to produce a short informational video to use for awareness-raising and support-soliciting. One of the professors forwarded my message on to his students and within a few days, I got a call from a film major who says she would love to donate her time and help us out in any way with this project (or otherwise). Her name is Nannette. She has two weeks free in between semesters and would be interested in spending some of that time on this project. I told her I would let you all know and get back to her with better plans (if any).
Thoughts, ideas, concerns?
Anyone want to take on the project?
Add it to Tuesday’s agenda?
See you soon!
Sarah Finnell
Are we wanting short version comments from homeless youth? Here are some from my experiences with homeless. Let me know if on the right track with these.
1) I called my mother to talk about coming home and she cut me off to say”if you have been with any boys we don’t want you back” my heart sank as sexual abuse was why I left. I thought they would miss me and treat me better if I was gone awhile.
2)Since running away I have come to know nothing is free. When people are nice to you, give you beer or pot it will cost you later.
3) Going to get food is hard, but being hungry is tougher. You wait in line for food. You wait in a line for someone to let you stay in their shelter for one night. You can’t always find someone to stay inside with and then you owe them.
4)I have lost everything. You can’t carry it around. You can’t stash it and know it will still be there later. If someone sees you put it there they will bother with it.
5) They yelled when I came home. Nothing was ever good enough for my father. He wanted someone else for his kid. I didn’t dress right, act right, breathe right so I quit them.
6) I can explain why I ran away. It still hurts. They threw me out, but it’s my fault they said.
7) I am thebproblem. Why am I not important? I just want to be happy some day. I want to have someone love me like the movies.
8)High school is tough. I never seem to fit in. No one understood. Just more hassle like at home.
9) I hate when they look at us in the store. We sit in the furniture dept to get warm. They think we steal and are crazy.
10) my friends are my family now. I can never go against them. They protect me.
YES. I think that is definitely part of what we want to put in this video- testimonials are what will grab people’s attention the most and make them want to support the cause. I was thinking along the same lines- and seeing if we could get any former/homeless teens to interview on camera- (they would have to be at least 18 and sign a consent form to use their face, unless we do something more creative to disguise them). I did something like that a while back and showed it around and got good feedback, but it was super time-consuming and I didn’t have the skills to make it amazing. Also, per your question about time-frame: I believe Nannette is free for two weeks before the fall semester at UAF begins, but might be available later as well.
Let’s talk more on Tuesday and make a plan! I can stay a little later after the meeting to discuss this, or schedule a follow-up meeting.
Excellent Sarah. It will be on the agenda.