(Los
Angeles) March 25, 2003 . . . Instead of vegging in front of the tube
this season, some Los Angeles teens are utilizing the power of cable TV to
bring important messages to their peers -- thanks to a remarkable teaming
between entertainment industry giants,
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI)
and
Sundance Channel,
and a non-profit theatre company dedicated to its local community, Greenway
Arts Alliance.
Last
fall, SNI suggested a creative, and educational, outreach program to
Greenway Arts Alliance, whose own Arts Recovery Project, an
on-going series of school arts programming, had already forged a unique
relationship between Greenway and neighboring Fairfax High School.
SNI’s
goal was to provide high school students with the opportunity to make a
positive impact on their community through communication -- tutored by
volunteer professionals from cable television, audio-video production and
advertising companies that donated services, Fairfax students learned the
basics of creating a television p.s.a. campaign targeted to fellow teens
and parents.
The
students developed their own ad concepts; supervised by adult mentors, the
focus was on issues of social importance facing their community, such as
date rape, crime, drugs, teenage pregnancy, education, etc. Three
subjects were selected for production: gun safety, an anti-gang message,
and the importance of parent/teen communication. The students (again
working with advisors) then cast, directed and produced the actual spots.
The
completed PSAs premiered on
Adelphia Cable Television
last November and are expected to run on cable television in the near
future.
According to Lara Lyon, Director of Arts Education for Greenway
Arts Alliance and herself a filmmaker: “This project has empowered the
students by encouraging them to use their voice in a productive way; to
have a positive impact on their peers on the broad, influential scale that
television provides.”
The PSA project is part of an on-going educational arts program
which Greenway Arts Alliance sponsors at Fairfax High School. GAA’s
highly successful Arts Recovery Project serves the FHS student body
through a variety of activities incorporated into both the weekly
curriculum and after-school program.
Regular school
programs include:
-
“Speak Up!”, an
original writing and performance workshop.
-
providing guest
artist speakers for Drama Classes.
-
holding
Shakespeare, Spoken Word and Creative Writing Workshops.
After-school programming
includes:
-
The Greenway Court Theatre Student
Internship Program.
-
The Multi-Media Student Showcase of
exceptional student projects.
-
“In Focus,” a digital film production
workshop.
According to Fairfax High School Principal, Heather Daims, “Greenway Arts
Alliance’s ongoing commitment has created innumerable opportunities for
our students to grow in so many ways. Unselfish in spirit, passionate
about their art, with the vision to provide the best for students and the
school community -- it would be difficult to find a more outstanding group
of adults to work with students than Greenway.”
Greenway’s Arts Recovery Project is supported by grants
from such organizations as the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the
Weingart Foundation, the Witherbee Foundation, the Seth Landsberg Family
Foundation, and the Frank Foundation.
Greenway Arts Alliance, a 501c3 non-profit organization, is
located at 544 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. Phone
323-655-7679 for additional information.
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