FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Release Date: January 5, 2010 Contact: Ms. Raeshma Razvi Silkworm Media Phone: 408-966-2046 Urban Youth Filmmakers from Los Angeles and the Bay Area to participate in the documentary,
and screen youth films in Weed, California Over the Martin Luther King Day Holiday Weekend, young filmmakers from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland will travel to Weed, California for a series of events and activities designed to support their education as young artists and citizens of a socially and geographically diverse California. Ten young adults, ages 17-22, will screen and discuss their recently-completed films as well as give some production support to Mark Oliver and James Langford’s documentary-in-progress, “From the Quarters to Lincoln Heights,” about Weed’s significant African-American community. Based on the theme of ‘connections and disconnections,’ this trip is an opportunity for urban and rural youth and adults to connect in a rural setting, with a focus on learning about race & class issues in California, engaging in documentary production, and making critical connections between rural north and urban south. This trip is produced by Silkworm Media (Raeshma Razvi) and Community Bridge Video (CB Smith-Dahl) in a collaborative effort known as The Viewfinders, which creates opportunities for young adults to travel and create media-art, while learning more about themselves and the world. As part of a public program in conjunction with the Weed Revitalization Coalition’s community dinner, these young filmmakers will present portions of their films and talk about specific scenes that illustrate the challenges and joys of creating media. Event: Film Screening & Discussion – “Challenges in Community Filmmaking: Youth tell their Stories” Date: Saturday, January 16, 7pm (Community Dinner at 6pm, Screening at 7pm) Place: Weed Mercantile Mall Address: 590 Main St., Weed, CA The screening is hosted by the Weed Revitalization Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to the revitalization of the City of Weed and the surrounding area. It promotes business and visitor trade while preserving the history, charm, and spirited atmosphere of this historic lumber town nestled at the foot of spectacular Mt. Shasta. The young filmmakers will also participate in filming the area for their own projects, as well as for Shasta resident and filmmaker Mark Oliver and Weed resident James Langford’s documentary-in-progress, an exploration of the history and personal stories of Weed’s African-American community. At 10% of the town’s 3000 people, this minority represents one of the most significant African-American town populations in Northern California. Other local residents will offer their expertise on the history of the area, including Jim Ray, retired College of the Siskiyous history professor. This trip is funded by ZeroDivide™. ZeroDivide invests in community enterprises that leverage technology to benefit people in low-income and other underserved communities. The youth films that will be screened received partial funding from the California Council for the Humanities’ “How I See It” campaign designed to give California youth an opportunity to explore community and personal issues and present their thoughts, ideas and discoveries to the public. In addition, The Weed Revitalization Coalition (WRC) and Mark Oliver are recipients of a California Story Fund grant. To schedule youth interviews or obtain screening information, contact Raeshma Razvi at: 408-966-2046 or raeshma.razvi@gmail.com. For information on the community dinner, please contact the WRC or John Oliver at: 530-938-3229.