Join us for our event in partnership with The United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of PA and Temple University Department of Film and Media Arts, 'The Philadelphia Project: Film As a Youth Development Tool to Deconstruct Narratives'. This event begins with a screening of hour-long documentary The Philadelphia Project starring students of local Strawberry Mansion High School, followed by a Q&A with Filmmaker, Erahm Christopher. This film will impact your approach to youth engagement and just may transform your very definition of Brotherly Love.
During the Q&A we will explore Erahm's process of teaching youth and adults how to utilize the filmmaking thought process to connect, reconcile and expand their creativity to tackle social issues. Q&A will be moderated by Amira Smith, Director of Multicultural Affairs for Greater Philadelphia Film Office.
The Philadelphia Project is a thought-provoking film that explores the shared experience of the filmmaker, Erahm Christopher, with students of Strawberry Mansion High School. During a nine-month program, Erahm worked with sixteen youth at the only high school in the "most dangerous police district in Philadelphia". Erahm trained the youth to deconstruct narrative media to understand how artistic techniques may influence how a viewer thinks and feels. The students learned how to apply the same method to express their thoughts regarding current events. The collaborative process helped unify the youth and improve their communication, public speaking and writing skills. The program culminated in a spoken word presentation to members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Erahm documented the entire program on camera, resulting in a 60-minute documentary, Philadelphia Project, currently being utilized as an educational tool to help improve the social dynamic of their urban community. Philadelphia Project explores important topics such as acceptance, perception, growing up in Philadelphia, and what Brotherly Love really means.
Director’s Statement
In 2013, World News With Diane Sawyer aired a two-part segment about the only High School in the 22nd Police District in Philadelphia. Sawyer dramatically described the learning environment as “one of the most dangerous schools in America” and painted a familiar urban portrait. While the piece highlighted the severe challenges the students faced, it failed to capture the true thoughts and feelings of the brilliant and resilient youth.
Journalists often illuminate the dilapidated buildings, looming violence and stone-walled adolescents living in the trauma inflicted landscape. However, the genuine humanity is hidden by the tough visage that takes precious time to break through.
Shortly after Ms. Sawyer’s last visit, I spent nearly nine months with sixteen high school freshman at the now famous Strawberry Mansion. My hope was to exploit creativity to bridge social divides and shift their hardened perspective towards each other. The project was documented in a cinéma vérité style so the project sponsor could see first-hand if the experience had an impact.
Although the footage was never intended to be assembled into a film, the courageous youths altered my perception so much that I felt it was necessary to share what I learned. It is my hope that the insight they offered me will help others living in a similar world feel less alone and bridge the divide with those seemingly on the outside.
