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(upbeat rock music plays) Hi.

I'm Olivia and welcome to Young Creators Studio.

This week's episode is packed full of educational films.

From learning about the importance of school gardens to how dance can bring people closer to their culture and spread knowledge.

And the best part is you don't need to grab a pencil or paper or study for a quiz.

Just kick back, relax, and enjoy these videos.

(guitar music plays) - You can call me Anito.

I am a dancer, a choreographer.

I also dabbled film in multimedia.

- Currently, I'm working with one of the TV shows, "You Oughta Know", and now I'm pitching a a little segment that they might potentially air.

- Hello.

My name is Brooke Brown and I'm going to be interviewing you on the pandemic, vaccine, and wellness.

- There are so many things that make the garden at Henry School special.

Kids get to come out of the classroom and they get to put their hands in the dirt.

(upbeat music playing) Welcome to Young Creators Studio.

Today, we're at the grounds for sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey.

Coming up, you'll see how students and their teachers started a vegetable garden in their school to promote healthy eating, along with how students spent their summer interning at different media organizations across Philly and the amazing projects they worked on and information they soaked up.

It's great seeing teens find their passion and possibly new formed careers at such a young age.

Let's take a look.

(marker scribbles) - My name is Anniel Gonzales Gavino.

That is my birth name, but you can call me Anito, 'cause I recently renamed myself.

And Anito in my language, which is Hiligaynon, means "spirit".

I am a dancer, a professional dancer for many years, a choreographer and a dance educator.

I'm also a dance writer and a- I also dabble with film and multimedia.

And I am the director and founder of AniMalaya Works.

(traditional music plays) Every day for me is different.

Sometimes I go to a school and I teach 'cause I'm an adjunct professor.

I'm also commissioned to teach sometimes in different communities and create a dance for the community there.

My goal for what I do for my choreographies are basically to archive our stories because not a lot of our stories are centered in our education.

We're about to enter Asian American Pacific Islander month, and I don't think that's very much celebrated, until maybe now in the past couple years.

A lot of our stories are erased in our history books.

We basically kind of just are perpetual guests to United States of America.

We're not really centered and highlighted in the telling of the American story.

So, I do that through my dance.

And then when I do teach dance, I try to reframe dance away from Eurocentric dance which is generally like ballet, modern.

Although that's still part of what I teach, 'cause I also learned that, I definitely reframe it and add dance from the Asian diaspora and the African diaspora that I've learned through the years of my experiences to my syllabus.

- [Student] Ah, I have to listen.

- Well, my target audience for the works that I do are initially Filipino Americans, but because I live in the context of United States of America, I'm also realizing that I'm part of this category called Asian American.

So, I do target that as well, target that audience 'cause I feel like there's a lot of things that we experience the general Asian American community can relate to.

Even if our stories are not monolith, they're not the same, but they're definitely relatable.

And for any immigrant, basically, even children of immigrants, they feel like they are disconnected to their culture and detached from their their mother land, their mother culture, their ancestors.

I create work so that people are reminded to connect.

(bamboo poles clanking) Well, I want everyone to check us out with checking www.anigavino.com to figure out- to find out more about what I do and what we do.

(bamboo stick clanking) (singing in foreign language) (marker scribbles) - [Male Announcer] Each year, WHYY education department selects a group of young adults to intern at media companies across Philadelphia.

In this program, they expand their skills in media production, gain valuable work experience and collaborate with funders across the media landscape.

We spoke with interns, mentors, funders, and organizers of the pathways to media careers program to learn about their experiences.

(inspirational music plays) - WHYY's Pathways to Media Careers Youth Employment Program is a seven-week paid internship experience for Philadelphia area students who are ages 16 to 19 and who have completed at least one year in the WHYY media education program.

(upbeat music playing) - The WHYY has come up with this pathways to careers program to actually secure internships which increasingly everyone knows are really important to giving youth skills that they might need in the workplace.

And so WHYY is already doing some of the work that we would like to see some other stations do too.

- The most beneficial thing for me, and it's just because of my personality and just getting to know people in general, I feel like I benefited in the fact that I was able to build so many friendships and so many connections with so many different people.

- I'm learning things that can help me both now and in the future in my career, because I'm now considering radio as a career path, which I never thought of before.

- I just like working with the organization because they're so respectful, generous, and they're kind.

- This summer, summer 2021, we have a few old partners and a few new partners that have joined the team and they include the Billy Penn news group, the WHYY Grants Department, the Mural Arts Organization, the National Park Service, WHYY's new newsroom, the City of Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability, WHYY's The Pulse, the WURD radio station, WHYY's You Oughta Know show, and the WHYY production team is putting on a youth poetry project.

- So, my business partner this year is Mural Arts.

We specifically are focusing on murals that are around restorative justice and those are especially important 'cause it has a story to tell and an impact to the community.

And I am so excited to just go out on the field every day and film artwork that's around Philadelphia.

- My business partner is the National Park Service.

It's very nice being able to work them.

I'm kind of in their special club now.

We know the little slangs.

- Currently, I'm working with one of the TV shows, "You Oughta Know", and now I'm pitching a little segment that they might potentially air.

And also I have little freelance projects that I do where I go out and shoot events and interview people and let their voices be heard.

- During work on this project, I interviewed the people I met and had some pretty great conversations.

Currently, I'm helping my team in the editing process of the project video.

And so far it's pretty great.

(piano music plays) - The program has evolved a lot over these past three years.

Last summer, we had to move the full program virtual.

So, one thing that we've changed is that students work with our business partners as like freelancers.

We were able to give the students their own cameras and different things that they need in order to make media at home.

And after the successful completion of the summer, that gear is theirs to keep.

- All right, audio rolling.

This is take, um... - It's also enabled us to have our WHYY instructors that the students know and work with all throughout the school year to be embedded in the program too.

And they're just a really invaluable resource.

- My name is Brianna Spause.

I am a Youth Media Instructor with WHYY, and this year for our summer internship program, I'm supervising the mural arts team and we are hoping to make a documentary about the Women's Guild.

- I really enjoy that I am able to practice my leadership style and work with an incredible group of students that are very, very talented.

I also enjoy working in team solving problems, and just getting to know this very excellent group of students that have really great stories to share.

- I'm a media instructor during the year.

So, usually I'm working with whole classes but it's really nice to have like a lot of one-on-one time and to be a little closer to what feels like a real mentorship.

- I really enjoy the career pathways program because I enjoy seeing interns grow over a short period of time.

Even in the few weeks that we've been working so far I've seen some of the interns I've worked with increase their photography skills and videography skills.

- My group instructor has really helped me as well.

Just working through all the clips that I got and being able to really craft a story from all the footage and the interviews that I was able to capture.

- We are not only teaching them media skills but more importantly, we are teaching them professionalism.

- The best thing I can hope for is that students leave our program with a sense of confidence, honestly.

Because sometimes it takes confidence and courage to tell a story especially if it's really important, and it matters to you.

(soft music plays) - If I could describe my experience with this program in one word, I would say, "enlightening".

- My experience with WHYY would definitely be refreshing.

- Another benefit is getting way better at, you know, photography and videography.

- It has managed to expand my creative horizon.

With the equipment they gave me, I can use to take interesting photos and see what I can do with them.

(smooth lo-fi music plays) - Being involved in this group has gave me such a confidence.

This program has really helped me for the better.

- It's just been really great building those connections.

And once you have those connections, further down the line they can always help you in some aspect.

And that has been just the most beneficial thing for me.

- Being involved in such a group has really gave me confidence to express my interests.

And that's an experience I can never forget.

- Overall, I feel like I jump started my media making career.

(film rolling) - [Brooke] Hello.

My name is Brooke Brown.

And I'm going to be interviewing you on the pandemic, vaccine, and wellness.

I just want you to gimme a few thoughts on how you feel, and here we go.

So, tell me about yourself.

- Well- - Well- ("I Love U, Part 1" by Panthurr playing) - [Brooke] Where are you with the vaccine?

- At the present?

I'm not sure.

- I am vaccinated.

I got both shots at my local Rite Aid and I wasn't too hesitant, but I was hesitant 'cause of symptoms.

- Feels it's kind of helped society.

It's a good thing.

I don't think people should be forced.

You know, it's a personal choice but me personally I'm vaccinated.

- Well at first, I had mixed feelings about the vaccine because I was confused as to how they came up with the vaccine so quickly.

But now that I got my first and second dose, I'm starting to have positive feelings towards it.

- Me, personally, I hadn't taken the vaccine.

And in terms of supporting it, I can't really say much 'cause I don't have enough evidence to back my statements.

So, like right now I'm in the middle ground.

- On the vaccine, I mean I have- I understand why some people are weary of it.

Like, but personally I have it.

I'm not dead.

So, I don't see a problem.

- Well, I'm still on fence about it.

I'm not a hundred percent convinced that I should get it.

I hear a lot of good things about it and bad things about it.

And I'm just waiting.

See what would be the best choice for me and my family.

- [Student Interviewer] What impacted your decision about the vaccine?

- I've read a lot of what's out there.

I'm trying to understand and listen to the science and those who have the expertise.

I hear a lot of what they say but I'm still not totally in on everything that's going on.

- So, when I first got it, like the next day, I felt a little woo-ish, like sluggy, but it went over in the next like day or so.

- My doctor who is older than me and he had COVID and he was very sick and he almost died.

So, he shared his personal experience with me and just kind of made me aware, you know?

Opened my eyes.

- This still gave me like mixed feelings about what I should think about it.

'Cause after the second dose, I had been experiencing some like dizziness and headaches, but that eventually went away.

- Like I said, I haven't had any personal experiences with the vaccine since I haven't taken it.

However, my neighbor, my next door neighbor, took the vaccine and she had to get surgery recently 'cause she had blood clots in her brain.

So, like other blood issues and she had, but she had put a spoon on her arm and it kind of stuck.

- It was kind of just a sense of, I just want this to be over with, okay?

So with the vaccine, I kind of just trusted it.

I was really hoping that it should work.

- The media, the news, hearing people's side effects and stories, all that stuff.

I try to take it all in before I decide on whatever I wanna do.

- [Brooke] We know the pandemic, isn't the only issue in these times, so can you tell us about other forces impacting your health and wellness these days?

- For the most part, you gotta think it's being in a home, at home, pardon me, for as long as we were.

What?

Like, 18 months or something like that?

It took a toll on everybody, you know?

Mentally, physically, emotionally.

- I don't go outside much, so sometimes I need like vitamin D, C. So, get that up a little.

- Well, I guess the biggest thing is difficultly getting appointments and for routine stuff, screenings and things.

Long waiting to get appointments.

It's kind of discouraging, but you know it's just a sign of the times.

I think things will get better as we move forward.

- Ever since the pandemic hit and not being able to go out and see friends, I've been having some feelings of like anxiety and stress a lot, especially with school and how that will impact my future and especially with college selections.

- All right, so back in quarantine, I was just staying indoors and eating junk food and video games all day and being unhealthy, really.

And some of these unhealthy habits still affect me to this day but I kind of adjusted and changed my lifestyle to be healthier.

- It's getting colder now.

It's hard to go out.

It's hard to go out- For a lot of people to go out exercise more, like running and stuff.

But also coming outta quarantine, kind of like readjusting to real life.

Something that impacted a lot.

Like, a lot of people got pretty messed up during quarantine, probably myself too.

- The only thing I could think of with that question is depression.

Being home all the time and not being able to socialize.

And just thinking about all the negative stuff with COVID and how many people are dying and not knowing what route to take with the vaccine or not.

Reading all the time one of us can catch the coronavirus.

- How do you imagine wellness in the future for yourself and the community?

- Hopefully getting back to where I was.

Continually trying to lose weight.

Mentally and emotionally just staying focused and just continuously trying to be the leader of this family, as well as leading side-by-side or may I say co-leading.

- It's gonna be better.

I will be more active and there will be more people going outside.

Everybody in the pandemic is like over and handled.

- Oh, it's hard to say.

I mean, I can't predict the future but I think if everyone just uses common sense and takes the right precautions, I think everyone will be fine.

People just need to settle down and relax.

- Well, I hope people will get a better understanding of coronavirus and the vaccine and you know, we'll eventually get through it together.

- So, recently I started going to the gym and honestly it got me feeling a lot healthier and more motivated and more active to do more healthier things.

It helped me clear my mind and get in this like a better state of mind.

And I don't really see me stopping any time soon but I wanna be healthier in the future too.

For the future of the community, anything can happen but I'll say let's all strive to be healthier.

- I think it's gonna take some time, but I feel like things can get better, because for a while, it seems like it's been for while now, but we're kind of on the tail end of everything.

So, I kind of feel like it'll work out.

- Well, I would like to imagine it good, healthy.

I mean making the right decision, whether it's getting the vaccine or not just hoping for the best and the decision I do make and just worrying less and being happier and moving on from the crazy two years we've been having.

- [Student Interviewer] These interviews were conducted in 2021.

Things have changed since then, such as more and more places have been lifting the mask mandates for their companies.

People who have lung problems or any type of issues with breathing are now able to walk around comfortably without a mask.

Also vaccines have been less of a requirement allowing the unvaccinated to have more options in what they do.

(marker scribbles) - My name is Meredith Jacobi, and what I do at the Henry school is volunteer to help run and manage our awesome school garden.

- My name is Katarina Mullins-Sheard.

I teach first grade at CW Henry school.

- There are so many things that make the garden at Henry School special.

What for me makes it so special is that kids get to come out of the classroom and they get to put their hands in the dirt and get to learn all about how to grow food in the actual garden and not just in a book.

- Well, you get your hands dirty.

You can actually, like I said, taste what you grow.

See all sorts of things growing that maybe you've never noticed before.

I've seen some children try asparagus for the first time or actually just pick like a blackberry on their- You know, for the first time themselves.

So, they see this in the store, but to actually see it on the plant is something really special and magical.

- I think it's important to have a school garden especially a garden that grows food because I think it's so important for us to know where our food comes from, how to grow it, and to learn to love nature.

- I think it's really important that we grow our own food, that we see how that's done, that we learn the life cycle of the plant, and get to taste the things that we grow.

I think that's very exciting.

Everyone always loves that whenever we go.

- I chose to volunteer at the Henry School garden, do class lessons, because I had two children that attended school here, and I had seen this garden for so many years and wondered what was going on with it so that when I had kids going to school here I felt encouraged to learn more.

And once I learned more, then I was excited to help out, not only with my own kids classes, but with all the kids that go to school here.

- So, I have lots of favorite sections.

I love tomatoes.

So, I love the tomato section.

I love the herbs.

So, herbs are really important.

You can smell them on your hands.

You can taste them.

And I think the students really love the fact that something that's green can have so many different smells or tastes.

Which is really neat when you look at the herbs growing.

We also have an Eat Right Now program where they're making a dressing to go along with the lettuces that we grow.

And so you can tie in a lot of different programs with this garden and everyone can enjoy it before school, after school, on the weekends.

And I just think it's something that's really special for us to have at CW Henry School.

- Being in nature is very, very healing.

And it's really nice whenever you can to get outside and communicate with the space around you and to learn about where your food comes from.

(marker scribbles) - Hey!

Olivia, again.

Do you wanna learn the same video production techniques that made these films so amazing?

Here's Steve, WHYY's manager of media instruction, to show you how with this creator tip.

(marker scribbles) - Thanks, Olivia.

Hi, I'm Steve Dixon, Manager of Media Instruction at WHYY.

Today, we are going to talk about two principle camera movements, pan and tilt.

(upbeat electric music plays) Camera movements give style and tone to your film and these two basic but important movements can do the same for you.

First, you will need a camera and a tripod.

Begin by securing your camera by locking it down on your tripod and then make sure it's leveled.

Next, understanding panning is simple.

You move your camera from left to right or right to left using the tripod's handle.

It's usually used to reveal an object or subject.

(upbeat electric music plays) Or you can use it to follow an action such as a person walking.

As for tilting, you move your camera vertically up and down.

Tilt up and tilt down, again, using the tripods handle, used to reveal an object or subject in your story.

It's also good to use when revealing tall objects, such as buildings.

(upbeat electric music playing) To create a nice smooth pan or tilt adjust your tripod locks to move it freely and create less drag or resistance.

Your movement should be steady and even at a consistent pace.

Don't jerk the camera, stop and go, or swivel it back and forth like a paint brush.

Make sure the camera stays level while you're moving, and remember to readjust your locking mechanisms so your camera doesn't move without you and the rest of your footage.

Pans and tilts can be used in narrative films along with B-roll for your documentary or news package.

It can upgrade your production skills and add a professional touch to your films.

So, go out, practice these new skills, and I can't wait to see how you utilize them in your next film.

(electric guitar music plays) - Thanks for watching.

I hope you learned from these amazing videos.

You know, I might start my own garden in my backyard but what should I grow?

Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots.

Wow.

There are so many options.

Well, before I keep you here all night, I'm Olivia and I'll see you next time on Young Creators Studio.

(electric guitar music playing)