Esther
All the Psychic Space
For the past 7 years, I’ve been working with and training the next generation of female and gender non-conforming filmmakers. I have learned so much from working with these teens and I know our future will be in good hands if we can survive the present. For the past few months, we have been working with an elite team of female and gender non-conforming filmmakers as they produce a documentary about their experiences while coming of age in the Times Up and Me Too era. What has struck me the most with seeing these young women in action is recognizing [...]
Instant Family Movie Review
Although it has some flaws, Instant Family is a sweet story that feels refreshingly authentic. The movie follows a couple’s decision to foster children and the mayhem that ensues. They foster three kids; one is a teenage girl, one is a pre-teen boy and one is a young girl. As predicted, fostering is harder than they expected, but the story focuses on how they all come together despite the difficulties. I do not have any experience with the foster care system, but from my outsider’s view I can say that the kids reacted to their changing homes the way I [...]
The Hate U Give
On Tuesday, October 7th, Camp Reel Stories along with a variety of other community organizations were able to attend an advanced screening of The Hate U Give at Jack London Theater in Oakland. The Hate U Give is a film adaptation of a young adult novel written by Angie Thomas with the same title. The Hate U Give tells the story of Starr Carter (played by Amandla Stenberg), a black high school girl whose life is forever changed after witnessing her childhood best friend, Khalil, being shot and killed by a white police officer. Prior to Khalil’s murder, Starr is [...]
Blackklansman
Set in 1979 and directed by Spike Lee, Blackklansman tells the story of Ron Stallworth, a black police officer who, with the help of other members on his force, goes undercover in attempt to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. In my opinion this film is cinematic genius with it’s powerful and beautifully crafted storyline, combined with sparks of witty humor to depict the history of blacks in America. The film portrayed the difficulties of balancing a healthy relationship with your community and those you love, while maintaining professionalism in the workplace. Throughout the film, however, it becomes clear that those [...]
Crazy Rich Asians Review
Crazy Rich Asians burst through movie theaters everywhere by breaking barriers that stand between Asians and the media. The film follows Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, as she travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young, who is secretly wealthy. As a result, Rachel is brought into a world of riches, disapproving mothers, and threatening socialites. Throughout the film, Rachel and Nick’s love, as well as Rachel’s identity as an Asian-American, are put to the test. Whenever I walk into a movie theater I think to myself, is this movie going to make me cry? I always decide how [...]
From Boot Camper to Program Assistant: My Journey with Camp Reel Stories
[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" overlay_strength="0.3" shape_divider_position="bottom"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_position="all" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" width="1/1" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text]From Boot Camper to Program Assistant: My Journey with Camp Reel Stories I have been involved with Camp Reel Stories since 2015, and it is truly an organization that has changed my life. Not only has CRS taught me all the skills I need to create an entire film from start to finish in five days, but it has also taught me to be more aware of the media I consume and how to speak up when I feel like my voice [...]
Camp Reel Stories has been voted a 2018 Oaklandish Innovator
Camp Reel Stories is honored to have been selected as the Oaklandish Innovator of 2018. For more info on Oaklandish and the Innovator Award: https://www.oaklandish.com/pages/community
One Day at a Time
The mission statement here at Camp Reel Stories is, “When women and girls are better represented behind the scenes in the media, they will be better reflected on the screen.” If you for some reason needed proof of this I suggest you turn your attention to this knockout of a show. One Day at a Time is the story of a Cuban American family living in Los Angeles, tackling issues of what it’s like to be Cuban in America, trying to raise a family without a father and all the other complications of raising two teens. The main character, Penelope [...]
Reel Stories Executive Director Receives a Distinguished Leadership Award
http://variety.com/2018/artisans/awards/ais-honors-13-leading-women-in-tech-and-names-10-winners-of-its-2018-technology-awards-marvel-studios-1202666483/#article-comments
Lady Bird – Film Review
Written by Clarissa Lam Everything about Lady Bird seems to challenge itself, a wildness that in this case, is completely natural and refreshing. Lady Bird, with her red hair conflicting with her catholic schoolgirl uniform, goes on a typical teenage girl’s journey of self discovery. While the general concept is nothing new, the execution is. Greta Gerwig has created a character any teenage girl can relate to. The movie takes place in Sacramento in the early 2000s at a time in Lady Bird’s life where she is making decisions about college, arguing with her mother, sifting through friend and boyfriend [...]
