For many people, being in front of a camera can feel intimidating. Not for Santi, a high school student at 37ECB in City Heights.
He feels right at home creating videos for YouTube and social media. But there’s something he admits doesn’t come quite as naturally: talking to people he doesn’t know.
“For me, it’s hard to communicate with people. I get really shy,” he said.
This past summer, Santi stepped out of the classroom and his comfort zone, getting behind the camera to tell other people’s stories, putting his communication skills to the test.
Through Media Arts Center San Diego’s “Framing the Outdoors” filmmaking fellowship, Santi and two fellow filmmakers documented Monarch School students as they explore robotics, life sciences and hands-on learning with the Elementary Institute of Science.
Five Weeks, Fifteen Filmmakers
Over five weeks, 15 young filmmakers learned what it takes to bring a documentary to life, from operating professional cameras and conducting interviews to editing their own short films.
Supported by San Diego Foundation, the fellowship connects two of its initiatives: Expanded Learning, supporting educational opportunities beyond the classroom, and Opening the Outdoors, helping more young people access outdoor experiences.
The fellowship brought together students from across San Diego County, including those attending schools within the Juvenile Court and Community Schools system.
Students spent their first week learning how to use professional equipment and preparing for documentary production before heading out to film at local nonprofits.
For Isaac Levy Ruiz, one of the program’s instructors at Media Arts Center San Diego, one of the most rewarding parts of the experience is watching students take ownership of their work.
“Putting a camera in a kid’s hand is giving them agency,” he said. “They have power and they have choice in what they want to pursue in life.”
Learning From the Outdoors
While the filmmakers learned to tell stories behind the camera, the students they interviewed were discovering new interests and experiences of their own.
From paddleboarding to hands-on science activities, the documentaries captured young people connecting with nature, exploring their interests and learning outside the classroom.
“I’m learning about new job opportunities and about the ecosystem, and ways that solar energy helps us,” one student shared in the documentary Santi helped create.
For Santi, documenting the Elementary Institute of Science meant seeing students explore robotics, study animals and discover new interests through hands-on activities.
“It was cool because I like science,” he shared.
The fellowship culminated in the Framing the Outdoors Film Festival at UC San Diego Park & Market, featuring documentary screenings, student question-and-answer sessions and awards.
More Than a Film
For the young filmmakers, the fellowship was more than a summer camp. It was a paid, work-based learning opportunity that gave students firsthand experience with the expectations of a professional environment.
“I always like to talk about filmmaking as a team sport,” Isaac said. “It’s a collaborative art.”
He said filmmaking offers students a chance to develop skills that extend beyond the camera, from communicating with others and working as a team to managing responsibilities and meeting deadlines.
Recognizing that students were balancing school, jobs and other responsibilities, Media Arts Center San Diego provided transportation, meals and a welcoming creative space at the City Heights Library’s Idea Lab to help make participation easier.
Isaac hopes these new skills will serve them well, whether or not they pursue careers in filmmaking.
For Santi, the fellowship offered a different experience from the videos he was used to creating for social media. Despite his initial hesitations, those unfamiliar conversations became one of his favorite parts of the program.
“It was really fun,” he said. “If I could do it again, I would.”
Learn more about San Diego Foundation’s Education Initiatives.
