VVC LogoVideoVoice Collective, A Program of Back House Productions

Video

VideoVoice Communities Mosaic

VideoVoice Review
Our VideoVoice Communities

Our VideoVoice Communities is a review of community-academic-film partnerships for health during the past two years. Our research and video partners range from age 12 to 93, live in neighborhoods from Kupang, Indonesia to San Francisco, California, and took part in the discovery of health issues that really matter to their communities from public housing conditions to economic survival.

Sneak Peak at Army Street

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
A Sneak Peak at Army Street

A Sneak Peak at Army Street is a documentary short by Mariah and Lima, teen residents of Bernal Dwellings public housing in San Francisco. In this short, they tell you about what it's like to be a teen living in the projects, what changes they would like to see in the neighborhood, and where they see themselves in the future. As Mariah interviews her father, the video touches on the importance of having a dad in your life and the difference this made for a young woman growing up in the projects. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture their proud sense of community, difficult current reality, and dreams for the future of the neighborhood.

Ghetto Isnt What It Seems

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
The Ghetto Isn't What It Seems

The Ghetto Isn't What It Seems is a documentary short by Norrisha, a teen resident of Bernal Dwellings public housing in San Francisco. In this short, Norrisha poetically introduces you to a day in her life and the strength, resilience, and concerns of her community. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud proud sense of community, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

Living at Bernal Dwellings

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
Living at Bernal Dwellings

Living at Bernal Dwellings is a documentary short by Marteka, a teen resident of Bernal Dwellings public housing in San Francisco. In this short, Marteka introduces you to her neighbors as they describe the joys and challenges of living in the projects as well as their suggestions for making it a healthier place to live. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud proud sense of community, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

Berann Introduces the Neighborhood

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
Berann Introduces You to Her Neighborhood

Berann Introduces Her Neighborhood is a documentary short by Berann, a teen resident of Bernal Dwellings public housing in San Francisco. In this short, Berann introduces you to her neighbors as they describe the joys and challenges of living in the projects as well as their suggestions for making it a healthier place to live. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud proud sense of community, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

Communities Getting Closer

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
Communities Getting Closer

Communities Getting Closer is a documentary short by Michaela, a teen resident of North Beach Place public housing in San Francisco. In this short, Michaela takes you on a tour of her public housing community and shows you what's most important in her life, decribing some of the challenges and joys of her life. She touches on topics such as the health impacts of education and social cohesion. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud proud sense of community, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

The Skaters

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
The Skaters

The Skaters is a documentary short by Rahsaan and his team Jacob and Melvin, teen residents of North Beach Place public housing in San Francisco. In this short, Rahsaan and crew tell you about the things that they really care about--skating!--and their ideas for change in the community. They touch on topics such as safety and social support programs in public housing. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud proud sense of community, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

The Tourist District

Healthy Redevelopment VideoVoice Project
The Tourist District

The Tourist District is a documentary short by Darius and Deron, teen residents of North Beach Place public housing in San Francisco. In this short, Darius and Deron take you on a tour of their neighborhood, as they see it, decribing some of the challenges of living in the tourist district and their ideas for change in the community. They touch on topics such as the health impacts of local economy and social cohesion. This video was produced as a part of the Healthy Redevelopment Project, a partnership between teen residents of public housing, researchers/students at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), and other community leaders. With the help of UCB facilitators, teens conceived, filmed, and edited videos to tell the real story of their neighborhood as it has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud proud sense of community, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

Felicity Street in 1800s New Orleans

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
In Harmony: Introduction to our Central City

In Harmony: Reflections, Thoughts, and Hopes of Central City is a documentary video series about everyday people findings their voices and coming together to tell the story of their New Orleans neighborhood. It was conceived, filmed, and edited by people who felt that, despite the swarming of mass media after Katrina and efforts by filmmakers from around the world, the real story of their neighborhood has never been told. They learned to use video cameras to capture the proud history, the difficult current reality, and their dreams for the future of their neighborhood.

This is the introduction to IN HARMONY, bringing you into the world of Central City, New Orleans.

Image showing Mahalia Jackson Elementry School in New Orleans

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
In Harmony Part 1: Education

Part 1 of IN HARMONY tells the story of education in this New Orleans neighborhood.

Image showing the demoliation of public housing in New Orleans

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
In Harmony Part 2: Affordable Housing

Part 2 of IN HARMONY tells the story of affordable housing in this New Orleans neighborhood.

Image from the inside of a gutted business on OC Haley Blvd in New Orleans

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
In Harmony Part 3: Economic Development

Part 3 tells the story of economic development and jobs in this New Orleans neighborhood.

Image of VideoVoice community filmmaker Rev Skip Alexander

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
In Harmony Who made this documentary?

Meet the VideoVoice community partners, academic researchers, and filmmakers. See some hillarious out-takes. Watch these credits to find out who supported us along the way.

Image showing the murder victims of 2007 in New Orleans

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
The Challenges Facing New Orleans

We tour New Orleans with some of our community partners, learning about the challenges that face residence today as they rebuild their homes, communities, and city.

Picture of the sky and portion of a building.

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
Introduction to Our Project

Founders Anthony Veneziale and Caricia Catalani introduce their first video training with community participants in New Orleans. Some of our initial trepidations, sights, and ipmressions of the project.

Side by side pictures of dead wood and a growing tree.

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
Developing Our Paricipatory Evaluation

With any project, it’s important to make sure that you are on track, meeting your goals, and making the impact that you had hoped. This means asking the question, how are we going to get from roots to blooms? Check out how we began this process through participatory evaluation.

Picture of woman holding a video camera.

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
Meet our participatory videographers

With any project, it’s important to make sure that you are on track, meeting your goals, and making the impact that you had hoped. This means asking the question, how are we going to get from roots to blooms? Check out how we began this process through participatory evaluation.

Gigantic pile of trash.

New Orleans VideoVoice Project
Trailer for our final film "In Harmony"

"In Harmony: Reflections, Thoughts, and Hopes of Central City" is a story about a neighborhood struggling to come together. It explores its proud roots and its hopes for the future. This is the trailer for the 30 min release, premiered at the Ashè Cultural Arts Center and Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center in August 2008.