Tag Archives: Directing Change

Burlingame High School studentS’ short Film Sends message of Hope

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In September 2020, the Directing Change Program launched a Hope & Justice category as an opportunity for youth to express their feelings and to inspire others through art. Submissions around “Hope” focus on sharing personal stories about what gives us hope during these challenging times and how we practice self-care. The “Justice” option asks youth to share a personal experience with discrimination or injustice that allows others to feel empathy, or entries can educate others about bias and encourage youth to take a stand against injustice when they see it.

Filmmakers Ryan Kang and Keunho Kim, students from Burlingame High School placed 1st in the Hope & Justice category with their film “Quarantined Hope”. Kang shared,

“Our short film is meant to inspire hope by documenting how writing poetry has given me a sense of hope during this pandemic. Mainly, it focuses on how poetry acts as an escape from all the stress and gloom of the current state of the world. The message is not specifically about poetry, but finding something or someone that can help cope with difficult emotions.”

The film’s message of inspiring hope aligns with this year’s Mental Health Month statewide theme #HopeForChange. The theme reminds us that while change is not always planned and can often be uncomfortable, it’s important to remind ourselves and others to spread and rely on the hope that carried us through a year of change. In honor of Mental Health Month, San Mateo County is hosting free virtual events throughout the month. For more information on the events, visit SMCHealth.org/MHM.

Along with Mental Health Month, May is Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. Uplift APA voices throughout the month of May and share creations by the APA community like this short film! For ways to support San Mateo County’s APA community, visit SMCHealth.org/HEI to learn about our various Health Equity Initiatives.

To learn more about Directing Change, visit: www.DirectingChangeCA.org  

Directing Change Contest Now Accepting Art Submissions

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Hello Directing Change partners!

I hope you are well! Now that our submission period has ended for the Directing Change annual Film Contest, we wanted to share March’s Hope & Justice prompt: “Hope for Change.” We are looking for art pieces exploring mental health, hope, resilience, and change.   In preparation for Mental Health Awareness month in May, we are asking for submissions to creatively incorporate a lime green ribbon, as lime green is the color that represents mental health. Please share this opportunity with young people ages 12-24 that might be interested and your networks! The deadline to submit to “Hope for Change” is March 31st!

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Congrats to BurlingaMe High School for 1st place in the Directing Change Hope & Justice Category!

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The Directing Change Program launched a new category in September 2020 and the second round of winners have been announced here. The Hope & Justice category is an opportunity for youth living through history to express their feelings and to inspire others through art. Open young people ages 12-25, submissions are accepted in all art forms: original music, dance, spoken word, poems, short films, Tik Tok and more. Youth can select from three topics: Hope, Justice, or a monthly prompt. Submissions around “Hope” focus on sharing personal stories about what gives us hope during these challenging times and how we practice self-care. The “Justice” option asks youth to share a personal experience with discrimination or injustice that allows others to feel empathy, or entries can educate others about bias and encourage youth to take a stand against injustice when they see it.

  • October’s prompt was “Creative Ways to Measure 6-feet Physical Distancing” and asks youth to use their creativity to tell us how they creatively measure 6 feet physical distancing and why it’s important that we all practice this to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

Hope & Justice Category Winner:

“Our short film is meant to inspire hope by documenting how writing poetry has given me (Ryan) a sense of hope during this pandemic. Mainly, it focuses on how poetry acts as an escape from all the stress and gloom of the current state of the world. The message is not specifically about poetry, but finding something or someone that can help cope with difficult emotions.”

To learn more about Directing Change and the Hope and Justice Category and to submit your art, visit: www.DirectingChangeCA.org  

8th Annual Directing Change Program and Film Contest –Deadline March 1st

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Calling for submissions! Create a film for the Directing Change Program and you’ll be eligible to win cash prizes, trophies, and even a trip to an annual red-carpet awards ceremony in downtown Los Angeles. Films are used in communities across the state to educate and encourage conversations around mental health and suicide prevention.

Directing Change invites you to create a film to help change conversations around mental health and suicide prevention in your community! Youth ages 14-25 and students in grades 6-12 are invited to submit 30 and 60 second films in a range of categories that are used to help those in your community learn about mental health and suicide prevention, while also giving filmmakers the chance to win prizes! Check out a few of our different categories below!

Through the Lens of Culture is the submission category that asks young people each year to share what mental health or suicide prevention looks like in their culture. Are there specific supports available in your community? Additional challenges that your group experiences? Young people are invited to submit 60-second films about how their culture views suicide prevention and mental health. Films will be used in diverse communities across the state.

Walk in our shoes. What would it be like to walk in someone else’s shoes? The Directing Change Film Contest’s middle school submission category asks students in grades 6-8 to answer that question, telling a story about someone who is facing a mental health challenge or who has been thinking about suicide. Creating a film can help you make a difference in your community, and you could win prizes!

Get involved and submit your film by March 1 at http://www.directingchangeca.org!

In our San Mateo County community, youth have submitted and won awards for their Directing Change films. Participating schools include Aragon High School, Burlingame High School and Hillsdale High School (see https://www.directingchangeca.org/films-by-county/#SanMateo).  We would love to see more participating middle schools and high schools across San Mateo County!