PRO-TV's Summer Program Concludes with Powerful Screening

On Thursday, August 12, the forty young filmmakers from this year's PRO-TV Summer Media Intensive screened the culmination of their summer's work to an eager crowd. An audience of over 100 family, friends and members of the public watched six films exploring the causes of and solutions to gun violence in America. Teaming up with Beyond Bullets, the students took workshops with New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and other experts in the field to develop stories about the consequences of gun possession.

Films included Double Barrel, Behind the Bullet, Halt, Violent Connections, Guns and Games, and The Making of Summer Media Intensive 2010. The films, some documentary, some narrative, each presented a different perspective on the issue of gun violence. The screening even garnered the attention of the New York Daily News (image), who lauded several of the films for their unique stories and encouraged the public to attend.

"These films were awesome," said Clarivel Ruiz, Director of PRO-TV, "throughout the summer, these young people were vibrant, dedicated and excelled in creating stories about the topic at hand. Gun violence is not an easy subject to cover with its multilayered causes, but the students did a fantastic job exploring them. I’m excited to have many of them continue working with us through our Junior Fellows program."