Katrina Sisters

Updates

Katrina Sisters airs on Channel 25 NYC life on Wednesday, September 7th @ 8:30PM, Saturday, September 10th @ 3PM, and Wednesday, September 14th @ 10:30PM.

*Please note: Katrina Sisters will be replacing Channel 25 NYC life’s regular programming at these times, which may not be reflected in the channel’s listings.

Katrina Sisters Trailer

The Story

An inspiring story of teens using cameras to make a difference in their community, Katrina Sisters, a DCTV documentary, captures the intimate behind-the-scenes story of four youth filmmakers.

With cameras following them, the girls set out to investigate post-Katrina New Orleans searching for stories with the hope of making their own video project, and exploring resilience, community, and the power of the individual to make a difference after a natural disaster.

Over the course of their project, the girls learn the power ­– to understand, to be heard, and to heal ­– of expression through art.

Meet the Subjects of Katrina Sisters

Briceshanay, Rodneka, Sade, and Suprena are the young stars featured in Katrina Sisters, and the creators of their own video, Not As Seen on TV. Their wit, honesty, passion and determination remain an inspiration to the adult filmmakers with whom they have so candidly shared their stories.

Sade (New York City)
“I’m living in this same country. I’m living in this same world and it hurts me too.”

Sade experienced Hurricane Katrina through her television in Brooklyn and is light-hearted about the project at the start of the trip. As the girls begin to conduct interviews, and Sade experiences post-Katrina New Orleans firsthand, the project changes from an assignment into something much more personal.

Suprena (New York City)
“After seeing some of the things I saw I wanted to get answers."

Suprena arrives in New Orleans and hits the ground running, determined to understand what residents went through during and after the storm. After exploring the Lower 9th Ward and seeing the destruction still present one year after the hurricane, she turns to city hall for answers. As the journey progresses, Suprena comes to realize she can be a powerful agent for change.

Briceshanay (New Orleans)
“No child left behind? What about no city left behind? What about no race better than the other?”

Briceshanay is angry. Hurricane Katrina turned her world upside down. Briceshanay seizes the opportunity to pick up a camera as a way to deal with her feelings of resentment.

Rodneka (New Orleans)
“I feel like I lost a whole year of my life, you know... It’s gone.”

Hurricane Katrina destroyed Rodneka’s childhood home. In the year between the disaster and the start of filming, Rodneka felt unable to confront her feelings about Katrina, but is determined not to let Katrina take away her voice.

The Students' Video

You got to know Briceshanay, Rodneka, Suprena, and Sade through watching Katrina Sisters, and saw the behind the scenes story of them working to create their own video project. Now we invite you to watch what they made.

Title: Not As Seen on TV
Release Date: 2007
Duration: 34 min
Synopsis: Not As Seen on TV offers a critical youth perspective on the events following the failure of the levees and the resiliency of displaced residents who have returned, determined to rebuild their lives and their beloved city.
Credits: Sade Falebita (Director/Producer), Suprena Levy (Director/Producer), Briceshanay Gresham (Director/Producer), and Rodneka Shelbia (Director/Producer).

Get Involved with Katrina Sisters

• Connect with us on Facebook
• Visit DCTV's youth media page to learn more about youth media opportunities.
• Support youth media by making a donation

Buy Katrina Sisters on DVD

• DVD - $19.95
• Institutional License - $175.00