Partnership helps young people develop their voices
by Mark Koenig, Administrative Services Group | Special to Presbyterian News Service
Brelin Tilford demonstrates using a camera to children attending the Upcoming Storytellers Summer Youth Camp. (Photo by Terrence Humphrey)
LOUISVILLE — “Lights. Camera. Action.” Those words echoed in the Presbyterian Center from July 15-19 as it hosted the 2024 Upcoming Storytellers Summer Youth Camp.
Sponsored by Media Pros Productions, this immersive free camp introduced young people to the captivating world of video production. Many of the young people had some previous experience working with video. During the week, the participants learned about media literacy, received valuable insights and advice from industry experts, and made valuable connections.
Brelin Tilford, founder and CEO of Media Pros Productions, said, “I wanted to create a program that the younger me would have wanted to attend.”
In addition to Tilford and members of the Media Pros Productions team, the young people interacted with a diverse lineup of speakers that included actors, directors, videographers, lighting specialists and producers. Each speaker shared their experiences and expertise in the field of video production.
“The speakers were stellar,” said Gaz, an intern with Media Pros Productions. “The amount of information the young people learned through the week was amazing.”
The young people also met Presbyterian Center staff members who helped with set-up, provided snacks and meals, and took part in the creation of the videos. Kathy Lueckert, president of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation, notes the importance of this program. “The Presbyterian Center is delighted to support the Upcoming Storytellers. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of this journey, to play a small part in it, and to watch the vision take off.”
From industry trends to creative processes, camp attendees gained valuable knowledge that will inspire and empower their creativity. Participant Jordan Gray said, “This program is a hidden gem. I have limited opportunities to learn video production at my school. Here, we work with and learn from people doing the work and from one another.”
The young creatives worked to create four short films, taking on roles such as camera operators, lighting technicians, audio engineers, actors and more.
During a field trip to the Portal, the participants worked on a music video. (Photo by Mark Koenig)
Spoken word art served as the basis for a mesmerizing 360-degree video production filmed in the Conference Center studio and featuring a rotating camera and dolly that showcased different individuals in each rotation. A music video was created during a field trip to the Portal. The group created a video about a newly emerging superhero filmed outside the Presbyterian Center and in Louisville’s Waterfront Park. The fourth video used mockumentary-style filmmaking to tell a story of magnificent, magical puppets who brought chaos and humor to the camp.
A screening of the films will take place in the future. Details will be announced when the screening is scheduled.
Participants and leaders of the Upcoming Storytellers relaxed after a great week. (Photo by Ian Dayton)
This marked the second collaboration between the Presbyterian Center and Media Pros Productions on the Upcoming Storytellers program. Last year’s camp, in which Roots 101 African-American Museum also partnered, saw the creation of the short film 1963-Still: Same Shot.
The Upcoming Storytellers program helps participants learn tools and develop connections so they can tell their stories. “Our Brief Statement of Faith affirms that God calls the church to hear voices long silenced,” Lueckert said. “By supporting Upcoming Storytellers, we help young people nurture their voices and demonstrate our willingness to listen to them. We are grateful to partner with Media Pros Productions in this significant way.”
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