For Immediate Release: October 4, 2011

 

Viera High Student Awarded Grant for National Documentary Project

 

Viera, FL – Viera High School Junior Sergio Ortiz has been named one of 22 young filmmakers representing 15 projects, to receive a grant from Project VoiceScape.  Project VoiceScape is a collaboration between Adobe Youth Voices, the Adobe Foundation’s philanthropy program, and PBS’ POV (Point of View), a TV series featuring independent nonfiction films.

Ortiz traveled to Washington D.C. where he will be honored at tonight’s Project VoiceScape gala event. Three finalists will be selected at the event and featured on the POV, PBS and Adobe websites.

Ortiz received $2,000 to complete his film “PWNING @ Life”, a story about the effects of video games on human behavior.   “Project VoiceScape truly exposed me to the documentary genre.   It gave me a new challenge and it was an awesome, new experience. To be able to work on something unique that I had never done before was really interesting,” says Ortiz, a third-year student enrolled in Viera High School’s Academy for Digital Arts and Media.    

Included as part of the grant, Sergio and the other young filmmakers also received mentoring from award-winning documentary filmmakers.   “This award is such a great honor for Sergio and we are especially proud of his efforts,” said Jeff Draves, Director of the Academy for Digital Arts and Media at Viera High School.     

Project VoiceScape encourages middle- and high-school students nationwide to use digital media tools to create compelling stories about issues and concerns important to them.  "Project VoiceScape received 250 applications, with program content ranging from immigration to the environment, identity, disabilities and women's history," said POV Executive Vice President Cynthia Lopez. "It was clear to the editorial committees that these young people are on the pulse of what is important in today's society. The choice was a difficult one, but we are thrilled to announce the 15 films selected for completion, and look forward to mentoring the next generation of documentary filmmakers producing innovative work for public media."

POV | American Documentary, oversaw the national call for entries on the POV website. The PBS Teachers website also plays a continuing part in Project VoiceScape, helping educators to obtain advice from youth-media experts on inspiring students to produce exciting and innovative content.