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Scribe Video Center Program:

The Documentary History Project for Youth (DHPY) is an annual after-school, weekend and summertime digital media production workshop for middle and high school students. Each year, youth participants create short documentary films as a way to explore some aspect of the social, political and cultural history of Philadelphia. 

DHPY Students: Lucas Duffy-Tumasz, Sulaiman Tahir, Bryant McGlawn, Parish Savage, Mazin Blaik, Sam Hill-Cristol, Tiara Bagby, Alexis Warren-Brown, Kimberly Rolland, Shawn McCoy

Instructors: muthi reed and Aleks Martray

Film Summary:

African Roots  Editing: Kimberly Rolland

Featuring: Katrina Hazzard-Donald; Felix Romero; Footage from “Renaissance on Sacred Ground”, Ile Ife Films, The Village of Arts and Humanitites, Scribe Video Center 2009; the “Jitterbug” Dance Time Publication DVD America Dances-Social Dance in Film 1897-1948; “Geechee Shouters” Darien Gullah; “Pure Movement” Rennie Harris; the “Cake Walk” American Mutoscope and Biograph Company c. 1903

Specifically focusing on the dance form “Bomba”, African Roots explores African dance forms so essential to the history and culture of African Americans today. Bomba began in Puerto Rico, and was the product of runaway slaves who had managed to escape from Hispaniola and Haiti. Known for its asymmetrical movement that emphasizes the motion of the entire body and dictates the beat of the music, Bumba, as a traditional “African” dance, has influenced all other forms of dance that are considered specific to African American culture. Sociologist Dr. Katrina Hazzard-Donald, and Bumba Master Felix Romero guide the viewer through the history and footage of the dance. Runtime: 7:50

Folk Hop - Editing: Lucas Duffy-Tumasz, Sulaiman Tahir, Bryant McGlawn, Parish Savage
Featuring: Lee G & Delon, Duiji Mshinda
Footage from“Tribute to Old School Hip-Hop” mixed and editied by Kaniel, song by Eazy-E-Luv 4 dem, Kaniel Remix
Footage from “The Bridge is Over” by Boogie Down Productions 1987, from the album Criminal Minded, performed by KRS-One, produced by DJ Scott La Rock and KRS-One
“Streets of New York” produced by Kool G Rap, Large Professor & Anton
“Coded Language” performed by Saul Williams, Def Poetry Jam 2004, Season 3, Episode 7
“Red, White and Blue” Performed by Lee G and Delon, Featuring Sonni Shine, From the album Look @ the Tree 2009, Video Directed by Nicole Eckenroad, Featuring the chosen Dance Company

“Folk-hop” musician Lee G, and poet Duji Mshinda narrate this video and guide the viewer through the development of both their personal growth as artists and of the musical genre hip-hop. Themes that take root in deep struggle and a need for creative expression define the subject of this documentary. Folk-Hop ultimately explores hip-hop on both a private and historical level. Runtime: 8:31

Percussion is Rhythm & Rhythm is Life

Editing: Mazin Blaik, Sam Hill-Cristol
Featuring: Nana Baakan Agyiriwah, Mazin Blaik, Hafez Al-Ali Kotain, Nashid Furaha-Ali, The Voices of Africa Drumming & Percussion Ensemble, Adi Mu Kumba, Donna Bostock, Hanna Khoury
Footage From: Rhythm Traders: Master Carvers, Conakary, Guinea West Africa, AfroCuba de Matanzas Los Munequitos de Matanzas

“Percussion is rhythm and rhythm is life.” These are the words spoken by Hafez Al-Ali Kotain, an Arabic percussionist, and are what connect the various stories of him, an instrument maker, the founder of Voices of Africa Choral and Percussion Ensemble, and an Afro-Cuban Freelance Percussionist to one another. All united by their understanding and passion for percussion, these individuals offer a diverse array of perspectives that all attribute to this film’s broad look at percussion in Philadelphia. Runtime: 7:09

Roots Rhythms & Stories

Editing: Tiara Bagby, Alexis Warren-Brown
Featuring: El Shafiyq Ali, Nashid Furaha-Ali, Hafez Al-Ali Kotain, Gold Coast Buccaneers, Drill Master Gregory Scott, Nana Baakan Agyiriwah

As music that is often defined as made for the people, by the people, folk music carries a much deeper meaning to the musicians and communities it is performed in than regular, mainstreamed music. Featuring interviews with storytellers, musicians, a step team drill master, researchers, and everyday people, Roots Rhythms & Stories touches upon the deep connection folk music has on both the listener and the performers, all the while attempting to provide a concrete definition of this influential genre. 6:58

Storytelling

Editing: Kimberly Rolland, Shawn McCoy
Featuring: Linda Goss, Nashid Furaha-Ali, Yesseh Ali, Papa Ed Stokes

The fusion between music and storytelling is a longstanding oral tradition that is documented in this film. Both performances and interviews are used to explore this art form, where the groups featured are both comprised of two individuals: the storyteller and the musician.  Simultaneously informative and entertaining via its use of live performances, Storytelling offers a glimpse into a manner of interaction, passed on from mouth to mouth, that has traveled through many generations. Runtime: 9:18