School Desk

Student filmmakers document high school’s renewal

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About 100 faculty members, alumni and students from DeWitt Clinton High School gathered around tables decked out in the school’s red and black colors at Lehman College for the premiere of the student-made documentary “Transformation.”

The movie marked a triumph for the club’s president, aspiring filmmaker Shanel Gray. For weeks last fall, the junior was the club’s sole member. 

“I was the only one there,” she recalled. “But I still stayed around.” 

Her enthusiasm paid off. By recruiting several friends and acquaintances, she managed to increase club membership to seven dedicated students. The group learned the fundamentals of film from Dallas Alexis, a filmmaker from Crown Heights. 

Under the guidance of Mr. Alexis, who has worked on programs from “The Chapelle Show” to “America’s Got Talent,” club members spent a year creating projects like a film about students raising money for the school’s garden. The young cineastes also made pieces documenting a student government race and the election of Clinton’s prom king and queen. In addition, each member made a five-minute documentary about him- or herself. 

“Transformation” is the culmination of the club’s efforts over the 2013-2014 school year. It documents what many perceive as vast changes at the school since Mr. Taveras took the helm last September. 

Prior to his arrival, the school received three consecutive F grades on annual Department of Education progress reports, which led to threats of closure. 

But since Mr. Taveras removed metal barricades from the front of the school, re-instituted pep rallies and dances and tried to infuse Clinton with a positive atmosphere, student filmmaker Cheyenne Rodriguez, 16, said the school has become “a community, not just a school.”

“A lot of people automatically think you’re a bad kid because you go to Clinton,” said Cheyenne, whom Shanel recruited to the club.

However, during the interview process, Cheyenne was touched to hear teachers recount their pride in their students. 

DeWitt Clinton High School, Santiago Taveras, film, Lehman College, Maya Rajamani
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