RISK: At-Risk Girls Behind The Camera

Fresh from Missouri, here is the second RISK: Girls Behind the Camera webisode! In this webisode, watch instructors Jeph, David, Jacques and John teach the girls how to make their “About Me” movie.

Stay tuned for Webisode 3!

Don’t forget to check out all the other RISK Webisodes.

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Here’s a quick photo direct from Missouri: You can see Tara (and some of the RISK crew on the “set”) interviewing one of the RISK program participants in sunny St. Joseph, Missouri.

We interviewed this particular RISK program participant in her front yard!

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OK, I admit it – I’m an emotional gal. So writing about the first 2 weeks of the 3-week RISK filmmaking program is going to send me over the edge. The girls of Girls Behind the Camera have been so enthusiastic, so creative, so engaged, so willing to embrace all the technology, so very wonderful – it’s tough to be dry-eyed when thinking about how successful the program Tara Veneruso developed truly is. It’s amazing to think that the girls in Kansas City and St. Joseph can now:

• Talk about plot, genre and climax like a professional screenwriter.
• Develop their own scripts with the storytelling tools they’ve learned.
• Pick up cameras, boom mics and lights with confidence to shoot and direct their fellow students’ films. Plus, the acting, animation and teamwork skills they’ve learned are priceless. And even if these girls don’t choose a video/film production path in their lives, they’ve now been exposed to a world outside their normal realm – the better to open
  their eyes to other possibilities that may come their way.

Though we have one more week of the program, it’s not too late for anyone to make a difference. To make a tax-deductible Sponsor-a-Girl donation to RISK via Red Echo Group, our not-for-profit producer of RISK, send a check today payable to “Red Echo Group” to:

Red Echo Group
ATTN: RISK Sponsorship
299 Paseo Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64106

Whether you send in $50 or $5,000, you’ll be helping us meet our financial obligations for picking up and dropping off the girls at their homes (a shout out to our valuable mentors and drivers); feeding them breakfast, lunch and snacks (the girls put in at least 8-hour days!);
and educating them (we’ve had exceptional guest teachers).

We’d also like to thank the University of Missouri-Kansas City – and especially Dr. Thomas Poe, Kevin Mullin and Jennifer Underwood – for letting us house the KC program at Haag Hall for the entire 3 weeks. Their support, and those of our other generous benefactors, is truly
making a difference in at-risk girls’ lives. - Linda

P.S. Check us out in the Kansas City Star! For an instant contribution (non tax-deductible), click here to contribute via PayPal.

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Hi RISK fans! Just wanted to let you all know that the very first RISK: Girls Behind The Camera webisode is up and on our site. Watch what the RISK girls have been up to and check out our amazing program right here.

Check back often, we plan on having at least 2 more RISK: Girls Behind The Camera webisodes just this coming week!

And don’t forget that we still need your help! Please read Linda’s post below…..

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What an amazing day we had on Friday! The girls who’ll take part in the Kansas City half of the 3-week RISK filmmaking program were together for the first time. And as RISK director Tara Veneruso and producer Eric Keith took them through some creative and fun exercises, the girls showed a spirit that was inspiring to all of us. We’ll be up in St. Joseph Tuesday with co-producer Deny Staggs to bring all of those girls together.

Knowing that each of these girls has known more adversity than I’ve experienced in all my years makes me even more determined to present a program that will be life-enhancing for them. Many of these girls’ stories are downright heartbreaking. Through RISK, we want to ensure they widen their options for a better and more enriching life.

One great part of the program is the community support we’ve received. However, with the program start date fast approaching (June 11), we still have many girls in both KC and St. Joe who are in need of sponsors through our Sponsor-a-Girl program.

We’re making a special effort this week to let people know of our RISK sponsorship levels, with the money going toward ensuring that each of the girls’ needs are fully met during the program: (1) RISK Premier Sponsor: $10,000 (2) RISK Platinum Sponsor: $5,000 (3) RISK Gold Sponsor: $1,000 (4) RISK Silver Sponsor: $500 (5) RISK Sponsor: $50+

To make a tax-deductible sponsorship donation to RISK via Red Echo Group, our not-for-profit producer of RISK, send a check payable to “Red Echo Group” to:

Red Echo Group
ATTN: Eric Keith
299 Paseo Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64106

OR:

You can help RISK even more right now by donating via credit card! Just call the RISK office at:

(323) 463-1996

If you have any questions about RISK, donating to RISK, or any other RISK-related issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Thank you to everyone for their generous support!

-Linda

P.S. Check us out in the Kansas City Star!

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We have arrived in Kansas City on Wednesday and things are definitely in full gear. New teammates are arriving each day and our production office is coming together quite nicely. One more week of pre-pro and we will be shooting! I got to meet some of the girls on Friday who are going to be in the program - we played some games with them and they definitely are pumped up about the program! You work so long and hard on a project and once you actually get to meet the girls it really puts everything into perspective and reminds you of how a program like this is really truly going to impact them.

More updates to come soon! –Jen (Production Coordinator)

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