Meet the Youth Producers
Here are some of CTVN’s most committed workers:
Iris Velardo, 16, Advanced Producer I
Iris started working with CTVN through our Kelvyn Park H.S., Chicago Public School, After School Matters program in fall 2004. She helped produce “The Music Made Me Do It,” selected as an official entry in the Atlanta Film Festival, and “Footsteps” with Whitney Smith. Iris aspires to be a TV journalist one day. She is now working in her fifth program.
Cedric Hester, 16, Advanced Producer II
Since the fall of 2004, Cedric has worked two consecutive years as an intern through a partnership with his high school, ACT Charter. He has also worked the past two summers as a youth apprentice. Highlights from his past years with us are “Watchin’ What You Eat,” runner-up in the 2006 DIYDS!! National Youth Video and Film Festival, “The Color of Personality,” about racial stereotypes, and “Stop Pickin’ On Me,” investigating the problem of teenage bullying.
Whitney Smith, 17, Advanced Producer I
Whitney started in fall 2004 as an intern through a partnership with her high school, Young Women’s Leadership Charter School. Her videos include “Wake Up,” about the contemporary manifestations of early American slavery, “Footsteps,” an experimental piece about the struggle to be successful, “Daddy Who?” a documentary on teen experiences growing up without a father, and “Love is Blind,” a short film featuring a poem about domestic violence. Whitney has been accepted to several colleges in California and Illinois to study film and acting in the fall.
Rosalie Platt, 21, Senior Executive Producer
In summer 2004, Rosalie started as an intern. After the summer, she returned as Tom’s volunteer assistant, teaching other students and helping with Hard Cover production. She won the Yes I Can! International Award for Technology for her body of work in video, including “Dyslexic Saw Dog,” (go to timecode 15:04) about getting an education as a student with disabilities. Currently, she is in college studying editing and working for Hard Cover as a Senior Executive Producer.
William Colon, 20, Senior Executive Producer
Will began with CTVN in spring 2001 as a freshman at Wendell Phillips Academy, Chicago Public School. He has worked for Hard Cover since then, playing a vital role in producing numerous award-winning videos. He is now a junior at Columbia College studying film and video, working for Hard Cover as a college work-study student. He enjoys deejaying in his spare time.
Derell Bonner, 17, Executive Producer
erell started working at CTVN in fall 2004. Since then he has created dozens of videos including “She is Somebody” and “You Are Not Alone,” both of which were awarded 1st place in the Chicago region for the Your Voice Your View statewide video contest, and “Chicago Now,” winner of the DIYDS!! National Youth Video and Film Festival. “Chicago Now” also won honorable mention in the nationwide PBS My City Now video competition and was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the Great Lakes Film Festival.