The Spring 2020 Youth Artist Project was taught by Dominican-American female Artist-in-Residence Paloma Valenzuela, who creates, writes and produces The Pineapple Diaries, an independent web series based in Jamaica Plain.

Classes: January 29 - June 15, 2020
Virtual Showcase: June 11th, 2020, 6:00-7:00 PM on Zoom
With: Miguel Estrada, Michaela Goodfellow, and Ariya Patel

During this residency, the youth participants have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and practice writing, producing, and editing their own web series.

The process starts with intensive writing, learning the basics of script writing format and scene writing, and use script writing programs as well as learn how to write a solid script on several accessible writing programs. Then participants develop skills in pre-production:  script breakdown, scheduling and storyboarding, hands-on production and filming, and the basics of reviewing dailies and editing. As a final, place-based project, the entire group works as a team in the “writers room” to create a pilot episode for their desired web series or a short film, including draft and review. After writing is complete, we will shift into roles as crew members, preparing for production. Students will pre-produce as a group in their individual roles, film, and work together to edit a pilot episode. 

Watch the recording of our Virtual Showcase

Watch the youth’s homemade videos

Class sessions

Students’ Design Journals

Take a pick at the design-journals where students recorded their creative process guided by Scholar-in-Residence and Ford Foundation Fellow at Harvard, Raquel Jimenez, PhD.