MEDIARITES PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce that its after-school video project at Roosevelt High School has won the Young People's Film and Video Contest at the Northwest Film and Video Center in Portland, Oregon.

"Dear Diary," a public service announcement about domestic violence, was chosen and will be shown at the awards ceremony at the NW Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium June 23rd at 2pm.

This video PSA was among 20 chosen out of about 200 entries from throughout the Northwest.

The after-school video project was led by Jeannie LaFrance of Act for Action in partnership with Tiffany Fleischer of the Roosevelt Family Resource Center with 15 students who wrote, produced and performed in a series of four public service announcements about domestic and relationship violence among teens. An 800-resource number for domestic violence is aired on each 30-second PSA.

Green Fire Productions, non-profit video production company, filmed and edited the productions, donating much of their time. The four PSAs that were filmed will be distributed to Portland television stations this summer for viewing.

MediaRites Productions created a program of classes at Roosevelt High School in video, radio, music composition, and graphic arts during the 2000-01 school year with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Links program.

"We are thrilled that the students works can be recognized by the prestigious NW Film Center awards," says Dmae Roberts, Executive Producer of MediaRites Productions. "This is proof that arts organizations and communities can work together to provide creative outlets for young people that will give them professional skills and official recognition."

The 25th annual Young People's Film & Video Festival, produced by the Northwest Film Center's statewide Filmmakers-in-the-Schools Outreach Program, presents works by young people in grades K-12 living in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Alaska. The Festival identifies and celebrates artistic excellence, technical achievement and originality in work created by individual students, schools and community groups.

Art Explosion, the first ever Asian performing arts festival in Oregon at the Parkrose Community Center Theatre presented by Portland Taiko on June 22nd and 23rd was a resounding success. Both nights of the 600-seat house were close to sold out.

MediaRites Productions presentation of "Forbidden Dreams" by Dmae Roberts was an audience favorite. The 12-minute play was set in 1942 at the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco. Forbidden City was the only club where Asians could perform and become stars during the 1930's - 1960's. The play was directed by Carmela Lanza-Weil and featured Elaine Low, Lauren Meyer, Song Kim and Jim Chan (one of last performers at Forbidden City in 1969).

Also featured in the Art Explosion was a rousing performance by the presenter Portland Taiko who have worked for several months getting nearly 60 Asian performing artists in Portland together on one stage for this momentous event.

Renowned dancers and choreographers Minh Tran and Chisao Hata, both rose to new levels of artistry in their work. Hawaiian musician Sam Kama, East Indian singer Nisha Joshi, Elvian and the Gamelon ensemble gave warm and elegant performance.

We hope that an event like this can happen again.

Catch a preview of SORTING THROUGH SHADOWS, four personal stories of youth and mental health, before the program goes national... Hosted and produced by Dmae Roberts who worked with four young people during one year to tell their personal struggles with mental health problems. The youth wrote their stories and recorded them at home and did interviews with their families using a mindisk recorder and stereo microphone.

SORTING THROUGH SHADOWS is a one-hour documentary with mental health information and personal stories of youth ages 15-21.
Jenn's home becomes a prison for her panic disorder...
Angela grows up with bipolar mood swings, rages and substance abuse...
Dorisa overcomes her inner voices through prayer...
Jeremy's fight with anger and violence...

SORTING THROUGH SHADOWS, four personal stories of youth and mental health is made possible by the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, Regional Arts and Culture Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and HearingVoices.com through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with support from the Loose Leaf Book Company and Outright Radio.......

With more than 30 contributors from all over the country and world, "Sorting Through Shadows: Youth Speak Out on Mental Health" is a beautifully illustrated collection of personal stories from youth ages 13 to 23. The book also offers resources and helpful information for youth, families and schools about mental health topics and concerns.

A companion CD of four radio stories told in 1st Person by young people about anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, schizophrenia and anger management will help families and communities begin discussions of mental illness without the stigma or prejudice often associated with the topic.