Pro Creativity is a collaboration between teen parents and professional filmmakers to produce engaging media about the realities of teen parenthood for use in school and community-based education. Betsy Douds taught story craft and film production to teen parents through the University of Alaska Anchorage and at Crossroads Secondary in Anchorage.
The first six films below are accompanied by a discussion guide. The last film is about the Pro Creativity project. If you would like more information or would like to schedule a showing of any of the films, please email Betsy Douds or the project manager, Sharman Haley.
"Struggles with Kyler" – Taylor
Taylor
shows what it is like to be a teen mom 24 hours a day while still in high
school.
"The Real Secret Life of a Teen Mom" – Sydni
Sydni
shows the changes in her body before and after pregnancy and discusses the
changes in her wardrobe and activities.
"Financial Differences of a Parenting Teen"
– Ashley
Ashley
interviews teen moms about what they used to spend their money on and how they
spend their money now.
"When I Got Pregnant" – Keira
Keira
asks her family members how they felt when they learned she was pregnant.
"My Story" – Lisa
Lisa
and her boyfriend talk movingly about how hard it is being teen parents.
"Interview" –Thomas
Thomas
interviews Kelly Sams, once a teen parent, now in her thirties, to get her
story.
"Danielle's Story" –Danielle.
Danielle's
film touches on the dramatic move she was forced to make for her baby's and her
own welfare, and of the custody battle which followed.
"You and I" –Lee
Lee
has two sisters who became teen mothers. Her film uses stark imagery as the
backdrop for a poem written by her sister about her feelings surrounding her
unplanned pregnancy.
"My life now" –Maggie
Maggie's
film speaks of her struggle as a young mother, her love for her daughter and of
the dilemma her mother was confronted with when Maggie became pregnant.
"Edin" –Sarah
Sarah
had her son when she was sixteen. She and her husband are Hmong-American. In
their culture, it is normal to marry while still in your teens. Sarah's film
focuses on her baby son.
"The Sex Talk"
– Ariel
Ariel
discusses with teens and parents the difficulty and importance of talking with
parents about sex.
"About Pro Creativity"Betsy Douds
Participants in Pro
Creativity reflect on their experience in the project.
Pro Creativity is a joint project of the University of Alaska Anchorage Institute of Social and Economic Research, Department of Journalism and Public Communications, Anchorage School District, Out North Theater and Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, with support from the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning, Alaska Association of School Boards Initiative for Community Engagement, SummitDay Media, Best Buy and many individual donors and volunteers.
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