Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Cameras (DSGSC) is a program that’s working to protect youth away from gang violence by instructing them to shoot cameras and by no means weapons.
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) based totally program was primarily based in Washington, D.C. by comedian and filmmaker Rodney “Red” Grant, who used his 20 years of experience throughout the leisure enterprise to create the immersive 2-week camp that teaches camerawork, film manufacturing, and creative writing.
“Our mission is to develop the social and emotional experience of Washington D.C.’s underserved youth by introducing them to the fundamentals of filmmaking, equipping them with a healthful and creative method to categorical themselves and positively have an effect on their communities,” DSGSC’s mission assertion reads.
School college students between the ages of 12 and 17 who be a part of this technique are taught elementary digicam experience whereas moreover learning guidelines of self-awareness, self-management, accountable decision making, social consciousness, and relationship experience.
“School college students will full DSGSC having gained technical experience to creatively categorical themselves via film, as well as to invaluable emotional experience to positively have an effect on their regularly lives,” DSGSC says.
Grant decided to create this technique after the demise of his nephew Keaway (Kealo) Ivy, an aspiring rapper as well as to a gifted and passionate filmmaker. Ivy was killed in 2015 during the filming of a music video when a gun that was getting used as a prop discharged.
Whereas Grant initially deliberate to affiliate with native area faculties, he shifted gears and launched a smaller pilot program ultimate summer season due to distance learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant tells the Washington Post. This system chosen kids who didn’t have the an identical programming alternate options at school and who couldn’t afford to attend a camp.
“These kids don’t deserve weapons of their fingers,” Grant tells CBS Evening News. “They don’t deserve people not believing in them. They acquired to have further people believing in them.”
The six D.C. children who participated throughout the DSGSC pilot program collaborated over Zoom on a 10-page script after which acquired to work taking photos (with assist from celebrities that included actor Anwan “Huge G” Glover and former NBA participant Matt Barnes). What resulted was a short film titled “The Retailer,” which premiered to a restricted viewers on-line.
DSGSC may also be throughout the technique of elevating $50,000 in donations to unfold its program to Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Donations could be made through the website.
