PHILADELPHIA, PA | FILM & VIDEO TRAINING/PRODUCTION
Empowering Philadelphia youth through film, storytelling, and community
Bout Mine I Matter is a trauma-informed youth video production program that empowers teens in Philadelphia impacted by gun violence to reclaim their narratives and explore community-based solutions through documentary filmmaking. All participants receive a paid stipend, transportation support, and free meals.
Bout Mine I Matter was created by 5 Shorts Project Executive Director Shameka Sawyer after she lost her brother to gun violence. Understanding firsthand the profound impact of violence on families and communities, Shameka founded this program to give young people affected by similar trauma a safe space to heal, express themselves, and tell their own stories on their own terms.
Bout Mine I Matter serves teens ages 13-19 from all Philadelphia zip codes who have been directly impacted by gun violence. Through hands-on filmmaking training and trauma-informed support, participants create powerful documentaries that reflect their lived experiences while developing technical skills, emotional resilience, and social connections.
The program combines professional filmmaking instruction with behavioral health workshops focused on processing trauma and learning violence de-escalation techniques. Participants work in small groups with dedicated mentors to ensure personalized attention and support throughout the creative process.
Applications for Summer 2026 will open in Spring 2026. Contact us to learn more or get added to our interest list.
Contact UsGermantown Amplified is a youth-led video production initiative that trains teens in real-world media skills by producing free promotional videos for Germantown small businesses and community organizations.
Teens work in small production teams to create short promotional videos for local businesses and organizations. Each project follows a professional workflow:
Meet with business owners and leaders to understand their goals and vision.
Meet with business owners and community organization leaders to understand their goals, vision, and what they want to communicate through video. Professional skills practiced include conducting client intake meetings, asking discovery questions, active listening, understanding brand identity and messaging, and building professional client relationships.
Create story concepts and shot lists that align with client needs.
Create story concepts and detailed shot lists that align with client needs and effectively communicate their brand or mission. Pre-production planning includes brainstorming creative concepts, writing treatment documents, creating comprehensive shot lists, planning interview questions, scouting locations, and scheduling filming days.
Film interviews and b-roll on location throughout Germantown.
Film interviews, b-roll, and environmental footage on location at businesses and community spaces throughout Germantown. On-set experience includes conducting professional interviews, capturing b-roll that showcases products and services, filming exterior and interior shots, working with lighting in real business environments, and maintaining professionalism while working in active business spaces.
Edit video content and incorporate client feedback.
Edit video content, add music and graphics, and incorporate client feedback to create polished promotional videos. Editing workflow includes organizing footage, creating rough cuts, refining edits based on client feedback, adding text overlays and lower thirds, selecting background music, color grading, mixing audio levels, and creating multiple versions for different platforms.
Provide final video files optimized for multiple platforms.
Provide final video files optimized for social media platforms, websites, and other marketing channels. Final delivery includes exporting videos in multiple formats and resolutions, creating square (1:1), vertical (9:16), and horizontal (16:9) versions, optimizing file sizes for web upload, providing raw files for client archives, and teaching clients how to upload and use their videos.
Add completed professional work to personal portfolios and demo reels.
Add completed professional work to personal portfolios and demo reels for future opportunities. Career preparation includes creating a professional demo reel showcasing your best work, building an online portfolio website, learning to present your work to potential employers or colleges, gaining real client testimonials, and developing a body of work that demonstrates technical abilities and professionalism.
Spring 2026 applications will open soon. Contact us to learn more or get added to our interest list.
Contact UsWhat’s For Dinner is the 5 Shorts Project’s invitation-only youth visual journalism initiative that equips teens to investigate and report on food insecurity and its impact on young people in Philadelphia communities.
Investigate neighborhoods with limited access to fresh, affordable groceries.
Interns investigate what it means to live in neighborhoods with limited access to fresh, affordable groceries and how this impacts daily food choices, health outcomes, and family budgets. Key questions include: How far do families have to travel for healthy food? What’s available in corner stores versus supermarkets? How does limited access affect what students eat?
Document food pantries, school programs, and local organizations.
Interns document food pantries, mutual aid supports, school-based food programs, and local organizations working to address hunger in Philadelphia communities. Stories highlight where families can access free or reduced-cost food, how school breakfast and lunch programs work, what community organizations are filling gaps, and what resources exist that people might not know about.
Share the everyday realities of food insecurity from a student perspective.
Interns share the everyday realities of food insecurity from a student perspective, centering youth voices in conversations about hunger. Topics covered: How does hunger affect concentration in class? What does it feel like to not know where your next meal is coming from? How do students navigate food insecurity while maintaining their dignity? What do youth wish adults knew about their experience?
Highlight organizations working to address hunger and promote food justice.
Interns highlight organizations working to address hunger, promote food justice, and create systemic change at the neighborhood, city, and policy levels. Reporting explores what innovative solutions communities are creating, how advocates are pushing for policy changes, what programs are making a real difference, and what systemic changes are needed to end food insecurity.
What’s For Dinner is invitation-only. Participate in Bout Mine I Matter or Germantown Amplified to be considered for future internship cohorts.
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