“Media del Monte” This Weekend in Encinal

Get out of town this weekend and make the short drive to Encinal for the premiere of “Media del Monte.” “Media del Monte,” the youth media program of Hecho en Encinal, will be screening two short documentaries on Friday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Schletze County Park in Encinal.

This event is free and open to the public.

One of the documentaries, “Quince,” (15) explores the quinceañera tradition in Encinal, Texas. “No Importa Que…” (No Matter What) explores local views about immigration. Program participants created the two documentaries in Encinal this summer.

“’Media del Monte’ is a new youth media program that provides high-school youth in La Salle and Webb counties with the opportunity to learn professional video production skills, develop their voices and ideas regarding life in South Texas, share their views and engage in dialogue with the public,” said Dr. Sean Chadwell, Hecho en Encinal Board member and chair, Texas A&M International University’s department of language and literature.

The participants produced the documentaries using professional production equipment in order to address issues important to them. Each film runs about 15 minutes and the creators will be available for discussion after the screening.

The six-week summer workshop was led by TAMIU faculty member and independent filmmaker Marcela Moran who collaborated with a TAMIU communication program service learning class. Several TAMIU students participated and shared their expertise with the high school youth to make the summer workshop a success. Dr. Chadwell helped make the collaboration with TAMIU possible and was instrumental in the “Media del Monte” program design.

For more information, please call 956.948.7228 or visit encinalart.org.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu