A group of teenagers who have experienced the devastating effects of the recent Palisades and Eaton fires is finding a creative outlet to tell their stories of resilience.
The nonprofit initiative Ashes to Films has chosen 16 young filmmakers impacted by these fires to participate in a free, week-long workshop, in collaboration with the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in Los Angeles.
Founder Shiloh Strong, who himself lost his home in a wildfire in Santa Barbara in 2009, emphasizes the importance of creativity in recovery.
“We’re not defined by what we’ve lost, we’re defined by what we create,” Strong said.
This workshop aims to provide these teens, aged 14 to 18, with the tools to reshape their narratives and focus on the future.
The fires ravaged over 37,000 acres, resulting in the destruction of several homes.
Out of the participants, thirteen lost their homes, while three were displaced but did not suffer complete loss.
During this week, the teens engaged in diverse film disciplines, including screenwriting, editing, and directing.
NYFA Dean Dan Mackler highlighted the community’s involvement, noting the significance of helping these young individuals share their experiences after such traumatic events.
On Thursday and Friday, the participants are set to film on the prestigious backlots of Universal Studios.
Chloe Frazier, a 14-year-old filmmaker, shared her journey into filmmaking following the loss of her home in the Palisades Fire.
She created a touching short documentary to convey her experiences in the aftermath, stating, “I could actually see the cloud from my school, and I didn’t think anything of it.
I didn’t think that my house was going to burn down or anything, and when it did, it was really shocking to me.
I still don’t think I can fully process it.”
Her passion for filmmaking, ignited during childhood, led her to apply for Ashes to Films after hearing about the program from her mother.
The selected filmmakers are tasked with creating short narrative films centered on themes of hope and overcoming adversity.
While not all stories are drawn directly from personal experiences, some participants feel their narratives resonate deeply with their feelings during the fires.
Prinx Azim Mathis, also 14, described how his film’s message reflects his resilience amid adversity.
“The whole message of my story is being able to go on alone without help,” he said, elaborating on how he found the strength to continue despite being displaced.
“The experience reminded me of when I thought everything wasn’t going to be good anymore because I was impacted, but I moved on, and I’m here.”
In addition to the workshop, each young filmmaker received a $500 micro-grant to support the completion of their films, which are set to premiere at the Ashes to Ashes film festival.
Scheduled for January, the festival will mark the one-year anniversary of the fires and is seen as a celebration of resilience.
Strong expressed hopes to expand the festival’s reach, inviting artists from beyond Los Angeles who have faced personal losses, including those from natural disasters or other traumatic events.
“The idea of combining stories of resilience with the storytellers of resilience opens up to so many more opportunities,” Strong remarked.
Applications for the nonprofit’s film grants, which range from $2,000 to $5,000 for adult filmmakers, recently closed.
Strong aims to raise sufficient funds to eventually support each accepted project with $25,000.
Olive Holm, an 18-year-old participant from Altadena, shared her gratitude for the initiative, stating, “I hope this organization can keep doing things like this because I think film is really powerful and it keeps people together in harsh times.”
image source from：nbclosangeles
