Reel Youth helps incarcerated kids create life-changing music videos

Christabel Shaler

Posted: Jan 6th, 2011

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“I knew we were doing something right when one of the girls who was being released before the program finished, requested to stay an extra day,” explained Mark Vonesch of Vancouver's Reel Youth organization.

Vonesch directed a four-day literacy program, partnering Reel Youth with young women and men from the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre. The idea was to create music videos about life behind bars. The videos have just been released online. The youth who participated in the project used masks, animation, shadows and silhouettes to protect their identities.

Image from Ignite My Flame

The video made by the young women is titled Ignite My Flame.

Image from Ignite My Flame

The video by the young men is titled Hope Behind Bars.

The project has given youth participants the opportunity to express raw truth through creativity. It provided them with positive outlets to transform darkness into art, wisdom and strength.

Image from Ignite My Flame

Zoe Miles and I recently attended the first screening of the music videos at the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre during the family holiday recital. It was an experience that expanded my perception of youth custody.

As we drove to the screening, we acknowledged the fact that we had no idea what to expect. We arrived at the custody centre early. Our valuables were secured in a locker. Staff members emphasized security and confidentiality as we were escorted through a series of secure passages.

Image from Ignite My Flame

We eventually reached the gymnasium where staff members prepared for their holiday family recital. The walls were a dull institutional green.

Vibrant holiday decorations disrupted the colour scheme. Charlie Brown Christmas music played in the background. It was easy to forget where we were...until a reminder. A woman noticed a pair of scissors on the table. “Who left these out? We can never leave scissors lying around.”