Maryland Community Newspapers Online
The lives of local day laborers, a civil rights bus tour through the South and an examination of juvenile rehabilitation are just some of the stories that will be presented Saturday in an event organized by youth and featuring youth-produced films.
The Silver Spring-based youth group Gandhi Brigade, which produces community-based video and media, will hold its second "Express Yourself" event 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on the fourth floor of City Place Mall at 8661 Colesville Road in Silver Spring.
Films from the Gandhi Brigade and other local youths will be screened, including more than two hours of film the Gandhi Brigade produced with the help of the Montgomery County Office of Cable and Communications. Some of the footage will be aired on Montgomery County Public Access Television.
The films consist of short films and longer-length, documentary-style pieces. One follows youth filmmakers as they interview day laborers at Casa of Maryland. Another chronicles about 20 students who went on a civil rights bus tour through the Deep South, in places like Atlanta, Alabama and Memphis.
A film titled "Second Chances" follows youth who have been incarcerated or adjudicated as they attempt to rehabilitate their lives. Some of the filmmakers also served as subjects. The approach offers a new perspective on the juvenile court system, said Richard Jaeggi, director of the Gandhi Brigade.
"‘Second Chances' didn't deal with whether the kids were guilty of crimes," Jaeggi said. "That's not an issue to them, whereas a lot of adults look at it that way. Young people looked at it from the point of view of a peer."
There are also several short films ranging from drama to comedies to animation. Many of the films will be available online at
www.gandhibrigade.org as well.
The films were shot using mostly Gandhi Brigade equipment, with some funding provided by the office of cable and communications. A panel of judges will review the films and present cash prizes to winners.
The festival will also feature family activities like creating your own music video, a photo booth, raffles and a disc jockey.
Banjo festival comes
to Takoma Park
Top banjo players from across the country will descend on the Washington, D.C., area this weekend as part of the third annual Old Time Banjo Festival, a two-day event in Takoma Park and the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Va.
A free banjo contest and mini-concert will be held 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Takoma Park Gazebo at Carroll and Westmoreland avenues in Takoma Park. Contestants must pay $20 to enter and the winner will perform the same night at the Birchmere. That concert will begin 7:30 p.m. Saturday and tickets are $29.50 and will feature banjo players from around the country.
The festival began two years ago after it was started by organizers and Grammy-winning folk duo Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.
Banjo workshops will be held noon to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the House of Musical Traditions, 7010 Westmoreland Ave. in Takoma Park. The workshops will be conducted by Fink and other performers from Saturday night's concert. Workshops are limited to 15 students each and cost $50 each.
For more information or to register for any events, visit
www.oldtimebanjofestival.com.
