Local Teens Debut Film on Skating in LOVE Park Created for WHYY Documentary Workshop

Local Teens Debut Film on Skating in LOVE Park Created for WHYY Documentary Workshop

... 'Skaters in LOVE' screening February 1 at 7 p.m. ...

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- In the summer of 2005, three Philadelphia teenagers, concerned over the skating ban in iconic LOVE Park, explored the history, controversy and public reaction surrounding the ban through digital video. The documentary they created was produced under the guidance of the Learning Lab at WHYY as part of the Friends Select School Summer Academic Program.

On Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m., ninth-graders Emmett Drueding, Paul Sanders and Axel Tuveson will debut their film, "Skaters in LOVE," during a free screening at Friends Select School, 17th & Ben Franklin Parkway. Following the premiere, the three will participate in a panel discussion about the skating issue along with Scott Kip, president of the Skateboard Advocacy Network, and Barry Bessler, chief of staff of the Fairmount Park Commission. Brett Mandel of Philadelphia Forward will moderate.

"Skaters in LOVE" examines the ongoing political and social controversies of skateboarding in LOVE Park, which was conceived by late city planner Ed Bacon in the 1960s, and became a world-renowned destination for skateboarders before it was closed to the sport in 2002. Mr. Bacon, who was interviewed for the film, publicly advocated for the reopening of the park to skateboarders until his death in 2005. Also appearing in the documentary are former city managing director, Phil Goldsmith; an official from the Fairmount Park Commission, which maintains the park; local skaters; and visitors to the Center City landmark.

The young filmmakers said they chose to make a documentary about this subject because the struggle between skateboarders and Philadelphia's government over the right to ride at LOVE continues four years after the sport was banned from the public space.

"I can see how Axel expresses himself through skateboarding," said Drueding. "I really believe that it's important for kids to express themselves in a way that's best for them. And for some, it's skateboarding."

The teens created the documentary using WHYY's Local Access Unit, a portable digital production studio with sophisticated, user-friendly equipment that can create near-professional quality products.

"Video is a great tool for giving young people a voice," said WHYY's Craig Santoro, manager of WHYY's Learning Lab and the students' instructor. "Video allowed these kids to talk to Mr. Bacon, who is a real fan of skateboarders. It was great to see my students chatting with a living piece of history."

"Skaters in LOVE" will also be shown on WHYY's Digital Channel, and segments will be streamed on whyy.org.

Friends Select School is a coed, college preparatory, Quaker day school serving 500 students in grades pre-k through 12. The school traces its roots to 1689, and is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, in the heart of Philadelphia's business, cultural and governmental districts.

WHYY is what a diverse community has in common. WHYY, through television, radio and other communications services, makes our region a better place, connecting each of us to the world's richest ideas and all of us to each other.

Source: Friends Select School; WHYY

CONTACT: Anna Christopher, WHYY, +1-215-351-2066; Colleen Puckett,
Friends Select School, +1-215-561-5900, ext. 145

Web site: http://www.friends-select.org/
http://whyy.org/

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