Post by title1parent on Jun 29, 2011 7:35:11 GMT -5
Naperville grad makes documentary about school in Honduras
By Jane Donahue
For the Sun
Last Modified: Jun 28, 2011
Most would find it difficult to find beauty in a city dump, but JJ Starr did just that. The 2006 Neuqua Valley High School graduate and filmmaker traveled to Honduras and discovered a story of triumph within the trash.
“My first trip to Honduras taught me a lot,” said Starr, 23. “I went expecting to see this terrible, poor, dump community, but was shocked when I encountered some of the nicest, most loving people I’ve ever met. I learned that while people’s situations may appear bad, there’s always a more beautiful side to the story.”
From that trip, Starr produced a documentary, “awaken honduras.” The film follows hundreds of children near the capitol city of Tegucigalpa, who rummage through mountains of garbage each day to earn money. The conditions are dangerous, and the earnings are sparse.
But Starr focused on the “real story,” the AFE School that was started in the midst of the garbage, by a few dedicated Hondurans. Ten years later, two school buildings stand across the street from the dump, where hundreds of children are educated each year.
The 23-year-old said he got involved in television while a student at Neuqua, taking courses in both video production and broadcasting.
“At Neuqua, Ms. Traut taught me a lot of the basics of film production that have really helped a lot over the years,” Starr said. “I remember one time in college, I was working on a film with a bunch of people, and we needed to do something on set. No one knew how to do it except me, because Ms. Traut had taught me. It was a pretty cool moment.”
Last year he graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in documentary film production.
Now he is looking for backers to make “awaken honduras” into a full-length film.
Naperville resident Robin Hersma, 40, is one of them.
“We as a couple, and as a family, have a heart for justice issues, and making people aware of life situations that are very different from Naperville,” Hersma said. “I think JJ has an amazing story to tell. A lot of people don’t know communities like this exist, and hopefully the documentary will bring awareness and allow more of the kids go to college in the future.”
His parents, Jeff and Susie of Naperville, share the sentiment.
“After JJ described what he was doing and looking at his first video, we realized he has a huge desire to tell the story about the children in the school,” his father said. “JJ has always had drive and desire to bring stories to life for everyone to see and hear.”
His parents couldn’t be more proud.
“‘awaken honduras was amazing,” Jeff said. “He gives an insight into the (lives of the) children at the school and the struggles they face.”
Starr is returning to Honduras to follow the first group of students to graduate from the dump. After that, he’ll be back in Naperville to edit and get ready for film festivals.
“I want people to be inspired to help these kids go to college, which will forever change their lives,” the filmmaker said. “They’ve been caught up in this unbelievable cycle of poverty, and a college degree will end this cycle forever.”
Columnist Jane Donahue is looking for graduates of Naperville schools who have made Naperville proud. To offer candidates, e-mail her at picturesbyjane@wowway.com
By Jane Donahue
For the Sun
Last Modified: Jun 28, 2011
Most would find it difficult to find beauty in a city dump, but JJ Starr did just that. The 2006 Neuqua Valley High School graduate and filmmaker traveled to Honduras and discovered a story of triumph within the trash.
“My first trip to Honduras taught me a lot,” said Starr, 23. “I went expecting to see this terrible, poor, dump community, but was shocked when I encountered some of the nicest, most loving people I’ve ever met. I learned that while people’s situations may appear bad, there’s always a more beautiful side to the story.”
From that trip, Starr produced a documentary, “awaken honduras.” The film follows hundreds of children near the capitol city of Tegucigalpa, who rummage through mountains of garbage each day to earn money. The conditions are dangerous, and the earnings are sparse.
But Starr focused on the “real story,” the AFE School that was started in the midst of the garbage, by a few dedicated Hondurans. Ten years later, two school buildings stand across the street from the dump, where hundreds of children are educated each year.
The 23-year-old said he got involved in television while a student at Neuqua, taking courses in both video production and broadcasting.
“At Neuqua, Ms. Traut taught me a lot of the basics of film production that have really helped a lot over the years,” Starr said. “I remember one time in college, I was working on a film with a bunch of people, and we needed to do something on set. No one knew how to do it except me, because Ms. Traut had taught me. It was a pretty cool moment.”
Last year he graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in documentary film production.
Now he is looking for backers to make “awaken honduras” into a full-length film.
Naperville resident Robin Hersma, 40, is one of them.
“We as a couple, and as a family, have a heart for justice issues, and making people aware of life situations that are very different from Naperville,” Hersma said. “I think JJ has an amazing story to tell. A lot of people don’t know communities like this exist, and hopefully the documentary will bring awareness and allow more of the kids go to college in the future.”
His parents, Jeff and Susie of Naperville, share the sentiment.
“After JJ described what he was doing and looking at his first video, we realized he has a huge desire to tell the story about the children in the school,” his father said. “JJ has always had drive and desire to bring stories to life for everyone to see and hear.”
His parents couldn’t be more proud.
“‘awaken honduras was amazing,” Jeff said. “He gives an insight into the (lives of the) children at the school and the struggles they face.”
Starr is returning to Honduras to follow the first group of students to graduate from the dump. After that, he’ll be back in Naperville to edit and get ready for film festivals.
“I want people to be inspired to help these kids go to college, which will forever change their lives,” the filmmaker said. “They’ve been caught up in this unbelievable cycle of poverty, and a college degree will end this cycle forever.”
Columnist Jane Donahue is looking for graduates of Naperville schools who have made Naperville proud. To offer candidates, e-mail her at picturesbyjane@wowway.com