From a Teen’s Perspective: Searching for local culture

This past weekend I watched a movie following the classic story of a small town kid longing to explore the great wide world. However, in an interesting shift away from the classic narrative, someone challenges the main character’s disdain for suburban life, arguing that she mustn’t judge her home town without “conducting a thorough cultural investigation,” arguing that there are spots of rich culture, adventure and excitement available to those with an eye keen enough to spot them. And sure enough, she found them.

This got me thinking about my own life. I’ve always wished there was more accessible “culture” in our area, but figured that it was too quiet (although charming) to host the creation and display of impactful art.

Serendipitously, I had the chance to start conducting my own cultural investigation when I was invited to the 2nd Annual Spotlight Short Film Showcase held by the Riekes Center at the Guild Theatre on Sunday.

According to Julio Deras, a film instructor for the Riekes Center as well as its visual arts manager, the showcase was developed to highlight the Center’s film program and celebrate Bay Area filmmaking as a whole. He carefully curated submissions from local filmmakers to include a wide variety of genres and subject matters.

I happily attended the showcase, hoping to not only enjoy the bite-sized cinema but extrapolate my ideas about the prevalence and potential of a local culture.

The evening opened with talented documentaries by students in the Riekes Center’s summer workshop, including captivating stories of gentrification, disability awareness, and generational differences. It was a joy to see kids around my age create important works of their own, contributing to the film canon of our area simply by having the courage to reflect on our society and highlight authentic narratives within it.

Then we watched a film showcasing the Riekestra, the Riekes Center’s student-run cover band, and the trip to Spain they took last year (and have continued to take annually). Again, as I watched my peers skillfully play instruments and belt out difficult songs, I felt a deep pride and excitement for my generation. Right away this was an example of art being created and performed nearby (although they sometimes travel far to show off their talents!). And I began to shrug off my preconceived notions about our local culture, a phenomena that only continued along with each insightful film.

Next of which was Remembering Norman, a look at the life of Norman Fontaine, a beloved Bay Area artist who spread messages of peace, love, and understading. As Norman’s beautifully-drawn images flashed across the screen, I further realized that our area is steeped in a rich artistic history, filled with stories of people like Norman who helped develop the local art scene I have regrettably overlooked.

The following two films, Loop Within and Nothing Compares, used experimental techniques (such as scrapbook-style animation and virtual reality) to build vivid worlds that captivated my eyes and raised my adrenaline.

Nothing Adverse offered a gritty yet tender-at-its-core narrative of an immigrant man involving himself in criminal activity in order to bring his family to America. Not only was the film exceptionally-produced, it was extremely relevant to current issues over immigration at the Southern border, illustrating that people in our community can and do create powerful art with important social messages.

Crushing Love and An Undying Love provided playful multimedia visuals and humorous storylines that inspired waves of laughter from the crowd. It was inspiring to see local work produce such heartwarming responses, illustrating the power of art in uplifting a community.

The (supposedly) final film of the night was The Pride of Pulgia. The 30-minute documentary explored the trials and triumphs of the LGBTQIA+ community in southern Italy. It presented a compelling and thoughtful portrait of a margenalized community, conveying both the beauty of their experiences while also acknowledging the progress that is necessary for their safety and prosperity, once again illustrating that people in our community have the ability to produce globally conscious works of art.

Second Nature was the surprise final film, in which a divorced father and his son go “camping” in their backyard. It was incredibly heartwarming and provided the perfect closure to a night of wonderful films.

As I walked out of the Guild’s doors and into the pouring rain (quite cinematic in and of itself) I realized I was filled with hope and excitement. Attending the showcase felt like discovering the tip of the iceberg to all the Bay Area has to offer in terms of its rich artistic past and present.

A quick Google search at home revealed a wealth of cultural events to explore in our community, from art festivals to open mic nights. Not only can we engage with our culture, but we can contribute to it, as well, just as filmmakers of all ages did at the showcase.

The Riekes Center’s film program hopes to promote the local film scene and one day connect it to national hubs.

“As we grow, I think Riekes film could be that next film academy, where we offer workshops in cinematography, screenwriting, and directing,” Deras said.

I, for one, am excited to watch the Riekes Center’s film program grow and joyfully investigate all the other cultural experiences our area has to offer.

So while I understand the desire to journey out of our suburban environment, I hope my fellow teens (and all my fellow community members, for that matter) will consider seeking out more opportunities to connect with — and even contribute to — our unique and surprisingly rich culture.

Got any topics you want me to cover? Email dylanclarklanier@gmail.com with your requests!

Dylan Lanier is a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School; his column appears weekly.

Photos courtesy of Riekes Center