DOCUMENTARY
'Beyond The Lights' — Homeless Teens
Homeless and runaway children roam the streets of Las
Vegas every year. They sleep behind dumpsters and in abandoned
buildings. Some sell their bodies for drugs or food. As Eyewitness News
shows you, it's a side of life that most students who attend private
school never think about let alone experience -- until now.
Their fresh eager faces reflect the innocence of youth
who live and learn in a privileged environment. Anthony Santos says,
"I'll admit being here in Summerlin I've led a very sheltered life."
These high school students attend Faith-Lutheran -- a private Christian
school on the outskirts of the wealthy suburb of Summerlin.
Teacher Jose Diaz said, "I teach in an upper class
community. I'm surrounded by kids who have better cars than I do." But
this young teacher's passion for filmmaking lit a fire within these
students who agreed to enter a world they never knew existed -- the dark
reality of homeless teenagers in Las Vegas.
"Beyond the Lights" is a full-length documentary shot
and edited by a group of Faith-Lutheran students. They work under the
supervision of their teacher, Jose Diaz, who produced and directed the
project.
Diaz, documentary director, said, "We actually capture
a couple of things that will catch the audience off guard. And some of
the teenager's stories are quite amazing."
The documentary reveals what daily life is like for
some of the thousands of homeless teens who each year roam the streets
of the valley. These children often flee abusive homes only to end up
panhandling or selling their bodies for money to buy drugs, food, or a
warm room for the night.
Jose Diaz said, "The youngest homeless kid out there
by himself was 12-13 years old. He lived behind a dumpster. This is
footage of a homeless teen we followed who also takes care of a dog.
When he squats on top of a roof for the night he lifts this big dog
around his shoulders and climbs up the ladder. It's the most amazing
thing."
While most students spent their summer break
vacationing with their families and hanging out with their friends,
these high school students took part in a project they say changed their
lives forever.
Anthony Santos, student cinematographer, said, "I
found so much goes on in this city that I have lived in since I was 10
and I had no idea." Faith-Lutheran senior Anthony Santos says the images
he recorded on camera really opened his own eyes. "I look back at my own
life and what I've had so much, and the times I thought my parents
didn't understand me and I'm so grateful now for what they've given me."
Sophomore Matthew Inouye, who helped edit the
documentary, says it blows away the stereotypes he and other students
had about who the homeless really are. "I thought they were all older
people who just lost their jobs or chose not to go to work."
And what they learned even motivated some to confront
their fears and question their past behavior. Matthew Inouye continues,
"When we see a homeless person, what's the first thing we do? We lock
our car doors. Why are we doing that? They have reasons for being
homeless. Most don't choose to be homeless."
Student Dave Matthews adds, "I definitely appreciate
what I have a lot more and I'm a lot more aware of what the world can be
like. There's a lot of bad stuff out there. There were times when I was
bummed out just thinking about what happens to these kids, just how
unfair it is. But I still came out of this experience feeling better
because we're now out there helping them and there are organizations
that give these children hope -- and that gives me hope."
The most recent figures show more than 3,500 homeless
children sought help at Nevada shelters in 2003.
Alyson McCarthy
15 November 2005
http://www.klastv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4118315&nav=168Y
