Red Carpet Premiere

On June 1, 2009, the Little Bluebird Studios/Apache Youth Ministries had a Red Carpet Premiere showing to celebrate the completion of their hour long film entitled, “The Other Side of the Rez: Southern California”. This reality show-style documentary is the story of a group of four Apache teens, and one young adult, leaving the White Mountain Apache Reservation on a road trip to Southern California. On the trip they stayed with host families of many different backgrounds (provided by partnering churches), experienced different areas in Southern California, and documented it all along the way. Much of the video was taken by the participants on the trip and edited by students at Alchesay high school. The score for the opening credits was composed by Alchesay High School Junior, Marquez Kane. The showing was held at a small scale movie theater located in Alchesay High School’s media arts department. People began showing up to the premiere around 5:45 pm, after which the media team, and stars of the production, drove up in the 15 passenger van that they took on the filming of the production. Cameras were flashing, and AYM director Ron Everingham was interviewing visitors and stars on the red carpet runway, as the crowd (made up of family and friends of the students) made their way into the theater to get their seats. Free popcorn and soft drinks were served. Immediately following the film, a brief award ceremony was conducted by Little Bluebird Studio’s Media Director Joel Bidderman, AYM staff, and Alchesay High School’s Media Arts teacher Rick Sanchez, to celebrate the work and achievement of the students who worked on the project. After the night was over, Ariel Edison (a junior at AHS and member of the media team) was asked what she thought of the night. She replied, “I felt like a star”.