BERDOO
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A film following and the challenges they overcome to attend and succeed in school with the help of community members that invest in them.
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About the Film
BERDOO is a film exploring how a community works together to de- crease chronic absenteeism in the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD). The film shares the stories of different San Bernardino students and the struggles that they face to get to school and do well but the resilience they have through their community. It also highlights the people and organization working with students to make Berdoo a better place.
Berdoo is a film for anyone who considers San Bernardino a part of their story.
This film is produced in San Bernardino in collaboration with the San Bernardino City Unified School District, the Loma Linda University School of Public Health and with help from students and creatives who all went to school in San Bernardino.
Background
San Bernardino is a city 60 miles east of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County, California. The city of San Bernardino is one of California’s oldest cities, founded by Mormon missionaries in 1851. It was once a stable middle-class city, and in 1976 the National Civic League designated San Bernardino as an All-American City (Olson & Miller, 2011).
In 1994, the San Bernardino Norton Air Force Base was closed. The closure of the Air Force resulted in a negative outcome for the job market. (Hagen, 2014). The city was hit again with a wave of poverty and economic depression during the 2008 recession.
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San Bernardino’s poverty rate, ranking it the second poorest city in the country, two years after the recession began.
In 2012, the city filed for bankruptcy and has been recovering economically since. The poor environment has had its effect on the younger generations one means of measurement being poorer outcomes in health and success in education.
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The rate of SBCUSD students that were chronically absent in the 2017-2018 school year, compared to 11.1% of students statewide.
Failing to recognize that San Bernardino faces challenges, is to ignore the fact that this community has remained resilient despite them. The community is made up of individuals and organization that are invest- ing in the next generation to create change in Berdoo, for the better.
Meet The Team
Nishita Matangi
Executive Producer
I first heard about San Bernardino when I moved to the area for my MPH program, which is how I met SBCUSD students, parents, staff and faculty and fell in love with the community. I was inspired by the people and their experiences and realized my initial introduction through data and articles didn’t reflect the true sense of the community. It was important to me that this story was told by people from Berdoo, from the crew to the interviewees. I’m incredibly grateful for the support from everyone involved and am excited about the potential this project has. This film is for anyone who considers Berdoo to be a part of their story, because it has become a part of my own story.
nishita@njmstudios.org
Marcus Chapman
Executive Producer
It’s been amazing to watch how people have come together to make this film. Students from the LLU School of Public Health, film crew who live or went to school in San Bernardino, teachers, parents, community members, and school district employees providing access and pointing us in the right direction, and of course the students who go to school in the San Bernardino Unified School District. Being a small part of something that has grown from an idea to nearly finished film has been fun. I’m proud of everyone involved and hope the final film makes as much of a positive impact on our community as the making of the film has had on me.
Marlene Bicondova
Executive Producer
What a privilege it has been to be involved in the Berdoo film project alongside students from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health. Having grown up in San Bernardino and graduated from SBCUSD schools, I know first hand how much dedication and resilience lies in the hearts of the great people who live here. There are so many sad stories told about San Bernardino and it’s people without regard to what’s best about the city. It means so much that the directors and producers of this short film have captured stories of brilliance of the people who were touched by the most influential organization on the youth of San Bernardino, the school district.
Giacomo Thillet
Director, Producer
My name is Giacomo Thillet and I am the director and a producer of “Berdoo”. Shedding some positive light on San Bernardino schools and the surrounding community is something that really drew me to this project. It is my hope that “Berdoo” can be seen as a way for San Bernardino citizens to better see their city, and especially their school system, in a whole new light. The SBCUSD is collectively doing a lot to support the leaders of tomorrow, and this documentary will show just how much administrators truly care.
Karen Alfaro
Assistant Producer
I was new to LLU and the surrounding Community and I knew I wanted to be a part of something that was going to make a positive impact. When Nishita came to speak to my class and mentioned she needed help with BerdooFilm, I thought to myself this is exactly what Im looking for. I’m thankful she allowed me to be a part of her team. I’ve met some wonderful people and it has allowed me to expand my public health knowledge and be a part of a resilient community.
Stéphanie Molina
Assistant Producer
Working along with the SBCUSD community has been a gratifying experience to be part of. It began with a research project, later expanding into this documentary. The most inspiring aspect has been listening to the voices of this community and learning from them. The work they’ve done and will continue to do so is truly eye-opening. The resilience and aspiration to support each other tell a compelling story, which this documentary hopes to share with the rest of the world.
Andrew Vong
Director of Photography, Editor, Producer
Being a part of this production was super enticing to me because I really wanted a way to give back to the community that raised me and showcase the resilient side of San Bernardino that is pushing for a better future. The very first goal in Berdoo’s pre-production was to hire and consult with creatives who themselves were students of the San Bernardino Unified School District. I believe this first step was instrumental in creating the most organic narrative that we are aiming to present later this year. Thanks for the ongoing support! There are a lot of strong minds working behind the scenes on this project!
Darelle Amores
Community Engagement
As someone who lived in the City of San Bernardino for most of my life, the experience helping create Berdoofilm was humbling. Hearing the many San Bernardino interviews and stories was very inspirational for me. It also reminded me to be proud of being from San Bernardino and to hold strong to our culture of resilience. I am grateful for the various community members, organizations, and the younger generation who are working constantly to make a difference and letting their voices heard to create positive changes in San Bernardino. As a product of San Bernardino and a community member, I do hope this film will create an impact for the current and future generations for years to come.