November 7, 2008

       They displayed their natural talent for documentary filmmaking during their studies with the Central Park Conservancy’s Youth Leadership Programs.  Now, two years after using those skills to tell the stories of Central Park, Lynchy Lezeau and Briana Orr celebrated the big premiere of their film about HIV/AIDS in South Africa this week at New York University’s International Health Week.

       After months of coordinating and fundraising for the project, the college students filmed “Making Waves, Breaking Walls” in January during their month-long research trip in Cape Town. Nine months of editing later, the film debuted Nov. 5 at NYU.

       Their cinematic pairing took root during their work in the Conservancy’s 2006 Documentarian Summer Internship. Together, Lezeau and Orr created short films about the Conservancy’s Volunteer Programs, Camp Central Park, and the Summer Internship Program. The projects were shown to the public at special events and students in the Conservancy’s youth programs. From there Lezeau and Orr went on to become Artists-in-Residence with La Lutta NMC, a nonprofit organization run by Antonino D’Ambrosio, former educator with the Conservancy’s Youth Leadership media programs.

       A junior at Bard College majoring in human rights, Orr aspires to continue a career in filmmaking. Born in Jerusalem, she lived in Russia and Arizona before moving to Brooklyn with her family at the age of 13. A stint in HBO’s young filmmakers lab sparked her interest in documentary work. After her summer internship with the Conservancy in 2006, she deferred her enrollment at Bard to spend six months volunteering on health initiatives in India with Student Partnerships Worldwide.

       Lezeau is sophomore at Brooklyn College, working toward a medical degree by way of a double major in French and Chemistry.  After the unexpected death of his mother in Haiti when he was 11, Lezeau committed to changing the medical system that failed her. He moved to the United States during his freshman year in high school. He enrolled in Health Professionals High School, where a guidance counselor suggested that he check out the Conservancy’s Media Outreach Program. Lezeau participated in the programs for 3 and a half years, contributing to the Green Map of Central Park; shooting a youth-perspective short film called “My Central Park”; and creating a documentary, comic book and short animation encouraging visitors not to feed the Park’s wildlife.

       After debuting it this week, Lezeau and Orr plan further work on the film and aim for future screenings. Directors of the Youth Leadership Programs said they were proud of the alumni’s success and hope they’ll return to share their story with current students.  

       Youth Leadership Programs provide a fun way for students in grades 9-12 to learn about the environment, meet teens with similar interests and discover a variety of career opportunities while fostering a sense of stewardship for Central Park. Click here to learn more, or call 212-360-1439. 

The Conservancy is grateful to the Youth Development Institute for providing funding for the Youth Leadership Program.  The Conservancy also thanks the NYCT - Wallace Special Projects Fund; William E. Weiss Foundation, Inc./Daryl Brown Uber; The Lucius N. Littauer Foundation Inc.; Barker Welfare Foundation; The Pumpkin Foundation/Joe & Carol Reich; W.P. Carey Foundation, Inc.; Mae Goffe; The Samuel & Rae Eckman Charitable Foundation; Levin/Goffe Family Foundation; and the Alan & Katherine Stroock Fund for helping to fund the Conservancy's Education and Youth Development Programs.