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Nishika Goel
Director
“Documenting human stories and cultures fuels my passion to learn and connect with the world around me. The empathetic, creative energy involved in this process helped me develop a deeper understanding of myself, of the world, and how this understanding itself is a driver for change.”
Sofia Bottini
Producer
"Working as a producer for Last Letter Films has allowed me to help foster an ethical, creative and empathetic place to create a story. Being a producer has pushed me to explore new and different aspects of a production company that I would not typically experience."
Annie
Cowen
Producer
“This experience has allowed me to follow my passion for social justice using a medium unfamiliar to me, film. Not only can I see the ways I have grown throughout this journey in my role as a producer, I can see how I’ve evolved as a person!”
Anna
Keller
Cinematographer & Editor
“As a DP, I was fortunate to have gotten to know our collaborators on and offscreen. They truly made us feel like a part of their daily lives, and I can’t wait to continue telling their stories in the editing process.”
Taniya
Gray
Sound & Assistant Editor
“I am grateful for the opportunity to create such a powerful story. Through this process I have gained not only a better understanding of myself but the world at large.”
Connie
Fang
Writer & Researcher
“Through the challenges and joys of filmmaking, the stories of our collaborators and the energy of our team inspire me every day.”
Ashley
Bernard
Writer & Researcher
“As a writer, I am so excited to learn this process and help amplify a story that was once so unfamiliar to me. I’m grateful for this opportunity to develop, alongside a team of talented people, a work of art meant to inspire the world and make Afro-Puerto Ricans proud.”
Valerie
Rodriguez
Writer & Researcher
“More than anything, I am grateful for the ability to help show the world that AfroLatinx communities exist, are valid and are rich in culture.”
Molly
Mook
Multimedia Director
“I love being a Multimedia Director because it allows me to be involved in so many different projects, as our amazing team plans, edits, and posts content to our social media almost weekly. Sharing the stories of such a wide variety of collaborators is very important to me, and I couldn’t be happier to spread their messages.”
Xiaoran (Mia) Zhu
Multimedia Cinematographer & Editor
“My role as a multimedia cinematographer and editor allows me to preserve the beautiful moments from the trip and bring them to our audiences. ”
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Connor Bagin
Multimedia Editor
“I am grateful to work with such an awesome team and to create content that will have a lasting impact on our audience.”
Jesse
Marsh
Initiative & Fundraising
“I am so happy to be part of a group that wants to effect positive change in society. I hope we can deliver a film and community center that can be etched in Loiza history.”
Daniel
Macgill
Graphic Design & Editor
“Being a part of the team while helping contribute to the valuable message being sent out is something that I really wanted to be a part of. It’s given me a lot of the perspective on the world that I didn’t have.”
Freddy Kwak
Director
“This is the best life experience I’ve had in my 21 years of living. I’ve learned to respect, care, and love everyone regardless of who they are and where they come from. The process is definitely worth the sweat and tears we’ve shed, and I’m eternally grateful to the people who made this project possible. I can’t wait to keep learning people’s stories and exploring the depth of the human condition in tandem with the growth of my own understanding of life.”
Kristen Garvey
Producer
“The work that we do amplifies real voices and real stories that need to be heard. I am proud to be apart of something that inspires tremendous and important changes in the world.”
Keely Dumouchel
Line Producer, Writer, & Sound
“This whole process has been an incredible experience. I’ve been learning from the people around me and am learning more about the world around me through our collaborators. I’ve gained so much respect and admiration for the documentary process and I am so grateful for these experiences.”
Maggie Mengel
Cinematographer & Editor
“As the Director of Photography and Doc Editor of the Last Letter Films team, I am proud to be a part of a team that is dedicated to share an important lesson and appreciation through storytelling.”
Morgan Torre
Head Writer
“Writing the Abrante family’s story has allowed me to reinvent my passion for social justice.”
Idjatou
Barry
Writer & Researcher
“I am excited to help craft and put across the powerful message and voices Loiza has to offer with the world through film. I am honored to be apart of an action of change through a creative lens and helping to spread the words, wisdom, and strength of the African diaspora.”
Nathan
Reyes
Writer & Researcher
“Being a part of this process has been an amazing experience, bringing me closer to my heritage while also developing understanding of life on the island my family migrated to America from.”
Jaedyn Eurenius
Multimedia Director
“Working as a Multimedia Director gives me the opportunity to spend time with an amazing team, and work together to plan and create both fun and important content. I feel so lucky to be in a role that allows me to be creative and meet so many new people!”
EJ
Burke
Multimedia Producer
“There are so many aspects that go into making a film. But what comes from that experience is what I truly value. These friendships from this class will last a lifetime.”
Brendan Bennett
Multimedia Editor
“To do something you love is to pursue the mind not at the expense of the heart, but with it. As both a producer and multimedia editor for the project, I have been able to form long-lasting relationships with collaborators from around the world who engage me in meaningful conversations about peace and justice. Both my education and my heart are set on elevating important voices around the world.”
Perry
Wilson
Multimedia Editor
“My favorite part of documentary filmmaking is how it allows marginalized people to express their voices to the world.”
Brandon
Slater
Initiative & Fundraising
“My favorite part of my experience is learning from all the different people we connect with in making these stories come to life.”
Gaby
Palmisano
Graphic Design
“I am excited to engage my interests in film and social justice while really making a difference outside the classroom.”
Ajibola
Bodunrin
Graduate Assistant
"Working with Last Letter Films on ROOTED has given me so much insight into global Black culture and has allowed me to learn how we as people can connect through our differences."