A TV SERIES FOR FAMILIES TO WATCH TOGETHER
Created and produced by the revolutionary teen-driven Youth Documentary Academy, OUR TIME is a new series for public television that premieres on Rocky Mountain PBS on September 16, 2021.
Films in the series feature stories about the critical issues of our time through the eyes of young people. These character-driven stories address social issues around race and colorism, disability, teen suicide, gender and sexuality, domestic violence, family life and immigration.
When Mental Illness Causes Teens to Grow Up Too Soon...
The first episode of OUR TIME features narratives from teens who faced the struggle of living with a parent who suffers with mental illness. The children of those who are diagnosed with PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, or other mental illness are often overlooked and lost in the shadow of the parent who struggles. But now we hear from Bailey Francisco, whose father dealt with PTSD, and Madds Goddard, whose mother was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Both describe the struggle of living with a parent who cannot parent, and the many layers of emotion and trauma that arise from a childhood lost to the unraveling of a parent with mental illness.
Don’t be scared to tell your story. My entire life, I was kind of embarrassed to talk about it. But I’ve shown people at school my film, and they’ve said ‘I have the same story, thank you so much, it helped me.’
–Bailey Francisco
Bailey Francisco, 22, grew up on an Army base in Fountain, Colorado. He graduated from Fountain-Ft. Carson High School, and did some time at CSU Fort Collins. Bailey was apart of YDA’s first ever summer session. His film AFTER WAR followed his families experiences with PTSD. When asked why he chose this subject Bailey said “this is a problem that affects more people than you can imagine. More kids than you could imagine. Growing up in a military town I’ve seen the effects war has on families, and I wanted to bring this issue to light, to show that everyone is affected by war”.
AFTER WAR premiered at the Rocky Mt. Women’s Film Festival and then at the Boulder International Film Festival where Bailey presented his film along side Academy-Award winning filmmaker Lucy Walker. It also has screened at Colorado College, the Fine Arts Center, and Inside/Out in Colorado Springs. Bailey is the 2014 recipient of the Pikes Peak Art Council’s ‘Rising Star’ Award. AFTER WAR is also the 2015 recipient of The All American High-school Film Festivals “Best Documentary” award.
Bailey Francisco lives in Colorado Springs where he actively promotes the Youth Documentary Academy actively and pursues stand-up comedy.
Madison Goddard is the youngest of five siblings. After her mom was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, Madds became a primary caregiver in her family, supporting her mom’s therapies and helping manage the household. In high school, Madds researched extensively the history of mental health in the U.S. which formed the basis of her film RIGHT OF MIND. While chronicling the ways in which Americans with mental illness have been demonized, she also provides a poignant and gentle portrait of a mother and daughter working hand in hand to overcome stigma and live life openly and freely.
Other Episodes
Who gets to tell their story in America?
Founded in 2013, the Youth Documentary Academy (YDA) has pioneered youth-driven storytelling that seeks to discover and honor underrepresented stories while raising voices that have traditionally been overlooked. YDA offers intensive mentorship to aspiring teen filmmakers 14-18 years old. Through rigorous hands-on training in both the technical and artistic aspects of filmmaking and storytelling, YDA students receive the tools and support to hone their stories and produce professional quality documentaries. When complete, YDA works closely with filmmakers to distribute their work to local and national audiences. YDA’s 100 films have become a go-to for educators, advocates and PBS programmers alike.
Major Funding
Mary Anne & Steve Walldorf
Betsy & Warren Dean
Additional Funding
The Youth Documentary Academy relies on direct funding and donations from our sponsors. If you appreciate the OUR TIME series, please consider supporting the Youth Documentary Academy. Your donation makes a difference, and makes future seasons of the PBS series OUR TIME possible.
