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.
Toxic: Domestic Violence Among Teens Carries Serious Consequences
Rebecca St. John reveals the anatomy of a toxic relationship in high school while Dee Contreras details a life of homophobic bullying, even at the hands of a girlfriend. Both stories recount the degradation of self and the tough love from family and friends—along with therapy—that the subjects found necessary for healing and healthy relationships.
“YDA has made a big impact on my future by helping me to connect with youth groups and older generations, bringing awareness about uncomfortable topics such as suicide,depression, the LGBT community and domestic violence in relationships.”
–Dee Contreras
Elizabeth “Dee” Contreras first became interested in film in her sophomore year at Widefield High School in Colorado Springs. Dabbling in photography and showing great potential, her teacher and peers encouraged her to apply to the Youth Documentary Academy in 2016. Dee came to YDA committed to addressing issues around bullying, something with which she has had first hand experience since coming out as gay in early middle school. What transpired was BREAKING SILENCE, a deeply personal film about attempted suicide and the costs LGBT teens continue to endure, despite increased legal protections for LGBT people. Dee provides an unvarnished account of how silence in the face of bullying can lead to deep self harm and she hopes breaking the silence of her own story will prevent other teens from turning against themselves. Today, Dee looks forward to graduating from PIMA and continuing with film and photography in her spare time.
Rebecca St. John, 18, is a student at CIVA Charter Academy where, in addition to interests in film and video, she also sings, writes, paints, and acts. After having endured a violent relationship with a young man, Becca found her life falling apart and was hospitalized for severe depression and anxiety. Her film, ROCK BOTTOM, chronicles this journey of healing back to life, while sharing unvarnished accounts of the abusive relationship. Interviews with friends, family, and her therapist provide a multi-dimensional account of domestic violence in teenagers.
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.
