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.

What happens when two teens reject societal norms?

For decades, societal ideals of beauty have promulgated images of ultra-thin models, resulting in an epidemic of eating disorders. In GORGEOUS, filmmaker Bat (formerly Makayla) de la Cruz tackles their own life-long battle with body image. In the film OUT OF THE BOX, Casey Gurtler eschews the self-policing that young people employ when conforming to societal norms and dares herself and others to go against the grain.

Casey Gurtler graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs and has a passion for drawing, animation and debate. Her film OUT OF THE BOX explores the life of a teenaged artist unwilling to conform to social and neuro-typical norms. The film also shines light on her mother, Aimee, whose own painful upbringing prompted fresh ways of parenting her precocious daughter. Through this deeply intimate portrait of mother/daughter, Casey paints a model for living an unshackled life, driven by sheer creativity and authenticity.

“When I stopped caring about what others thought about me, I started paying way more attention to my own interests and passions. Identities are useful. But for me, I think ‘queer’ just captures it best.”

— Casey Gurtler, 16

Bat de la Cruz hails from Pueblo, Colorado where they recently graduated from high school. Bat entered the Youth Documentary Academy’s production program to make a film about body image. Their own history of self-policing and body dysmorphia comprise the heart of their film GORGEOUS. Bat speaks to all young people: how do you celebrate your power and confidence while battling society’s rigid definitions of beauty? In addition to filmmaking, Bat has become an advocate and public speaker around issues of race, gender and LGBTQ+ issues. They are currently researching a film about violence against trans women of color in their community.

“When I was a kid, I was bold. I was unstoppable. I was the only girl on an all-boys football team. I could see myself taking over the world if I wanted to. Losing that part of me really changed my personality… it makes me sad.”

— Bat de la Cruz, 18

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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.

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Major Funding

The Russell Grinnell Memorial Trust
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.

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