Self-Expression: Writer's story to become short film

Weslaco East High School graduate Angelica Hernandez is the South Texas winner for a writing contest with Scenarios USA. As the winner, Hernandez will work with a director to transform her story into a short film that will be shot in Weslaco.

Scenarios USA is a nonprofit organization that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership, advocacy and self-expression in under-served teens.

Hernandez entered the contest in December 2009 as part of a project in her creative writing class taught by Elvira Aguayo.

"Most students worked on it but many didn’t turn in the project because they felt they weren’t ready," Hernandez said. "Our creative writing class is very liberal … the topic was ‘What’s the real deal about masculinity?’"

With many of the students giving a glimpse into their personal lives, Hernandez says she was in shock that she won.

"I was really surprised, I got an e-mail before I won that I was a finalist," Hernandez said. "I had written the story to gain the experience of writing something and submitting it to a contest; I wasn’t really expecting to win."

Hernandez says her script follows a young male’s life and his families struggle in a bad relationship with his father.

The lead male is given the choice of receiving a full ride through college at Stanford University or staying home in the Rio Grande Valley to attend the University of Texas-Pan American while providing for his family.

After the script was chosen as a winner, Scenarios USA set Hernandez up with Director Cruz Angeles. Scenarios USA Media Production and Distribution Director Robert York explained the structure of the program.

"We have three contests, one in the Rio Grande Valley, New York City, and Cleveland, Ohio," York said. "We also do teacher workshops every fall in Edinburg and Brownsville. We present the teachers with a curriculum … nine lessons in creative writing, English, drama and even social studies and health."

York added that there are many talented directors who currently and in the past have devoted their time to assisting the script winners including Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys), Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother) and Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth).

Hernandez admits working with Angeles is a lot of work and preparation.

"I have already started working with my director through e-mail and over the phone to edit my script," Hernandez says. "It hasn’t been easy; it’s just a matter of knowing what they want out of the script."

The 18-year-old says she enjoys writing and plans to major in English at the University of North Texas this fall. She will travel down to work on the filming of the film at a home in Weslaco.

York says they have two ideas of where the film will be shot but welcome more volunteers from the community.

Those who would like to suggest their home for filming can contact Robert York at rob@scenariosusa.org.

Andrielle Figueroa is a reporter for the Mid-Valley Town Crier.