Student Lesson Plans and Worksheets are available in our Educators Center.

This youth filmmaker is a member of our Speakers Bureau. Request a Scenarios USA youth filmmaker to screen their film and speak at your event!

Synopsis

Two young women confront their sexuality at the crossroads of race and class.

Who I Am addresses stereotypes, racism, and homophobia.

Credits

Who I Am was written by 17-year old Whitney Peters of MAST Academy in Miami, FL. The film was directed by Jesse Peretz (The Ex) and produced by Julian Valdes and Andy Schefter and stars Rebecca Borbe and Tashelle Whyte.

Click here for the full cast and crew.

Honors

• Aired on Showtime Networks, February 2009
• The Audience Award for best short narrative, Reeling 2008: The 27th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival.
• 2006 Florida Contest Winner, Miami, FL
• Aired on Manhattan Neighborhood Network
• The Audience Award for best short, Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
• The Audience Award for best short, Provincetown International Film Festival
• Screened at the Iris Film Festival in Cardiff, Wales

The story behind the story

Whitney Peters didn't consider herself much of a writer and she had “never even considered film as anything I could do” when she entered the 2006 contest as part of her Television Production class. She did consider herself an artist and an activist, however, and she took advantage of the chance to have her voice heard.

Whitney wanted to tackle a complex topic that she felt other students wouldn't be writing about: identity. She carefully constructed characters who straddle often-times conflicting aspects of their identities--race, class, gender and sexuality. Whitney hopes her story will encourage deeper thinking about how community expectations affect youth trying to decide for themselves who they are and what they want.

Who I Am was filmed at MAST Academy in Miami, Florida in January 2007. Over 100 students from the Miami area worked as extras in the film, and a professional crew gave their time and talents in the middle of Miami's peak production season.

Having trouble viewing a clip?

Download QuickTime

Download Flash

Scenarios USA proudly shoots on Kodak film