Alaska Teen Media Institute

Freelance Filmmaker Ryan Tester | Film Club #39

Ryan Tester is a freelance filmmaker based in Anchorage, Alaska. After taking the Video and Audio Production course at King Tech high school, he went on to produce his original movies with friends, work on commercial shoots, and start his own production company: Confine Light Films.

He is currently in pre-production on the feature length film Stranger, serving as one of the film's cinematographers. In a previous episode, we spoke with Stranger’s writer/director Jinn Chang and producer Bright Chang.

ATMI producer and fellow King Tech alumni Maria Koop sat down with Ryan Tester in our studio to talk about making movies. He also touched on the planning process for Stranger, how he became interested in filmmaking, and the gig where he and Maria first met.

They spoke on December 30, 2023.

Hosted by Logan Ehrhart.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including the Alaska State Council on the Arts. The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

Musician Bethlehem Shalom | Zoom Room #43

Bethlehem Shalom is an artist of many talents: music, fashion, drawing, photography. In 2022 she was an artist-in-residence at the Anchorage Museum, showcasing her eclectic clothing design.

This year, she is opening for the band Medium Build at the Bear Tooth Theater on January 26th. It’s part of a series of three shows by Medium Build, all of which sold out in days.

Bethlehem stopped by the ATMI studio to speak with producer Madison Dooley about her art, and play a few songs. She talked about creating music videos for her songs on her own, collaborating with other local musicians, and much more.

They spoke on December 30th, 2023.

Hosted by Ormund Alaois.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Click the links to see Bethlehem Shalom perform her songs "Lemons" "Owe Me Money" and "Groundhog Day" in our studio.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

”Quantum Cowboys” Director Geoff Marslett | Film Club #38

Quantum Cowboys tells the story of two hapless drifters in search of an elusive musician. The film utilizes a mix of live action and multiple styles of animation as the characters traverse the American west, as well as space and time. 

Its cast includes Golden Globe winner Lily Gladstone, Kiowa Gordon, David Arquette, and Gary Farmer. It was co-written and directed by our guest, Geoff Marslett.

This isn’t Geoff’s first rodeo with ATMI. He moderated the Q&A for our youth film screening After School Special, at the 2022 Anchorage International Film Festival, where he was also screening Quantum Cowboys. 

ATMI producer Kendrick Whiteman spoke with Geoff over Zoom, to talk about Quantum Cowboys, the difficulties in distributing an independent film in today’s market, and his love for coming up to Alaska for the Anchorage International Film Festival.

And don’t worry. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, they don’t get into spoilers.

Hosted by Ormund Alaois.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

The Boy and the Heron | Film Club #37

In 2013, animator and Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki released the film “The Wind Rises” then announced his retirement. This was not the first time he publicly retired, and it wouldn’t be his last.

This winter, Miyazaki, who is now 82 years old, has released a new film called “The Boy and The Heron.” It follows Mahito, a young boy who moves to the countryside with his father and new stepmother, after the death of his mom during World War II.

When Mahito encounters a gray heron that taunts him with the suggestion that his mother may still be alive, he embarks on a journey into a strange world that fans of Miyazaki’s other works will find themselves familiar with.

ATMI producers Madison Knutson and Jordan Kehl sat down to talk about The Boy and the Heron, how it fits in among the rest of the Studio Ghibli filmography, and its vast English-dub voice cast.

Hosted by Ormund Alaois.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

Filmmakers Jiin and Bright Chang on ”Stranger” | Film Club #36

In November 2023, siblings Jiin and Bright Chang launched a crowdfunding campaign for a feature film to be shot in Alaska. This spring, they plan to shoot “Stranger.” Jinn is the writer and director of the movie. Bright serves as its producer.

Stranger tells the story of a runaway man returning to Alaska to visit his ailing mother. When he gets entangled with the homeless community, he discovers a long-buried family secret that threatens to upend his entire life.

ATMI producer Jordan Kehl sat down with Jiin and Bright in the ATMI studio to talk about their upcoming film, the challenges to crowdfunding a feature length movie, and moving to Alaska in their teens after growing up in Taiwan and the U.K.

Hosted by Roey McCowan.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Find out more about Stranger on their website. 

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

The Endemic of Podcast in Place

On April 3, 2020 we released the first episode of Podcast in Place: Youth Stories From Quarantine, our series on life in Alaska during the Covid-19 pandemic. Three years and 70 episodes later, the global health pandemic was declared over by the World Health Organization on May 11, 2023.

So now it's time for Podcast in Place to also come to an end. 

In this final episode, we take a look back on how the Covid-19 pandemic affected life in Alaska; the healthcare system (7:48), school (17:49), mental health (34:23), and whether or not we might be ready for another global pandemic (48:29).

Hosted by Edison Wallace-Moyer.

This episode was written by Quinn White, Madison Knutson, Edison Wallace-Moyer, AJ Schultz, and Ormund Alaois.

Additional reporting from Maria Koop, Roey McCowan, Kendrick Whiteman, Jordan Kehl, and Forrest Rodgers.

Our show's main theme was composed by Devin Shreckengost. Additional music by Ormund Alaois, Tyler Felson, Ahman Greer, and Kendrick Whiteman.

Mentorship and production support from Cody Liska, John Kendall, and Rosey Robards. Special thanks to Julia O'Malley.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena'ina people, whose land we work on.

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including the Dow Jones News Fund Health and Wellness Reporting Summer Workshops Grant.

The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this podcast are those of our guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of our funders.

Singer/Songwriter Ashley Young | Zoom Room #42

Ashley Young is a singer songwriter originally from Yakutat, now based in Anchorage. In the spring she toured with the band Medium Build. Earlier this fall, she went on a tour in the Pacific Northwest with fellow musicians Husse and Zane Penny. 

Ashley stopped by the ATMI studio to sit down with producer Roey McCowan. In their extended conversation, she talks about the role her Indigeneity plays in her music, shares stories from the road, and much more.

Hosted by AJ Yambao.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Click the links to watch Ashley perform her songs "Secrets" "Dancing On The Words" and "Cast Aside."

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

 

Forever Chemicals | Zoom Room #41

In this episode we’re taking a look at how pollutants in drinking water are affecting the health and wellbeing of communities in Alaska. And how these chemicals can stay in a person’s body… forever. 

ATMI senior reporter Chloe Chaobal began her reporting in 2021 after being awarded a youth mini grant from the Alaska Conservation Foundation. The Youth Mini-Grant program aims to support youth-led projects that address conservation issues in Alaska. 

Chloe sought this funding after developing an interest and concern for Alaskans who may have been exposed to these chemicals through their drinking water.

This episode is narrated by Madison Knutson, written by Chloe Chaobal and Madison Knutson. Mentorship and production support from Cody Liska, John Kendall, and Rosey Robards. 

Hosted by Roey McCowan.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman, Ormund Alaois, and Tyler Felson. 

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including the Alaska Conservation Foundation. The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors. ATMI maintains editorial control of this podcast content. 

Thanks to our listeners who contribute to our programs and help us leverage additional funds and grants. 

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

Gruening Middle School and the Earthquake of 2018 | Zoom Room #40

On November 30th, 2018, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Anchorage in South Central Alaska. There were numerous property damages were reported, including Gruening Middle School in Eagle River.

That morning, when ATMI senior producer Daisy Carter was ducking under a desk, she thought of Gruening, where she had attended middle school. She worried that it wasn't able to sustain such a massive earthquake. And to some degree, she was right.

In this episode Daisy explores how the 2018 earthquake affected Gruening Middle School, how the community adjusted, and the school's reopening years later.

Written and produced by Daisy Carter, with mentorship and production support from Cody Liska, John Kendall, and Rosey Robbards.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman.

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including Spirit of Youth and United Way of Anchorage. The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

Zane Penny On His Debut Album | Zoom Room #39

Zane Penny became a youth producer for ATMI way back in 2019, when he was taking the audio and video production class at King Technical High School. He applied his skills to various video, radio, and podcast projects with ATMI throughout the years, including screening short films he’d directed to our annual youth film showcase.

But in 2020, Zane took up a new passion: music. Now he’s released his debut, full length album of music, titled New Skin.

Prior to the release of New Skin, Zane stopped by the ATMI studios to speak with fellow producer, and former high school classmate, Kendrick Whiteman. He talks about his new album, going on tour with other local musicians, and his love for film.

Hosted by Nico Coltrane.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Click the links to watch Zane performing his songs "Pants" and "Maybe The Moon" in (and outside) our studio.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.