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Wow, just wow. I’m completely blown away by the amount of thought and effort that went into this film. You all did an amazing job of demonstrating the importance of “hubs” in South Los Angeles. Specifically how they function as a source of happiness that fosters a sense of connectedness, camaraderie, and love amongst one’s own community. I especially enjoyed how each of you incorporated your own personal experiences with your “hub”. Not only was this cool to see, but it also helped to explain why a “hub” is so meaningful to certain people and communities as a whole. Of course, hearing about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected these “hubs” was devastating. However, as devastating as it may have been, it just goes to show how important these “hubs” are. The pandemic taught us to cherish these moments with our loved ones because we never know when or if we’ll see them again. The saying, “you never know what you have until it’s gone” couldn’t be any truer in times like these. However, as we overcome the pandemic and life starts to return to normal, I believe that these “hubs” will come back stronger than ever. Once again, outstanding job!
- From Professor G’s class

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Your film really spoke to me. It captures the current conditions that places our sense of community under pressure. You did a great job analyzing how a place can develop meaning. How a grocery store or park can serve the community in many more ways than it was intended. A line that really stood out to me was; “In South LA, the hub is a place to study relax and socialize, it is vigilant connection for the South LA community… hub’s are places that bring people together, and together we bring these places to life.” I thought this perfectly encapsulated how your local mall, grocery store, or park can become a fixture of the community, and how this pandemic has deteriorated our sense of community first and foremost through the limitations on these ‘hubs’. Perhaps it’s why even in an age of constant online interactions and communication through technology, we can still feel isolated. Watching your film has reminded me of what we hopefully will be able to re-establish once the pandemic is over.

Thank you for such a personal film, I really enjoyed watching.

Jackson G. (Prof. G’s class)

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I love that this film is about how the covid pandemic has impacted the south LA community. It has put the entire world through the ringer, and it’s important to stay connected to our communities in whatever ways we can when we can no longer exist freely in the spaces we are used to. My younger sister had just moved from our hometown with our parents and started her junior year the year that quarantine began. She had barely gotten accustomed to her new environment when all of a sudden she could no longer be in it anymore. All of her life long friends and much of our family were across the country, and we both, along with the rest of the world, had to sit idly by as our loved ones struggled and fell ill. This film is hopeful despite the discouraging topic of covid, because soon this will be over and despite the losses we will be able to rebuild our communities and come out of this with a new perspective. I really like how the film starts with a penny spinning and then falling, but then ends with the same video in reverse—to me it symbolizes that while we might’ve been knocked down by this, we will still make it out of this the other side as a community. Great piece. -Audrey from Professor G's class

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This film was breathtaking to watch. The film focused on the importance of a tight knit community that believed in strong values. The film captured the true essence of what it is like going through rough times as well. The music used in this film was also really beautiful. They really showed the beauty of South LA.

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This film tapped at the feelings I had been suppressing that had to do with COVID-19 restrictions. There are many parts of L.A, like my church and my favorite theatre, that I may never get to see again with only two months until I have to move back home.  I think  sharing your connection to Brown infrastructure is more important than ever when creating this digital piece because it can be shared with others in the community. Listening to your stories brought back memories at Baldwin Hills Mall with my friends and how different that trip was just a couple days ago. I remember passing by 24th Street Theatre every other weekend. Though things have changed with COVID and caused individuals to be more cold to one another, I think sharing stories like this can help community members experience a collective fond memory that links us, and also lets us understand that even though our individual situations may be different, we aren’t experiencing the effects of COVID alone. Thank you so much for making this.

-Jala Beasley-Williams

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This film was amazing. I loved how you guys shared your own intimate memories that you would always do before COVID and being comfortable with sharing these memories. I also loved how you guys used music and videos to help story tell your memories as well as make as feel as though we were actually there in your memory feeling what you guys felt then. Listening to you guys sharing your memories of spending times with your communities and families was really heart warming. It also brought back so many great memories of me hanging out with my friends after school, or going out for a fancy dinner with my family before COVID. It just was so nice to remember back to a time when there wasn't this whole mess keeping us from hanging out with our friends and families. This film also made me realize how particular locations, events, and communities really built you guys including myself as a person. -Yujin Lee

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Excellent done! I love this video! The background music is ver energetic with the smooth transaction of the scenarios. A sad reality is that few amount of people come to realize the pandemic is truly and negatively impacting their lives and employment. However, it is a way to witness "bounds" between the communities. It is too hard to imagine myself being lockdown at home and having online class every single day without truly communicating with real people. This video really helped me recall previous years life where I was still embracing the community. The most shiny part of this video I believe is that many different hubs and experiences were in connection and expose differently but at the same time relavent. The diversity is a key word that was demonstrated throughout the video, and the diction "hubs", which means "bringing invidiuals from different backgrounds altogether". I believe that the "hubs" will return soon where a better community will reemerge just like before. Thanks for the video and energy you guys bring! Luo Geng Xu Zhou, From my Dear Professor G's class!

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Wow! This was such an amazing things to do and I appreciate you sharing your stories. Being from Los Angeles myself, it has always been a place where every can come together and this pandemic has made it so hard for not only me but our city as whole. It was very interesting for you to show us your different "hubs" and places you would go have great memories at. Like many of these shared stories, around where I live one of the greatest hubs was our local mall and one unique shopping center too. It was more of a place where people would go to meet with their friends and hang out with the intentions of finding something fun you can all go do. It was like a meeting spot, if you did not make any plans at least you got to hang with your friends for a little bit. This hit me hard because it gave me back all the memories I have had before the pandemic but it makes me excited for what is to come.

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I want to congratulate you guys for producing this film. Your ability of storytelling is amazing. You have described your experience among these hubs very successfully. The tones of the background music- very accurate- made me connect with your ideas much better. You guys did a hell of a job in making this film and highlighting the importance of our communities. I admired how you could showcase your personal experience in your communities this relatable. I never thought how my interaction with my community has changed since the pandemic. Now I started thinking of it and realized that I was not grateful of it at all. Probably most communities suffer from the pandemic as yours does, but not everyone cares about it enough to point it out. I appreciate you guys stepping up for your communities and wish we all can return spending time around ours like the old days.

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Thank you for sharing your stories and memories. Wonderful background musics and smooth scenes transitions. The first part of your stories shows the meaning of “hubs”, bringing people together. And the comparisons really give us a direct image of the impact of the pandemic, COVID-19. People communicate, interact, and corporate with each other in diverse “hubs”. But, currently, most of such interactions are frozen. I believe, in near future, everything will gradually back to normal. And, those “quite” hubs will surely become lively again.

Ruoming Li from Professor Grimes’s class.

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Dear Juan, Jesus, Edward, Vanessa, and Leah,

Thank you for sharing your memories and experiences at these hubs and reminding us of just how important buildings and the environment created in them can be. It has been a year since the pandemic and the lockdowns began and it is difficult for me to remember what my “normal life” was like. Watching this film brought me a rush of emotions and memories as I recall all the places that brought my community together.

I really loved the diversity of the hubs from religious to entertainment and food. The variety of hubs and your unique experiences were relatable in many different ways. “The mask is a social passport” was a phrase that stood out to me because it is a poetic and beautiful way to describe our ticket to enjoying the places that once were filled with people and social opportunities. “Together we are the soul that brings these places to life” could summarize this film perfectly. If there is one thing I picked up from watching this film was that COVID has allowed us to realize that the spaces we love are simply buildings that come to life only when the community comes together. As a Latina myself, I understand how important social gatherings are to our culture and how it has impacted everything we once took for granted.

Like you all said, I hope that we can soon return to gathering in these hubs to create more memories. I really enjoyed the film, great job!

Best,

Leslie Ramos from prof. Grimes’ class

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I really loved everything about this film, from the background music, to the stories and the shots that were taken. I loved the story behind this because I don't think that many people realize that the pandemic is not only affecting individuals and their jobs, but it is also affecting entire communities that rely on big gatherings as apart of their culture or traditions. This video proves the importance of compliance with guidelines so things like churches, local markets, and malls can opens so the communities that use them are able to return to normal as well. I think that the hubs that people are involved with are very important for interaction, communication and bonding and all the stories in the film make it apparent how important these hubs are for some. Thank you so much for this, I was sent from Professor Grimes class, and I am really happy that I was!

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Wonderfully done film! We live in such a diverse city but we are all alike in so many ways. We all have our hubs that make us feel comfortable and at home, or hubs where we get together with others and socialize. The pandemic definitely took a toll on a lot of our old ways and a lot of our hubs. The saying "you don't know what you have until its gone" is very true, at least for me. I used to take things like playing pickup basketball at the park for granted. As we slowly make our way out of the pandemic, and things gradually open back up, I will be sure to truly appreciate and be grateful for everything out there.

Love from Professor G's class,

CJ

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^ - Ygor Pereira, from Professor G's class

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Beautifully made! I love the production and attention to detail - you all did a great job of creating a captivating video that highlighted the importance of strong community values throughout a tough time. These "hubs" are a crucial source of happiness and instill a sense of togetherness in South LA, and that was clearly showcased in this video. I loved to see the personal aspects of your lives that you are all grateful for and align with community, like your mother's papusas. Again - great job!!

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Nice film! Love that you guys showed Luis Market. that store was a big part of my childhood -FS

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That was really beautiful! Great job to you all and loved the use of music. Thanks for showing many sides of South LA. Those pupusas looked bomb!

Much love-Güido

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Great JoB! So very proud of you.

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Nice job Leah and the rest of your team! It looks like you all learned a lot about filmmaking. Like you, we are looking forward to being able to get back to so many of the enjoyable and meaningful activities in our lives.

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Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! So proud of our youth.

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So proud of you all. Thank you for instilling pride in our city and the places that matter to do many. Keep up the great work of storytelling and documenting our histories! With gratitude, Allegra P.

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What beautiful film/music direction! Loved it! Please keep on documenting your stories. You are all very talented!  Lynda XO!

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Leah Valencia and your crew did a great job! Hope you guys do more films.