Aleah

Gr 9 Up—This short film was produced by Scenarios USA, a nonprofit organization that invites youth to submit original narratives that may then be made into films. Written by Lani Pringle when she was a high school junior in New York City, this film follows the title character through the last day of her life. Besides an unintended pregnancy, betrayal by her boyfriend, and expulsion by her mother, Aleah endures multiple acts of violence that end when she is caught in the crossfire between rival gangs. The DVD includes two versions of the film (one edited for language), the text of the script, and an extensive lesson plan for exploring the impact of violence on students' lives. Nine additional minutes of behind-the-scenes content feature comments by Pringle, director Laurie Collyer, and several community activists. An emotional statement by the author's mother, who was a victim of domestic violence and the inspiration for the work, is particularly poignant.