Program 15: Whatever It Takes

WHATEVER IT TAKES - Program 15 - Saturday, May 2, 2009 - 1:30 PM - Director's Guild of America, Theater 1 -

Chronicling the struggles and triumphs of one year at the Bronx Center for Science & Mathematics, WHATEVER IT TAKES opens on the first day of school, where a sea of young African American and Hispanic faces listen as Principal Edward Tom sets the stakes high: "I looked at every one of your parents and said '100% of your children will have the choice to attend college in four years.'" The individualized attention seems to be exactly what a student like Sharifea Baskerville needs. A 14-year-old girl who spends most of her time taking care of her two siblings and ailing mother, Sharifea still shows up at school ready to learn, her backpack bursting full with textbooks. However, overwhelming pressures undo Sharifea's best efforts - she soon receives F's in all her classes. Reality also hits hard for Ed. Several students drop out, gang members start recruiting at school, and even parents and staff lose their enthusiasm for the school's vision. Undaunted, Principal Tom and his staff work feverishly to finish the year on an uplifting note. They cultivate a partnership with Dartmouth College, in which six students gain entrance into the prestigious SEAD program. SEAD program officers name Sharifea as their number one choice, even as Sharifea's poor grades threaten to disqualify her. As a last resort, the school arranges an emergency meeting between Principal Tom, Sharifea, and her mother.

(USA, 2009) Dir./Wtr.: Christopher Wong
Video, 92 min., Color, Documentary, English

Purchase tickets at http://www.vconline.org/festival

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• los
• angeles
• asian
• pacific
• film
• festival
• 2009
• visual
• communications
• whatever
• it
• takes
• documentary
• christopher
• wong