The weekend of October 20-22, 2023, was etched on my calendar with a sense of excitement and anticipation. This marked my return to my hometown of Laredo after a two-month short-term disability break – a pause I much needed before resuming my corporate job. The weekend held the promise of not only continuing my work on an intimate documentary film project, which has been my labor of love during this break, but also a cherished opportunity to reconnect with family and friends.
Among those friends, one name held particular significance – Meg Guerra, a journalist and the founder of LareDOS. On Saturday morning, she was setting up shop at the Farmers Market at the Outlet Shoppes. Meg’s Fit2plant, is a haven for plant enthusiasts who favor succulents and tropicals, and I had eagerly agreed to lend a hand while we indulged in the simple pleasure of catching up on the twists and turns that had come our way.
It was on that Saturday, about an hour into our morning at the market, that serendipity played its hand. A face from the past appeared before me, one that I have held in memory since the summer of 2019 when I staged a youth film camp through LearnThink Media.
It was Iris Rodriguez, a name and a face both familiar and cherished.
Iris Rodriguez
In 2019, I embarked on a mission that has resonated deeply with my heart – the creation of a non-profit organization called LearnThink Media, the non-profit I established to empower young minds through the art of filmmaking. This led to the organization of not one, but two one-week short film camps, along with a one-week stop-motion animation program. These camps were intensive, running from Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm, and they carried the ambitious goal to produce two short films in just one week. The response was overwhelming, with 41 students actively participating and a total enrollment of 50. The Laredo Housing Authority sponsored 10 students and actively enrolled 11 in the classes.
The culmination of their hard work was nothing short of magical – six captivating short films and eight brilliant stop-motion animations.
To celebrate the creative achievements of these young talents, their work was screened at the Alamo Drafthouse. The audience of over 300 attendees was a diverse mix of family and friends from Laredo, San Antonio, Austin, Round Rock, and Dallas. It was a memorable evening that underscored the power of art to inspire creativity and unite communities.
The unplanned encounter with Iris was far from planned; it was an overwhelming surprise. The sight of her, was exciting and joyful as I called to her and raced toward her with open arms. We embraced, and Iris expressed her own surprise, mentioning that she hadn’t intended to be at the mall that day.
Iris’ academic journey had been a remarkable one. She was just 14 when she joined LearnThink Media during her freshman year at Harmony School of Excellence. When her freshman year was abruptly cut short due to the challenges brought about by COVID-19, she transferred to J.W. Nixon High School.
Determined to pursue her dreams, she set her sights on my alma mater, the Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts (VMT). Her unwavering enthusiasm for photography and cameras prompted her to pick up an application for the VMT. She filled it out, writing her essay in the school’s parking lot. Her excitement was palpable, and it was no surprise that she received a call later that day confirming her acceptance into the magnet school.
She told me her time at VMT was transformative. Iris joined María Salas’ journalism class, and this remarkable teacher served as her mentor during the most crucial years of her academic life. The mentorship had deep bearing on her pursuit of filmmaking. Between the end of her junior year and the beginning of her senior year, she accepted the incredible opportunity of an internship at the Laredo Independent School District’s Instructional T.V. Department. Here, she contributed to the recording, categorizing, editing, and production of various videos during her internship.
One of her proudest achievements during this time was the 2021-2022 LISD Convocation video. Guided by Julio Ovando, Iris learned firsthand what it takes to create a professional-grade video, gaining invaluable skills and understanding of the nuances of producing high-quality content.
When Salas resigned from her position at VMT, Iris transitioned into the Radio, Television, and Film class, under the tutelage of Marc Gonzalez, a renowned talent in Laredo. Her senior year was marked by her dedication to her short film, “Hand-Me-Downs,” a poignant story that revolves around themes of patience and the value of one’s possessions. Iris played a multi-faceted role in this project, serving as the director, director of photography, screenwriter, editor, and producer.
Graduating from VMT was a special moment for Iris. She had experienced a curriculum at a school that had allowed her to focus on her true passions and interests, setting her on a path she would pursue for the rest of her life. She credited LearnThink Media as a stepping stone in this transformative journey.
As the narrative stands today, Iris is a freshman at Laredo College, embarking on the next phase of her artistic journey. Her story is a testament to the enduring influence of initiatives like LearnThink Media, the power of nurturing young minds, fostering creativity, and instilling a passion for filmmaking. It showcases the remarkable potential within our youth and underscores the profound impact that art can have on our lives.
Iris Rodriguez’s credo: “Be stubborn in the pursuit of what makes you happy.”
