Southern Exposure launchs a video workshop at San Francisco’s Balboa High School that is a highly collaborative endeavor between SoEx AIE artists and Balboa visual art teachers, after school coordinators, and youth. Students are selected through Balboa’s CAST program for seniors. CAST is a Small learning Community (SLC) that integrates the Visual and Performing Arts with Social Studies, English, and Sciences to equip students with the tools and skills needed to think critically about the world and empower them to create their own messages. Collaboration and critical thinking as a “Production Team” are emphasized through hands on projects. Students explore the interrelations between art and society and the role of creativity in today’s world. Students will have the opportunity to develop a "voice" of their own touching upon themes of race, identity and popular culture. Through hands-on video production, teachers and students will engage in a critical dialogue about media, access and representation and learn to break down meanings and concepts. Students will utilize written, oral, aesthetic and critical thinking skills by learning both to utilize media production skills and conceive and conceptualize idea based art practices. The program strives to teach students to be independent thinkers and informed visual makers.