Meet the Team
Grace Owusu
Producer
I have always been curious about life and how I interact with the world around me. This class allowed me to connect with others in ways I never knew were possible, so I knew I wanted to be a part of this process again. I want to continue thinking about how to help myself grow and how to learn more about other cultures. How can I use my experience, skills, voice, and privilege to create a way for others to make their mark on the world? I believe in myself and my peers to change the world and how others think. I want to be a better me by taking pride in my background, culture, and beliefs while helping people realize they are a better version of themselves.
Meg Martin
Producer
Joining the Social Justice Documentary project has forever changed the way I look at storytelling and its abilities. The relationship with our collaborators in this process showcases the extent of how far a story can reach and what it can do. I am forever grateful to be a part of this experience and for the opportunity to immerse ourselves in their communities and collaborate together to structure an empowering story.
Ryan McIntosh
Producer
I’ve always been drawn to opportunities to help others succeed.
In high school, I mentored elementary students with learning disabilities,
and that experience was incredibly fulfilling. Seeing them overcome
challenges and achieve their goals was truly inspiring. I’m still in contact with
many of those students today as they begin high school.
Taking this social justice documentary class aligns with my passion for positively
impacting those around me. By traveling to the Philippines to film a documentary,
I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by
marginalized communities and amplify their voices.
Tana Benitez
Producer
Visiting the Philippines for the first time in a decade after only having been back once since I was born was transformative. Being welcomed with such open arms and open hearts, I have learned so much not only about the communities that we visited and the collaborators we met, but myself and the interconnectedness that brings us all together. This experience is something I would never trade and has deepened my understanding of what it means to belong, to listen, and to honor the stories that shape us as individuals and as a part of the greater whole.
Olivia Speaker
Director | Lady
My experience in the Philippines was nothing short of magical, and I impart that to the wonderful people who welcomed us into their communities with such warmth and light. To describe the way that these communities changed my life is hard to put into words. The stories we heard and will be bringing to the screen are powerful, dynamic, and above all else, important. The Filipino people brought a joy to my life that will stay with me forever, and I hope to bring that story to life authentically.
Daniela Ortiz
Director | Lady
Filming a documentary in the Philippines was a once in a lifetime opportunity I’ll never forget. Production can be overwhelming, with unexpected hurdles to jump over often, but everything I learned from people I met, places I saw, and stories that were shared were invaluable, not only from the Filipino people but also my classmates. I will forever be grateful for this experience as I got to see and feel the Philippines in a way I only dreamed of.
Elizabeth Bojdak
Director of Photography & Editor | Lady
I am so grateful to have been able to capture the heart of the Philippines as a cinematographer in Boracay and Isla Halian. Through embracing the culture and learning about challenges faced, I am inspired both as a filmmaker and as an advocate for social change. Power lies in the people, and I found true treasure in the kids, communities, and stories that drive our documentary.
Sam Ellis
Line Producer, Multimedia Director, & Multimedia Editor
I've never been welcomed into as many different communities and cultures as I was during my two-weeks in the Philippines, and the fact that each community was just as kind and welcoming as the next was a truly amazing experience. Such caring and genuine families that valued our presence in their own spaces and homes is not something to be taken for granted, and I look forward to sharing their beautiful stories with all of those in the world who have not yet had the chance to hear.
Jordan Wright
Line Producer
My time in the Philippines was extremely meaningful and truly life-changing. It was an honor to learn about and immerse myself in the communities of Halian and Boracay. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to travel to this wonderful place and the opportunity to tell the stories of such incredible communities.
Soledad Robins
Director | I Remain
During my time in the Philippines, I have created lasting and deeply meaningful memories with collaborators and peers who have left an indelible mark on my heart. From the very beginning, I was welcomed with open arms and a level of warmth and authenticity that I have rarely experienced before. The sense of belonging and acceptance I felt was not only immediate but also profoundly genuine, making my time there truly unforgettable. The communities I had the privilege of engaging with taught me invaluable lessons about connection, resilience, and the power of shared humanity. Their generosity, kindness, and unwavering spirit left an impression that I will carry with me for a lifetime. My greatest hope is to honor what I have learned by embodying these values in my daily life. I want to take the love, joy, and wisdom that were so freely shared with me and pay it forward—spreading positivity, compassion, and understanding in every interaction I have moving forward.
Olivia Hansen
Director | Seeds We Bury
The communities we connected with in Boracay and Halian, local individuals that helped me when I needed it the most, and every kind soul I met in-between in the Philippines has opened my eyes to how genuine and caring humanity can be. The love that I was witness to and experienced has rejuvenated my ability to care for others, and to open my heart for change. I hope to carry and share that love with the world, starting with my dedication to connect oceans with these films, vignettes, posts, and initiatives. I will speak of and carry this experience and its impact on me for the rest of my life, and I could not be more grateful to Heze, Grace, my classmates, and the beautiful souls we connected with every step of this journey for the imprint on my life that this project has left on me.
Daniel Kee
Director of Photography & Editor| Seeds We Bury
Being a cinematographer on the trip, I thought I would learn all about production and what my role entails. While this was true, the majority of my learning came from the people of Halian and Boracay. They taught me about the simplicity of love and the true meaning of community. I am eternally grateful for the love that they shared with us and I hope to capture even a fraction of that passion in our film. I would not trade the experience I had in the Philippines for anything.
Natalie Zickel
Director of Photography & Editor| Seeds We Bury
As a cinematographer, it’s easy to feel disconnected from collaborators behind the camera, but that wasn’t the case in the Philippines. Every interaction I had was so genuine and welcoming that it changed how I perceived humanity. Community and care are the core of the Ati tribe and Hailan Islanders, and I learned so much by listening to their stories and capturing their day. From the smallest student to the wisest elder, every story I heard carries the power to change lives. I am exhilarated to share these stories with a global audience.
Alex Wong
Director of Photography & Editor of Multimedia
I had one main wish before leaving for the Philippines: make at least one meaningful connection with someone there. Apparently I should’ve asked for a lot more, because the Filipino communities we were in, blew that wish out of the water. Everyone there had so much heart and hospitality, and I felt every ounce of it. Even working with the kids whenever we had production downtime meant the world. It’s really an honor to capture the stories of the Ati and Halian people, and I’m confident we’ll deliver.
Spencer Bodow
Director of Photography & Editor of Multimedia
This experience is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The Philippines taught me how vital human connection is to the survival and prosperity of our world. I can’t thank the people we met enough for sharing their stories and their spaces with us. I hope that I can represent the spirit and soul of the Philippines in my life and in the works that we create.
Glory Wells
Sound & Multimedia Editor
The Philippines left a captivating impression on my heart. The warmth of its people and the richness of its culture was truly admirable and made my time there truly meaningful. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to visit, connect with so many individuals from Boracay and Halian, and listen to their impactful stories.
Jake Keller
Sound & Multimedia Editor
My time in the Philippines was the most inspiring and life-changing. It was amazing seeing the community welcome us in with open arms. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to visit over there. I love listening to the stories from Boracay and Halian. I will forever cherish the moments with the people in the Philippines.
Kai Williams
Multimedia Producer & Marketing Executive
My experience in the Philippines is easily among the top five experiences of my life. I am eternally grateful to everyone I met throughout this journey for their unwavering hospitality and warm acceptance. My time in Boracay and Halian was transformative, as they welcomed me into their community, shared their stories, and allowed me to witness their profound connection to their land, environment, and traditions. I will cherish this experience forever and use it as a catalyst to honor and tell the stories of the voices and lives of those who have inspired me.
Tara Ford
Multimedia Producer & Marketing Executive
After traveling to the Philippines, my experience and perspective have dramatically expanded. I have never felt so loved or welcomed by a community of people that come from such a different background than myself. We were able to connect with other communities on the consensus of humanity and that in itself is a beautiful thing that I am beyond excited to shed light on through our documentaries.
Noel B. Doherty
Head of Social Media
This course has captivated my attention and admiration for years. My mom took me to a screening of Sankofa before I came to Villanova and I’ve only fallen more and more in love with filmmaking since. Interviewing people is one of my favorite things to do. I am thrilled about the idea of meeting and getting to know people from the other side of the world. That’s why Pinctada Pearl Productions is special to me.
Chloe Floyd
Multimedia Editor
I have always had a passion for storytelling and I believe that through storytelling you can spread a message and bring awareness to topics in a really powerful way. I want to be able to help share these stories of marginalized groups and groups that are looked past to shed light on their community and inspire not only myself but others to make a change.
Kyle Dixon
Fundraising Team
I took Social Justice Documentary because I’ve always been drawn to storytelling and the way media can influence how we see the world. As an athlete, I’ve experienced how narratives shape perception, both on and off the field. I’ve also seen how certain stories get overlooked or misrepresented, which makes me want to be part of telling them the right way.
Jonathan Marte
Multimedia Editor
From a young age I have always had a passion and interest in filmmaking. It wasn’t until I watched one of the Social Justice documentaries,“I Am Still Here” that I knew this program was something I needed to be a part of. I believe that films have the power to move and inspire people in extraordinary ways. My why is to do that to the best of my ability all while growing as a person.
Danny Ottaviano
Fundraising Team
I took this class for a couple of reasons. I enjoy being around the filmmaking process for one, but more importantly I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. The work we do in this class is different from anything I had previously been a part of and that is due to the impact it has on the groups of people that the documentaries represent. Working on the fundraising side of things has been exciting because it works toward what goes on beyond the documentary, as we aim to help these communities’ future along with the present.
Joshua Oluremi
Fundraising Team
My mother’s hard work and unwavering generosity have shaped who I am today. She’s always taught me the importance of giving back and using what I have to help others. Inspired by the values she’s instilled in me, I want to deepen my understanding of the challenges people face—especially those I may not have noticed before—and find ways to make a real difference. That’s why I chose to work on this social justice documentary. It’s about learning, growing, and taking action.