New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
One project that is dedicated to the positive within the city, inspiring the inner fire of the city’s youth, and more importantly getting them engaged is “New Be, New Me.” They are committed to an outreach campaign for the local youth to take better care of themselves – meaning their health, “business” and community.
Educating the youth on their health, fitness, and diet comprises the health aspect of “New Be, New Me.” When it comes to “business” it goes well beyond a job or career, but into school studies, and your own story – handling your own “business” in terms of the direction you are going in life. “Handle your business before it handles you.” so to speak.
When it comes to community, the message is about volunteering, developing and maintaining community gardens, or picking up trash as you come across it whether you are responsible for it or not. You get the message.
The project is spearheaded by New Bedford native, Ben Gilbarg, a name familiar to anyone who has ever participated or enjoyed anything to do with the youth empowerment organizations 3rd EyE Unlimited or Youth Ambassador Program (YAP). Once again he is directing his focus on showing that aforementioned positivity that is at the heart of the city and plans on doing just that through the visual medium of a music video and backed by the celebrity status of Samantha Johnson.
The two figures have united with a passionate team of individual to create a music video conveying “New Be, New Me”s mission entitled “We Run This (With Pride)”, a positive anthem for New Bedford. Samantha tackled the project in an ambitious way: she worked with producer Americo Barbosa and wrote the anthem, music and lyrics included. Ben shared his ideas for the storyboard and scenes and agreed to jump behind the camera. An enthused Samantha told New Bedford Guide “I am proud to be from New Bedford and am excited about what this will accomplish. This could be something that each and every kid in New Bedford could have pride in and say “We did something great here and this is where I’m from.”
To give you an idea of the size and seriousness of the project, May through August was spent shooting footage, primarily B-Roll or supplementary footage. The footage shows what the “New Be, New Me” project is all about and what they do on a daily basis: picking up refuse, kids studying, working in the community gardens, biking about or in the Youth Opportunity Unlimited organization which focuses on events that get kids biking, and more.
In July, a “big” shoot happened downtown which some of you may have even been part of – around 200 people showed up to be part of the video. Further footage was taken in many other areas of the city such as Brooklawn and Blue Meadows where many of the youth live at.
Now the project has entered the editing phase where Ben has been spending the past month working on the finished product. Here is an area of specialty for Ben – something he has been doing since 1999 and he lost count after his 50th video! The “New Be, New Me” project has the full support of the city, many local businesses and one of them is the Zeiterion Theatre which will be the host for the premier on Wednesday, October 5th.
Not only will the community get to see the hard work from all involved with the project but we’ll be treated to a live performance by Samantha Johnson! The special event will also feature videos by X Factor contestant and Rochester Native Jillian Jensen, YAP!, and Matthew Neves, as well as a live DJ, Tem Blessed hosting, and giveaways.
Tickets for the unveiling will be $4 in advance or $8 at the door. Kids under 12 are free. Showtime is at 6:30pm.
For those that can’t wait, want more info on the project, or want to get involved, the New Be, New Me website is jam packed with information, sponsors, photographs, a resource guide called “FOR YOU” (will be revealed on October 5th), and ways to connect to helpful organizations. In addition, you can contact Ben Gilbarg via email at bengilbarg@gmail.com.
