TROOP 1500: it's a family thing. Courtesy of Women Make Movies
	Troop 1500: turning life into a movie. Courtesy of Women Make Movies
	Troop members speak up about being in the film: Jakira, 11 "I felt special after I saw that film." Zybra, 15 "The film was tight because you felt like you [were] special—like you were in a real movie—and people cared about you." Jessica, 11 "I was really shy; I was brave to watch it but scared to let anyone see." Mikaela, 11 "At the beginning you feel nervous, but then as you get used to the cameras you get used to them asking you questions and interviewing you and stuff. When you look at the movie, it shows how we can express our feelings and how good we are in Girl Scouts."

Troop 1500: The Real Deal on a Reality Movie

By Alison Michelle Hill, Staff Writer

When you think about family, what comes to mind? Mom, dad, sisters, brothers—maybe even Spot, the family dog? Despite the image of family that is often displayed on TV and in the media, for many girls the image of the "ideal American family" is just pure fiction.

Girl Scouts Beyond Bars (GSBB) was created to help give girls a family connection despite the difficulty of having a family member who is incarcerated. For the past 13 years, Girl Scouts has sponsored GSBB programs, enabling girls to visit their incarcerated moms (and sometimes their dads) while they are in prison. As Jakira, 11, says, "The troop [members] are like sisters to me."

A Wide Reach

GSBB troops exist at more than 40 Girl Scout councils in over 25 states, helping both girls and their parents rebuild their often broken relationships by giving them the opportunity to spend quality time together. GSBB programs include mother/daughter troop meetings at the prison, girl-only troop meetings, and in-prison activities for the moms.

The girls in GSBB troops also participate in council-wide activities. For Jessica, being in a GSBB troop "is fun…because you get to go places. We have special trips to see our moms—other girls don't."

Moviemaking Memories

To bring attention to the importance of the GSBB program, Ellen Spiro and Karen Bernstein made a movie about the GSBB troop at Girls Scouts—Lone Star Council in Austin, Texas. The movie is called "Troop 1500" and is distributed by Women Make Movies. It includes on-screen appearances by both the girls and their moms at the Hilltop Prison in Gatesville, Texas.

Ms. Spiro and Ms. Bernstein have taught the girls about movie production, directing, and cinematography, and they have learned all of these skills while spending quality time with their moms and working on their individual relationships.

Ms. Spiro spoke about her desire to have the girls become comfortable behind the camera lens as interviewers, and said, "Rather than being the mere subject of the camera's gaze, they are using the cameras in ways that give them the power to ask really difficult questions of their mothers like, 'Why did you start selling drugs again after you had spent time in jail?', 'Do you think you'll be better when you get out?', 'What did you think the first night you were in prison?', and 'Were you around drugs when you were little?'"

Deep Connections

For the girls in troop 1500, the GSBB program gives them an opportunity to connect with their moms. Zybra, 15, "love(s) troop 1500 because it's fun and there are a lot of girls who support each other and care." Troop 1500 provides girls safe environment where they can build confidence and get a better understanding of who they are and what they can do.
"The mothers have been amazingly receptive to the process and seem to want the opportunity to share honest and serious concerns with their daughters," commented Ms. Spiro.

Julia Cuba is the leader of troop 1500 and is a central figure in the film. When asked about her council's program she said, "I am so honored to be part of the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program; it is extremely rewarding to be able to help these girls create positive memories with their moms. Our program enables mothers and daughters to reinforce the love and trust they have for each other amidst the most trying of circumstances." Caitlin, 14, sums up the value of this program best when she says, "Going to see our moms...it is good that Girl Scouts provided that for us."

If you would like to learn more about "Troop 1500" or screen the film at your council, please contact Marion Swan at Girl Scouts of the USA at (212) 852-8012 or mswan@girlscouts.org.

WMM:
Established in 1972, Women Make Movies is a national nonprofit media organization and the largest distributor of films made exclusively by and about women. For more information, visit www.wmm.com.