The What Do You Believe? Project was conceived in 1998 in order to promote tolerance and understanding among American teenagers from different religious and spiritual backgrounds. 200 teenagers have been interviewed for this project, and their beliefs and experiences are incorporated in a unique 49-minute educational documentary.
Filmed in Northern California and Pine Ridge South Dakota we strove to include new voices and a wide mix of young people. The interviewees include Muslim, Pagan, Atheist, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, Native American, Mormon, Jewish, Catholic, Baptist, Christian, Latino, Black, White and Asian American youth.
Producer/Director – Sarah Feinbloom >>
Director of Photography – Klara Grunning-Harris >>
Editor – Anne Flatté >>
Editor – Nathaniel Dorsky >>
Executive Producer – Lenny Lieberman >>
Project Advisors – See list >>
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Carina Vinh Lieu was Senior Class Vice-President at Skyline High School in Oakland. She is involved with the Asian Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership Group, the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association, Mills College Upward Bound, and performs around the Bay Area with Ultimate Velocity Hip Hop Dance Crew. She is currently studying at U.C. Berkeley
Morgan Green was raised in a Neo-Pagan household. She attended Tamalpais High School where she was a member of Youth Activists Against Homophobia, Equality NOW, and the Conservatory Theatre Ensemble. She is studying Literature and Women’s Studies at U.C. Santa Cruz.
David Present Thomas went to Berkeley High School and was raised in an inter-faith family. David plays lacrosse, soccer, and guitar and he attends Dartmouth College.
Mazouza Assaf is the daughter of Palestinian refugees and grew up in San Francisco. She graduated early from high school and is currently studying at City College in San Francisco. Mazouza plans on becoming an English teacher.
Julius Not Afraid is Crow and Oglala Lakota and lives in Allen, South Dakota. He is a world class Pow Wow dancer, a basketball player and a drummer. He plans on becoming a lawyer.
Anthony Valdez attended Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco He was the chair of the San Francisco Youth Commission at City Hall and has been an altar server at Mission Dolores Church for many years. He attends Catholic University and is very involved in Democratic politics.