The University of Toledo

UT Department of Theatre and Film Create Video for Lucas County Juvenile Court

The Lucas County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division is now utilizing a video shot and edited by UT film students and featuring actors from the University’s Theatre program. The court’s Family Violence Intervention Project Coordinator, Deborah Lipson Kaplan, developed the project with funds from the federal stimulus program and the Stop Violence Against Women Act.
 
According to Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon, Administrative Judge, Lucas County Juvenile Court, the number of Lucas County youth charged with domestic violence offenses has increased dramatically in the last ten years.  In 2008, over 650 cases were filed by parents who were threatened or physically assaulted by their own children.  It is unacceptable for families to live in fear of an aggressive youth in their home.  Every person deserves to live in a violence-free home.
 
Lucas County Juvenile Court is committed to the elimination of this dangerous trend.
The Lucas County Juvenile Court Family Violence Intervention Project is a victim-focused program aimed at increasing safety and security in the home.  This program will provide information, tools and training to Lucas County families to learn and develop techniques to communicate safely and effectively with family members in their homes.  The goal of the project is to decrease and to work toward elimination of youth perpetrated family violence.
 
The purpose of the video is to demonstrate a strategy families can use to help keep conflicts from becoming violent. It is shown to all youth charged with domestic violence against a family member and to the parents and/or guardians of these youth.  Student and faculty actors from the University portrayed two scenes, one in which an ordinary family conflict escalates into violence and a second scene with a family employing the strategy to resolve conflict peacefully.
 
“We really wanted the role playing to be authentic,” Kaplan said. “We met with some youth in detention and got some of the exact language that they have used during conflicts at home.” Kaplan added that the staff, the parents and even the youth are impressed with the role-playing scenes in the video. They said that the fight between the mother and the daughter in the video is very realistic. “The parents and kids are saying that this is exactly what happens in the home.”
 
The second scene, showing a youth using the strategy for de-escalating conflict has had a real impact on our families. “Some said they had never used anything like that at home and really appreciated having something like that to use. Some of the kids, especially the first time offenders, have returned to court and reported that they have employed this strategy the next time they became angry and that it worked to prevent conflict.  So we know we have a really good tool,” Kaplan said.
 
Irene Alby, a UT Theatre lecturer, who also acted in the piece, said, “It was a very educational experience for us as well. The problem solving strategy that they use is something we may be able to use in our theatre and acting classes. It was very collaborative as well. They gave us the text and the scenarios to work from and then we were able to develop the text from there to make it more elaborate and detailed.”
 
Kaplan said she is hoping to work with the Theatre & Film Department again in the future on similar projects. “I was really impressed with the professional level of the work and would love to work with them again.” Alby added, “It’s a great opportunity to show what we can do, the ways that theatre and acting can be used in other kinds of collaborative projects in the community. We were glad to do it.”
 
The following University students and faculty members participated in the production of the film:
 
Brady Doepker (UT Film major) – Videographer & Editor
Cornel Gabara (Assistant Professor of Theatre) – Acting Coach
Tammy Kinsey (Professor of Film) – Film Advisor
Holly Monsos (Chair of Theatre & Film Department) – Coordinated project at UT
Kenny Scheck (UT Film major) – Videographer
 
Actors:
Kate Abu-Absi (Director of UT’s Arts Living and Learning Community)
Irene Alby (UT Theatre lecturer)
Gordon James (Theatre major)
Chloe Obeid (Theatre major)