Los medios digitales, la dirección correcta de mi vida/Digital media, the right direction for my life.

Submitted By: Ulices Montiel Bernal

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

A la edad de 19 años, por accidente, me encontré con un video en YouTube llamado “Porque nadie nos entiende” de Caelike y lo vi por pura curiosidad, además que la chava se veía bonita descubrí que existen personas que graban videos, actúan chistoso frente la cámara, los editan y entretienen a las personas, esto me llamó mucho la atención y quise hacer algo así.

Sabía que para hacer algo similar necesitaba una computadora y programa para editar video pero no los tenía. Así que, recordando que en mi niñez estuve en un club de computación llamado “Clubhouse FARO de Oriente”, donde se encontraba todo esto, dispuse a visitar este lugar con en fin de ser guiado a lo que buscaba.

Al visitar de nuevo el Clubhouse me sorprendió seguir siendo miembro de este taller. Fui recibido por Alejandro Jiménez, quien se ofreció a ser mi asesor y ayudarme en lo que fuera necesario.

Dedique 2 años a aprender como usar los medios digitales como Adobe Premier Pro con ayuda de Alejandro. En el Clubhouse descubrí cuales eran mis inquietudes y talentos.

Por fin, después de tantos años sin tener una idea de que hacer en mi vida, encontré no solamente que era muy bueno para aprender programas, sino a lo que me podría dedicar en un futuro.

Creé mi propio canal de YouTube que se llama Un poco de “EL TODO”, pude grabar mis primeros video blogs, hice una biografía para que patrocinaran a una amiga con discapacidad del Faro de Oriente y muchos trabajos más.

Alejandro al ver el potencial que tenía con los medios digitales y la rapidez de aprender, me mencionó que puedo crear videos mas interesantes, como un documental o reportaje. Esto me gustó mucho y también supe que si lo podría hacer.

Josué Martínez, un amigo que vive en Xochimilco, tenía el sueño de crear una casa cultura en su comunidad para concientizar a las personas de cuidar el medio ambiente. Él sabiendo que edito video me dio la tarea de crear un pequeño mensaje para esta casa cultura. El video ayudó a que Josué, con 3 personas más, recibieran un terreno que otra persona donó para que trabajaran, limpiaran y fincaran la casa cultura que hoy se levanta cada vez más.

Watch the original video on YouTube

Hoy en día se llama “Casa cultural Xicalhuacan” y próximamente volveré a grabar un video de cómo cambia esta asociación y el impacto para la gente alrededor.

¿También les comenté que al mismo tiempo de estudiar los programas de Adobe era bailarín de Break dance? Daré clases dentro de esta institución y taller de edición de video.

Los medios digitales no sólo me dieron la oportunidad de ayudar a una institución o amiga, crear imágenes padres o mi propia imagen artística o la idea de crear mi propia revista o mis video blogs. Me dio IDENTIDAD, si no fuera por los medios digitales no sé en donde estaría el día de hoy. Me dio el propósito que estaba buscando en mi vida.

English Translation: 

At the age of 19, I accidentally found myself watching a video on YouTube called “Because no one understands us” in Spanish by Caelike. Although, I watched it mostly out of curiosity, and the fact that I found her attractive, I discovered that there were people out there who were recording videos, acting funny in front of the camera, editing videos, and entertaining people. This caught my attention and I realized that I wanted to do something like this too.

I know that to make something similar to this I would need a computer and a program to edit videos, but unfortunately, I did not have those resources. At that point, I remembered that in my childhood, I had been part of a computer club named “Clubhouse FARO de Oriente”, where I had accessed all of those resources. I decided to go back and visit them to see if they could provide guidance on how I could find what I was looking for.

Upon my return to the Clubhouse, I was surprised to learn that I was still a member of this studio. I was welcomed by Alejandro Jiménez, who offered to be my advisor and to help me with whatever I might need.

I dedicated two years to learning how to use digital media programs such as Adobe Premier Pro with the help of Alejandro. During my time at the Clubhouse, I discovered the issues that I was passionate about and my talents.

Finally, after all these years without any idea of what I wanted to do with my life, I realized that I was not only good at learning how to use these programs, but that I also had something that I could dedicate my future to.

I created my own YouTube channel which is called A little bit of EVERYTHING in Spanish, I recorded my first video blogs, I set up a page where I could support a friend of mine with a disability from Faro de Oriente, and I have begun many other projects. 

When Alejandro saw that I had potential in my work with digital media and that I could learn quickly, he mentioned that I could create videos that were more interesting, such as documentaries or factual films. I liked this idea very much and I also knew that this was something I could do.

Josué Martinez, a friend who lives in Xochimilco, had a dream of creating a community arts centre in his community to raise awareness about environmental issues and taking care of our environment. He knew that I enjoyed creating videos and so he assigned me the task of creating a short pitch for this cultural space. As a result of the video, Josué and the three others working with him, received some land which was donated to them so that they could work it, clean it, and cultivate it to build the arts centre. The reality of the centre becomes closer each day.

Now, this centre is called “The Xicalhuacan Cultural House” in Spanish and soon I will return to record a video of how this association has changed and the impact that it has had on the people of the community.

Did I also mention that while I was studying the Adobe programs, I was also pursuing my hobby of Break Dancing? I will teach break dance classes at this new institution and give workshops on video editing.

Digital media has not only given me the opportunity to help a community centre, support my friend, create cool images, develop my own image as an artist, start my own magazine and record my own video blogs, it has given me my IDENTITY. If it wasn’t for digital media, I don’t know where I would be today. It gave me the purpose in life that I was looking for.