Announcing the New Specialized Housing Website & Video
Newton residents greet each other in the new Specialized Housing video
Our long-awaited new website launches in January featuring a clean design; lots of updated information about SHI’s model, services, and openings; and a mini documentary video.
Jamaica Plain-based videographer Monica Cohen and her production company, The Boom House, filmed several of our communities in Newton, Brookline, and South Portland, Maine, to create the 6-minute video featuring SHI residents, parents, and staff. You can see it at www.specializedhousing.org.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Monica studied social psychology in Bogotá and music composition and production at Berklee College of Music in Boston before becoming a documentary filmmaker focusing on the arts and social issues. After the SHI video was completed, we had a chance to catch up with Monica to get her perspective on directing the video and producing the original musical score.
SHI: What were your goals in directing the SHI video?
Monica Cohen: I really wanted to capture the day-to-day experience, how residents felt in this environment and translate, in a short video piece, what you can see and breathe when you enter into these spaces. I felt love, community, camaraderie, and a strong commitment to building independence — and I hoped for viewers to feel the same way when watching this video.
How was the experience of filming and directing the video for you?
I loved every second of this project. It was a window into a world I didn’t have access to before and because of this project I got to meet incredibly loving and resilient human beings.
Were there any highlights during the shoot?
Peter Johnson’s interview was my favorite. I remember thinking how young but how wise he was, especially his vision of an equitable world for people like him. So much to learn!
Could you describe your goals in the composition and performance of the original music?
I wanted to create an original piece that would mirror the mood of the video: positive and hopeful. All the sounds were created by a single violin exploring different sound effects. Somehow, this violin represents each resident exploring his or her own possibilities in the world beyond the limits of others’ expectations.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
There are places and people in the world that are able to recognize the nature and the need of human beings to belong somewhere, to feel whole, to feel seen and to be be loved. SHI is one of these places and I was honored to work with the founders, the staff, and most of all, the residents.
This was our first foray into documenting life in Specialized Housing programs with video, and we were fortunate to find Monica and the Boom House to help us realize our vision!
As Newton resident Peter Johnson says in the video, “Sometimes we do get messy and have tough times, but … it’s about making sure that we are respected and loved. What you see here is unbelievable.”
Virginia rides the T to work in the new SHI video.