TEACHING TECH TO AT RISK YOUTH: SHOOT make memories and moments minus guns

Shawn Eckles wants kids shooting footage, not guns so he's been dedicated to documenting and growing both the musical underground of the south from Iredell to Atlanta.

But he also wanted to show other black males there are ways to be successful that will not take their lives.

He agreed to do a pop up session where area south Statesville youth will be invited to attend and learn how to use their cell phones to begin documenting the world around them. Do you know a child glued to their phone, that's interested in media and production?

"I noticed our youth will need to get excited about something to bypass the lures and temptations still presence through blight and poverty. So SHOOT came to mind so our youth can Successfully Harness the Obstacles and Opportunities into Testimonies that propel them in the future. No one will make money in this venture. We agreed the greatest reward will be a child daring to look beyond their surroundings, turning their pain into positive passions and developing the negatives of life to create stunning tells that make them examples and not stereotypes."- Bridgett Nesbit

Here's their chance to learn how to make a professional looking video or website via their Smart phones.

It's possible to dream and live in action.

Put the guns down and SHOOT, the world around you.

Share your unique vision of the world, SHOOT

Successfully

Harnessing

Obstacles

Opportunities

Testimonies

As the founder of ICTV Eckles is hoping to inspire the next young boy or girl to dream.

To sign up email me at abridgennews2@gmail.com

"It's not where you come from, many times it where you come from that inspires you to dream passed the problems," the Troutman native said.

Eckles, a South Iredell and Moorehouse graduate, is hoping to inspire the next young boy or girl to dream.

To sign up email me at abridgennews2@gmail.com

One of his success stories is a young man from Charlotte who was running the streets. Eckles said that once he and friend/business partner Isaac Houston, began covering him through Street Money DVD Magazine he saw his potential.

Though they'd had great success with Street Money DVD Magazine, Eckles said Houston's battle with cancer worsened and spread. Houston passed in 2014.

"He didn’t want people to know or see him sick," Eckles said. "We slowed down, waiting for Isaac to recover, in homage of our irreplaceable host and people thought we fell off but his death spoke life back into the vision."

Chuckie and KBreezy (a native of the area now entertaining in Charlotte) came to him at the funeral, Eckles said their words and those of others moved him to keep going.

"Chuckie told me that we saved his life, that he was in the streets and was taking the wrong path but after we met him it changed him and the way he approached life," Eckles said.

“The exposure from Street Money DVD Magazine also influenced the people around Chuckie.

He said several people around Chuckie were headed to prison.

"But they saw the business around what Isaac and I were producing and they started their own businesses.”

Chuckie became the second artist cover for the magazine and the exposure got him signed by Lil Scrappy of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta.

( Just recently Chuckie and Lil Scrappy ended their contract due to a personal disagreement but Eckles said the exposure continues to open doors for him).

Eckles said mentoring him was an honor.

"He said in so many words we saved his life, that he was in the streets and taking the wrong path until we met him it"... "That it changed how he was thinking changed and the people around him," Eckles said.

FINDING FOCUS: DEVELOPING THE NEGATIVES

Eckles who is also the chairman Iredell county Democrats has worked with the youth before in numerous projects.

In the summer of 2017, ICTV and Josh Smith of Banger Bros. produced a video project with Mooresville Parks Recreation, where children took the helm.

Eckles shot a video for Smith, a budding artist who wanted to learn how to make videos and edit.

"I shot a video of one of his songs and told him to edit it," Eckles said. "A day later he had a finished video and since then he is a major part of the growing business."

The 1999 South Iredell High School and Moorehouse graduate said he's always wanted to motivate children to propel passed their problems.

Through that partnership they recorded a song and produced a video, both entitled, "Berry Fairy."