About the Film

Transition-Age Artists is a documentary that highlights the need for social justice and innovation within the American foster care system. The film will reveal many of the challenges facing disconnected youth who have “aged-out” of the system. It will also feature social workers, advocates, and educators who are on the front lines of social change. Viewers will learn about the origins of Green Pines Media and their innovative approach to supporting artists who have emancipated from the child welfare system. The film will also highlight the stories of Green Pines Media artists while showcasing their exceptional talents.

Who Are Transition-Age Youth or TAY

Transition-Age Youth (TAY) are young adults, typically between the ages of 18 and 24, who are transitioning out of state care into adulthood. Most have “aged-out” of foster care, the juvenile justice system, or children’s mental health services. Many TAY struggle with unresolved trauma, a lack of life skills, high rates of unemployment, and mental illness. Over 40% will also experience homelessness. Traditional services for TAY are severely limited, and those affected often suffer in silence due to stigma or a distrust of the system.

About Green Pines Media

Green Pines Media was established by a social worker and foster parent to meet the unique needs of a specific group within the TAY population. The company partners with exceptional TAY artists and helps them monetize their art & music through merchandise sales and music licensing. Once sales are made, all profits are split 50/50 between the company and the artist(s).

Deena Saunders-Green founded Green Pines Media in June of 2019 while working on a second Master’s Degree in Social Entrepreneurship at USC‘s Marshall School of Business. She and her team initially focused on establishing credibility with TAY artists and showing proof of concept. They created merchandise with artwork from their visual artists and released a compilation album called Social Innovation, Vol. 1, featuring TAY vocalists and musicians.  

The company was scheduled to expand and share their innovative work with the world in 2020 but, like many other businesses, their plans and revenue streams were decimated by the global pandemic. After talking with their artists and team members, the company decided to move forward with their plans by creating a documentary about their journey.

The Impact

Your contribution will help us showcase the stories and talents of vulnerable artists who have lived experiences within America’s foster care system. The film will also have a major impact in the following ways: 

• It will provide an income for artistic former foster youth, as nearly half of the budget will be used to license music from TAY vocalists and musicians.
• It will help artists overcome the barriers of entry to the film and music industries through the production of Transition-Age Artists.
• It will show the need for innovation within social services.
• It will show the benefits of using social entrepreneurship to solve social problems.
• It will educate viewers about the realities of being a foster parent to teens.
• It will allow Green Pines Media to recruit additional artists impacted by child abuse, neglect, and trauma.
• It supports the work of a diverse group of creatives within the BIPOC & queer community.
• It provides a concrete solution to decades of social injustice within the child welfare system.

Risks & Challenges

Filmmaking comes with a number of risks and challenges at all stages of the process. To mitigate those risks, we’ll be working with an experienced film crew and post-production team. We’ll also include mental health professionals who can assist with debriefing and secondary trauma. The biggest challenge will likely be funding; however, we are 100% committed to making this documentary. If we are unable to raise the funds during this initial campaign, the film will simply be delayed until other funding is secured. If that happens, we’ll be sure to keep our supporters updated so they are fully aware of all changes. 

Although COVID-19 vaccinations are now available to the public, we will continue to take precautions throughout the production process. This includes, but is not limited to, vaccinations for our team, continued social distancing requirements, and the continued use of masks.

Other Ways You Can Help

We understand that times are tough, so if you’re not able to donate OR if you’ve donated but want to help in other ways …

• Share our campaign with your friends and family members.
• Spread the word within your professional network.
• Share with your favorite groups on Facebook or other platforms.
• Tag a TAY artist that you know.
• Like, comment, share, repost, and/or retweet as many posts as you can to help boost our visibility.
• Listen to the Green Pines Media’s compilation album on Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music!
• Don’t forget to use the Indiegogo share tools.