Saaret Yoseph is a multimedia storyteller, born and raised in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of the Communication, Culture and Technology program at Georgetown University, where she started her master’s thesis, The Red Line D.C. Project.
Her short film SEE / LINE explores the storied Red line metro route, between Union Station and Silver Spring, using interviews with graffiti writers and metro riders. The film examines the impact of public access and aesthetics in a rapidly changing capital city, taking a focused look at gentrification in Northeast D.C. and the development of the Metropolitan Bike Trail (MBT).
After premiering the film this past November at the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, Saaret hosted subsequent screenings at public libraries, near and along the Red line.
For Saaret, SEE / LINE is the culmination of four years of work. As director and producer, Saaret managed every aspect of production, from researching and interviewing subjects to filming and editing footage. Her resourcefulness garnered early grant funds from the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C. and crowd-sourced funds via Indiegogo. She and her work have been featured in The Washington Post, Washington City Paper and on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, among other local media outlets.
Before her pursuits in filmmaking, Saaret wrote extensively for TheRoot.com, an online magazine under the Washington Post Company. As The Root’s assistant editor, she covered issues concerning the African Diaspora, from intra-racial identity to generational divides.
Her recent experiences with documentary film have lead Saaret to collaborate on a series of projects with the Humanities Council, Meridian Hill Pictures, and most recently, the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Southeast D.C. Under the commission of these local organizations, Saaret designs and implements lesson plans for students of various ages that teach them storytelling techniques, and allow them to create their own digital narratives.
A first-generation Ethiopian-American, she is compelled to tell stories with cultural relevance and personal stakes. As Saaret continues her media education work, she is actively seeking funding for the next big project, a documentary on transnational identity and the Ethiopian Diaspora in D.C.
Visit redlinedc.wordpress.com to learn more about The Red Line D.C. Project.
Follow Saaret on Twitter (@SaaretSays) and stay up-to-date on her latest work.
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