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Only the Young
A Film by Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
Community Engagement & Education
DISCUSSION GUIDE
www.pbs.org/pov
POV
|2DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
LETTER FROM THE FILMMAKERS
I grew up 30 miles north of Los Angeles in the desert town of
Santa Clarita, California. It was a place of rapid growth and de-
velopment that served as an ideal backdrop for the seemingly
endless days of unsupervised freedom of my teenage years. Now,
just seven years after graduating from high school, I wanted to
make a film about this period of life while it was still fresh in my
mind.
Only the Young is a story that brought me back to those unen-
cumbered days of youth, as Elizabeth Mims (co-director) and I
followed Garrison, Kevin and Skye during their senior year of high
school in Santa Clarita. We made the decision to avoid their time
in school and focus mainly on the weekends and those long af-
ternoons after school that stretched on forever. Those were the
hours when they had time to explore, to try out love and to hope
and wonder about the intimidating “real world” that they would
soon enter.
I wasn’t interested in making one of the “high school films” or
“issue films” that seem so common recently. A survey of Ameri-
can youth in today’s media might lead the casual observer to con-
clude that everybody between the ages of 13 and 18 is anorexic,
pregnant, bullied, a bully, stupid, psychotic, drunk and obese. Yet
none of that fit with my personal experience or with the experi-
ences of my friends. And I’d bet that’s not an accurate picture of
growing up in America. I sure as hell hope not, in any case. So I set
out to tell the story of three fairly normal teenagers—and, if it all
possible, I tried to avoid stapling a “social-issue” or “problem” sign
to their foreheads. We just focused on the lives of the kids as they
were. We tried just to listen.
I feel extremely fortunate to have met Garrison, Kevin and Skye.
Their forthright, selfless honesty was humbling and courageous. I
think what I look forward to most is being able to give these kids
this documentation of a moment in time. I hope they’ll show it to
their kids one day and say, “Look, that was me when I was young.”
Jason Tippet
Co-director, Only the Young
Filmmaker Jason Tippet
Photo courtesy of Ashleigh Rae
LETTER FROM THE FILMMAKERS
|3DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
While a student at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), I
got to know the neighborhoods in and around Valencia, Califor-
nia. Jason Tippet (co-director) had spent his childhood in that
area as a largely unsupervised “latchkey kid,” another wandering
teen in an endless, epic landscape on the edge of the desert.
Skateboards are a basic form of transportation and, like Kevin and
Garrison in our film, most kids aspire one day to own automobiles,
though they remain oblivious to the responsibilities that come
with cars. I’m not much older than the kids in Only the Young,
and I think that helped me to see the world from their point of
view.
I wanted to make a film where there was clear comfort and read-
ability in the documentary subjects themselves—a sincere feeling
that a solid relationship existed between the subjects and us as di-
rectors. Between MTV True Life episodes and other more ag-
gressive reality TV shows, it often feels as though young people
are manipulated for ratings. By choosing to shoot our film on a
discreet tripod, we tried to help the audience focus on the char-
acters themselves without being distracted by the presence of
the filmmakers. All in all, I wanted to make a film that could help
anyone remember his or her high school experiences and be com-
pletely immersed in the moment without the form intruding on
the content.
Elizabeth Mims
Co-director, Only the Young
Filmmaker Elizabeth Mims
Photo courtesy of Jason Tippet
|4DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
2 Letters From the Filmmakers
5 Introduction
6 Potential Partners
6 Key Issues
6 Using This Guide
7 Background Information
7 Selected People Featured
in Only the Young
8 General Discussion Questions
9 Discussion Prompts
12 Taking Action
13 Resources
14 How to Buy the Film
Writer
Faith Rogow, PhDInsighters Educational Consulting
Guide Producers and Background Research, POV
Eliza LichtVice President, Community Engagement & Education, POV
Jamie DobieManager, Community Engagement & Education, POV
Luke McCord
Intern, Community Engagement & Education, POV
Design:
Rafael Jiménez
Eyeball
Copy Editor:
Natalie Danford
Thanks to those who reviewed this guide:
Jason TippetFilmmaker, Only the Young
Elizabeth MimsFilmmaker, Only the Young
TABLE OF CONTENTS CREDITS
Only the Young follows three unconventional Christian
teenagers coming of age in a small Southern California town.
Skateboarders Garrison and Kevin, and Garrison’s on-and-
off girlfriend, Skye, wrestle with the eternal questions of
youth: friendship, true love and the promise of the future.
Yet their lives are also touched by the distress signals of con-
temporary America—foreclosed homes, abandoned busi-
nesses and adults in financial trouble. As graduation
approaches, these issues become shocking realities. With
sun-drenched visuals, lyrical storytelling and a soul-music
soundtrack, Only the Young embodies the innocence and
candor of its youthful subjects—and of adolescence itself.
The film invites viewers into the teens’ day-to-day lives, as
they search for identity and meaning, combat boredom, re-
sist conformity, forge deep friendships and experience first
love and heartbreak. The result is an engaging portrait that
effectively captures the essence of adolescence.
INTRODUCTION
|5DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Garrison and Kevin on the roof.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
Only the Young is well suited for use in a variety of set-
tings and is especially recommended for use with:
• Local PBS stations
• Groups that have discussed previous PBS and POV
films featuring teens, including The Education of
Shelby Knox, Off and Running, Up Heartbreak Hill,
Girls Like Us and Country Boys
• Groups focused on any of the issues listed in the
Key Issues section
• High school students, youth groups and clubs
• Faith-based organizations and institutions
• Cultural, art and historical organizations,
institutions and museums
• Civic, fraternal and community groups
• Academic departments and student groups at
colleges, universities and high schools
• Community organizations with a mission to
promote education and learning, such as local
libraries
Only the Young is an excellent tool for outreach and will
be of special interest to people looking to explore the
following topics:
• Adolescence
• Character sketches/profiles
• Christian youth outreach
• Dating
• Economic insecurity
• Foreclosure
• Friendship
• Parenting
• Skaters/skateboarding
• Teens
|6DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
USING THIS GUIDE
This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection, designed for people who
want to use Only the Young to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. In contrast to initiatives
that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversa-
tions undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by shar-
ing viewpoints and listening actively.
The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues
in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And
be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and
optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.
For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit www.pbs.org/pov/outreach
POTENTIAL PARTNERS KEY ISSUES
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
|7DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Garrison is an avid skateboarder and active in his church group.
The revelation that his girlfriend, Skye and his best friend, Kevin,
kissed each other in a moment of “wasted” abandon threatens
his friendship with Kevin. Garrison’s new girlfriend, Kristen, is
described by Skye as “a hip-hop dancing crazy liberal,” which
instigates a collective effort on the part of church members to
break up the young couple.
Kevin has been Garrison’s best friend since they were 13. Kevin
is the first of the three to graduate, but his parents cannot
afford to send to him to college or trade school, so they decide
to move to Tennessee, where they hope financial conditions will
be better.
Skye was lovingly raised by her grandparents. As she’s waiting
for her father’s release from prison, she discovers that her
mother is trying to re-enter her life by “friending” her on
Facebook. Skye rebuffs her mother, but faces additional turmoil
and an uncertain future due to her grandparents’ shaky
finances.
Selected People Featured in Only the Young
Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a
few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen or
pose a general question (examples below) and give people
some time to themselves to jot down or think about their
answers before opening the discussion:
• If you could ask one person in the film a single
question, whom would you choose and what would
you ask him or her?
• What did you learn from this film? What insights did
it provide? What questions did it raise?
• If a friend asked you what this film was about, what
would you say?
• Describe a moment or scene in the film that you
found particularly disturbing or moving. What was it
about that scene that was especially compelling for
you?
GENERAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
|8DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Skye Elmore
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
|9DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Coming of Age
What is the significance of the film’s title?
Prior to the film, what ideas did you have about teenage
skaters (or about teens in general)? In what ways did the film
challenge or affirm those ideas?
Garrison and Skye notice that Kevin has been cutting him-
self. If Kevin were your friend, what would you say or do in
that situation?
Which of the risks taken by Kevin and Garrison felt okay to
you and which made you uncomfortable? How would you
help teens learn to assess risks and make good decisions
about which risks to take and which to not?
Now that Garrison has a car, he says, “I don’t feel like a little
kid anymore.” What role do cars play in your community?
Why does owning a car make Garrison feel more like an
adult?
In your view, how representative of teens are Garrison, Kevin
and Skye? Which of their experiences are common to most
teens? Which are unique to their race, class or location? How
do their experiences compare to your own experiences as a
teenager? If someone made a video trailer of you and your
friends hanging out, what highlights would be included?
Skye Elmore
Photo courtesy of Garrison and Kristen, Only the Young
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
|10DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Relationships
What do you learn from the film about friendship?
Garrison and Skye describe themselves as friends. What’s
the difference between being friends and having a romantic
relationship? Skye says of Garrison, “He never kissed me,
which I think is what made it so special. Because he was able
to show me that I was important to him without any of that.”
How does physical intimacy change a relationship?
Robin explains why he loves Skye, saying, “She makes me
happy. She knows how to talk to me. She does things for me
all the time… I smile when I think of her. And my stomach
feels funny. And she does this [puts her head on his shoul-
der] a lot and I like it… And we both love Jesus.” What did
you think about Robin’s explanation?
Skye finds out about Garrison and Kristen breaking up on
Facebook. What role does Facebook (or any other social
network) play in your social circle?
How would you describe the impact of pending foreclosure
on Skye? What has been the impact of foreclosures on the
families in your community? Skye accuses Garrison of being
less than sensitive in response to her situation. What could
you do to support children (or friends) whose families face
foreclosure?
Garrison and Skye.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
|11DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Adults in the Lives of Teens
What do you think Skye, Garrison and Kevin want from their
parents? How does that compare to what they seem to be
getting? What insights does the film offer about the roles of
parents in the lives of teens?
The boys describe Shannon as a “mentor.” What do you
think they mean? Who are the mentors in your community
and what values are they conveying to the kids who look up
to them?
What was your reaction to the church community pressur-
ing Garrison to break up with Kristen?
Skye is being raised by her grandparents. How many chil-
dren in your community are being raised by grandparents
or relatives other than their parents? What particular chal-
lenges do guardians and children in such situations face?
What forms of support exist to help them meet those chal-
lenges?
Skye turns down a Facebook “friend request” from her
mother, saying, “Honestly, to me, no matter how
much technology progresses, it’s still not going to
be okay to do personal things impersonally.” Do you agree?
Why or why not? How do you use Facebook? Do you think
it’s a good idea for parents to “friend” their children or vice
versa? What types of conversations do you have using Face-
book and how do they compare to in-person communica-
tion?
Skye rejects the idea of contact with her heroin-addicted
mother, saying, “She can’t be a mom. She can’t even be a
friend, and she doesn't owe it to me to be my mom. She
just… I guess the reason I’m upset is because she owes it to
me to be a decent person, a decent human being and she’s
never done that. So, I don’t know, I just, I’ll live without her.”
In your view, what do parents owe their kids?
Garrison Saenz and Kevin Conway
Photo courtesy of Jason Tippet
Additional media literacy questions are available at:
www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php
Taking Action
• Hold information sessions for teens on what to do to support friends in trouble (along the lines of what
Garrison and Skye might have done when they saw that Kevin was cutting). With adults, experts and teens
working together, brainstorm a range of options. Then let the teens map out a plan to share the
information with peers.
• Find ways to support mentoring programs for teens in your community. If none exist, consider creating
one.
• Find a way to give teens voice. This might include turning over column space in a newspaper, inviting
teens to create podcasts for local radio shows, inviting teens to be regular panelists on talk shows or at
town hall events or giving teens responsibility to prepare the Sunday sermon once every few months.
• Host a screening where adults and teens can share their reactions to the film with one another. Consider
ways to create honest conversations by creating opportunities for teens and adults who don’t know one
another to talk in small groups. This might include joining with a group from another town, so teens don’t
fear that what they say will be reported back to their parents, and so adults can get answers to questions
that they have trouble asking their own kids.
• Kick off a project that will ask teens to make autobiographical videos. Discuss target audience, possible
venues for sharing the videos, what types of things are safe and appropriate to share and what topics or
images may be inappropriate or dangerous.
|12DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
Garrison and Kristen at the arcade.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
IGNITION SKATE MINISTRY
www.gracebaptist.org
The official site of the ministry with which Garrison and Kevin
are affiliated includes an overview and list of events, as well
as a biography of Shannon, the boys’ mentor.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NEWS IN HEALTH:
“RISKY BUSINESS: DEALING WITH YOUR
TEEN’S BEHAVIOR”
http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Sep2011/Feature1
Government websites offer a wide range of resources
on parenting teens, child development, expectations
for the teen years and teen health. This article on brain de-
velopment appeared in the monthly National Institutes of
Health newsletter in September 2011.
THE FREE CHILD PROJECT
www.freechild.org/youthmedia.htm
The Free Child Project has amassed an array of resources
for young people who want to make and share media.
RESOURCES
|13DISCUSSION GUIDE
Only the Young
FILMMAKER WEBSITE
www.facebook.com/onlytheyoungfilm
In addition to information about the film and filmmakers, the Facebook site includes a listing of upcoming screenings.
Original Online Content on POV To further enhance the broadcast, POV has produced an interactive website to enable viewers to explore the film in
greater depth. The Only the Young website—www.pbs.org/pov/OnlytheYoung—offers a streaming video trailer for
the film; a list of related websites, articles and books; a downloadable discussion guide; and special features.
What’s Your POV? Share your thoughts about Only the Young
by posting a comment at http://www.pbs.org/pov/OnlytheYoung
Garrison and Skye sit in the back of a car.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
HOW TO BUY THE FILM
To order Only the Young for home use, visit Oscilloscope: www.oscilloscope.net/films/film/81/Only-The-Young
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Front cover: Garrison and Kevin skate outdoor. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mims and Jason Tippet
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