Twice a week, teenagers make the trek to an afterschool program in the Bronx where they learn how to build boats, sail, and monitor river life. Once seen as a symbol of decay, and still afflicted with pollution, the river is now becoming an urban oasis where young adults are launching into adulthood. The film follows students as they explore the city’s waterways and learn to navigate adolescence.
An intimate and universal coming of age story, Stay the Course explores how to find one’s voice through unique ways of self-expression.
Mariel Rodriguez-McGill
Mariel Rodriguez-McGill has a passion for telling inspirational and compelling stories. She began her career as a producer, director and editor at Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver, Colorado, where she helped develop the webseries “Great Ingredients,” and the historical documentary series “Colorado Experience.” Mariel served for three years as Colorado's Deputy Film Commissioner and recently directed her first feature-length documentary, “Built Beautiful,” which explores the intersection of architecture and neuroscience as they relate to health and well-being. She’s currently working as a producer on Blue Chalk Media’s “From the Source,” a food-themed docuseries for the Magnolia Network. She received a BA from Boston College and holds a MA from the University of Denver.
Teresa Cebrián Aranda is a Spanish-born journalist and documentary filmmaker based in New York City. With a background in international development, she has experience covering stories on gender, race and economic inequality. Teresa began her career as an editor at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. She now works as a researcher and production assistant for Counter Space, an Emmy-nominated food show on VICE TV. Raised in a multicultural environment, Teresa has a passion for people and cultures and is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. She received a B.A. from Brown University and holds a Dual Master’s Degree in Journalism and International Affairs from Columbia University.
- Year2021
- Runtime22 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnites States
- DirectorMariel Rodriguez-McGill, Teresa Cebrián Aranda
Twice a week, teenagers make the trek to an afterschool program in the Bronx where they learn how to build boats, sail, and monitor river life. Once seen as a symbol of decay, and still afflicted with pollution, the river is now becoming an urban oasis where young adults are launching into adulthood. The film follows students as they explore the city’s waterways and learn to navigate adolescence.
An intimate and universal coming of age story, Stay the Course explores how to find one’s voice through unique ways of self-expression.
Mariel Rodriguez-McGill
Mariel Rodriguez-McGill has a passion for telling inspirational and compelling stories. She began her career as a producer, director and editor at Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver, Colorado, where she helped develop the webseries “Great Ingredients,” and the historical documentary series “Colorado Experience.” Mariel served for three years as Colorado's Deputy Film Commissioner and recently directed her first feature-length documentary, “Built Beautiful,” which explores the intersection of architecture and neuroscience as they relate to health and well-being. She’s currently working as a producer on Blue Chalk Media’s “From the Source,” a food-themed docuseries for the Magnolia Network. She received a BA from Boston College and holds a MA from the University of Denver.
Teresa Cebrián Aranda is a Spanish-born journalist and documentary filmmaker based in New York City. With a background in international development, she has experience covering stories on gender, race and economic inequality. Teresa began her career as an editor at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. She now works as a researcher and production assistant for Counter Space, an Emmy-nominated food show on VICE TV. Raised in a multicultural environment, Teresa has a passion for people and cultures and is fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. She received a B.A. from Brown University and holds a Dual Master’s Degree in Journalism and International Affairs from Columbia University.
- Year2021
- Runtime22 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnites States
- DirectorMariel Rodriguez-McGill, Teresa Cebrián Aranda