About the Film

Penn graduated from High School in June 2009. She is currently working at a local coffee shop while she puts together plans for 2010. She is trying to set up work at an organic farm and possibly a nanny position in Spain. She thinks she will be attending Portland State University in the Fall of 2010 for a year before transferring to another college. She vacillates between the study of art, community planning or hydrology.

Directors Note:

I met Penn while attempting to organize a “cut global warming” rally in Portland Oregon. She was 15 and was signed up to coordinate her own rally. We joined forces and in the process of working with her I found out about the “Tray Project” at her school Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC).

Penn was so understated and matter of fact about what she was doing. The enormity of work and time it had taken her, primarily on her own, didn’t seem to phase her in the least. I began filming immediately.

I wanted the film to highlight the power of a single person to make a substantial change. I also wanted to shine light on two of the factors that nurtured and encouraged Penn to be the kind of person that would independently take on a project like this solely because she felt it was the right thing to do.

Penn is an notable young woman.

Production Note

“Portland Public Schools debate tray switchover”

During the production of Plain Ride Penn an article ran in the Portland Willamette Weekly about the Portland Public Schools board and how they were debating the costs and logistics of switching away from polystyrene trays in all the schools and going back to washables.

The main challenge seemed to focus on who would do the washing?

Kyia Clayton

Director / Producer

&

John Trusso

Co-Producer / Cinematographer / Editor