Teen Entrepreneur Elyssa Fernández Delivers TEDx Talk on Representation in Film

FORT WORTH, TX — (Noticias Newswire) — Teen entrepreneur Elyssa Fernández spoke at the inaugural TEDx Alexander Park event this year, and her talk, The Litmus Test for On-Screen Representation, is now available to watch on YouTube.

The event was organized by seasoned TEDx Speaker and TEDx Licensee Darryll Stinson, and hosted at The Eagle Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue in the city of Sugar Hill in Georgia.

A homeschooled senior in high school, Fernández spoke among renowned leaders, such as sociologist Matisa Wilbon, Ph.D., Food Revolution Network founder Ocean Robbins, and 2023 Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of The Year, Ashley Wright.

Fernández is a young filmmaker of color, and founder of the Young BIPOC Filmmakers Community who has researched how “young people everywhere are negatively impacted by the harmful stereotypes that are perpetuated by media – and they internalize what they see on screen.” She discovered that what we see in the media plays a significant part in our beliefs and our perceptions about other people, ourselves, and the world around us.

“What we see shapes who we are,” said Elyssa, “so correct representation on screen is crucial for our society. Growing up, I didn’t see movies with characters that looked like me or shared my experiences. I’m determined to change that, not just for myself, but for everyone who is misrepresented. I’m honored to have been able to share my message with everyone on the TEDx stage.”

But it’s not just teens who are misrepresented on film, media, and TV. TEDx Speaker Elyssa Fernandez also shares: “the representation of marginalized communities in film is often offensive, inaccurate, and harmful – and the stereotypes are everywhere.”

In Elyssa Fernandez’ TEDx talk, you’ll learn more about her unique idea, The Litmus Test for On-Screen Representation, a simple, three-step formula that will transform the narrative about representation, inclusion, and diversity in movies and film.

Fernández also unpacks the 5 most common stereotypes of teens in film, with specific examples of what movies are doing wrong, why representation really matters, and what people everywhere can do to make a difference.

About Elyssa Fernández:

Elyssa Fernández is a 19-year-old filmmaker, artist, and entrepreneur. She and her sister, Elisha, founded their business WhollyART at 8 and 9 years old and published their bestselling book, I Love ME! Self-Esteem for Teens, just a year later. Since then, Elyssa has spoken on stages around the world about self-esteem for kids and teens. She’s passionate about diversity, inclusion, and representation, especially in filmmaking. You can learn more about Elyssa at WhollyART.com and follow her @WhollyART.

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