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Q&A with Alex Capogna, student movie director and producer
Interview by Candace Moore
J-Ideas
Alex Capogna is a sophomore at Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, Fla. where he has been writing, directing and producing short movies and documentaries since age 9. His latest documentary, “Live Free,” was shown at film festivals around the U.S. and his previous documentary, “Aviation Challenge,” won the 2004 “Nick's Pick” Award at the International Family Film Festival in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Q. How would you explain the state of free expression in the U.S.?
A. Well, compared to my recent trip to a Communist country, China, I find that the Chinese do not have the right to free expression. When I visited the country I was very skeptical on the right to say what I want, since I was a tourist. After my first couple of days in Beijing, the seed of the Chinese Government, I was becoming quite suspicious of this “policed state.” As I investigated further, it seemed to me that “at times” the Chinese have more freedom of expression than we do. Even though the Chinese people politically do not have freedom of expression, many citizens ignore their government.
In fact, the local government-owned Top 40 radio station in Beijing did not censor explicit American Top 40 hits. I’m not sure if this is because some Chinese government officials don’t understand English, whether rap is too fast to understand, or they really don’t care what goes over the air. I guess this practically shows how “right wing” our government is and how our political system is trying to restrict explicit music from young adults like me. I’m not saying that all explicit music is good for the young, but really…WHO CARES?
Q. Do you think that students care enough about the First Amendment in school?
A. Time has progressed since the first survey of the future on the First Amendment; still I believe that a small percentage of my class knows very little about the First Amendment or how to use it. I’m not sure how a population of approximately 200 sophomores at Coral Shores High School applies to the rest of the schools in the United States, but we do have a very important election upon us. If students do not make the right decision and learn about the First Amendment, then I think our constitutional rights might be in jeopardy.
Q. Do you feel students even appreciate the First Amendment?
A. As I have explained in past articles, I believe that some students use their First Amendment rights, but don’t know it. So, it would be incorrect for me to assume that the students of the United States have an appreciation for the First Amendment. By the looks of the most recent First Amendment survey, we’re still in the same situation as before. The numbers of First Amendment awareness may have increased, but not enough.
Q. So, what should schools do about the First Amendment?
A. TEACH IT, DAMN IT!
Photo by Randy Swikle
Alex Capogna speaks at a J-Ideas event as Karen Flowers, director of the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, looks on along with Molly McCloskey of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Q. What do you think about the incident surrounding Andrew Meyer, the University of Florida student who was tasered during Senator John Kerry’s speech?
A. Even though the student may have been asking some tough questions and trying to play with Senator Kerry, was he really doing any harm, or more less, breaking the law? He had some pretty good questions. I wish that such a liberal leader such as Senator Kerry would have stepped in and stopped the nonsense and answered the friggen questions.
Q. So, are you saying incidents like this signal a decline in student free expression?
A. No, I believe that incidents like this make students more aware of the First Amendment as a sort of “propaganda” or encouragement to learn, if you will. If the news focuses more on this situation, students will become more aware of what type of “constitutional crisis” we’re in.
Q. Many teenagers spend time playing video games, sports, watching TV or sending IMs to their friends, but you made a documentary on the First Amendment. Why did you tackle such a serious issue at a young age?
A. Being brought up in an open household is the key. I’ve been pretty lucky being born into a family that cares about my education and my future. My parents don’t restrict me from what I want to be, say, or do. Sometimes parents of my friends may think that I shouldn’t have as much personal freedom as I do, and that my dad is a little crazy. My dad has always allowed me to listen to any type of music that “tickles my fancy,” watch movies, or speak my mind. Fortunately, my father doesn’t restrict me from reading any type of newspapers.
First of all, if it weren’t for me picking up a USA TODAY paper headlined, “First Amendment hits home,” my movie probably wouldn’t have been made. Second, I didn’t fully understand much about the First Amendment, but wanted to know more. While reading the article I found some very disturbing news. USA Today reported that nearly half of one hundred thousand students surveyed didn’t know what the First Amendment was. Then the other half that did know about the First Amendment thought that the press should have prior restraint. I could not believe my peers (the ones who will take over the current government) were so close-minded. I had to do something about it, so I made my film.
Q. It’s been a few years since your “Live Free” documentary. Are you working on any new projects?
A. Currently, I am a “sleeping advocate,” due to the extreme demands of high school. I’ve been writing opinion-based articles for J-Ideas for the last year. I believe that I’ve played my specific part in First Amendment awareness by making my movie “Live Free.” In my spare time, I wouldn’t mind talking with people about how the future of the First Amendment may affect them. This is a serious issue, and I think that we still need to push further into the closed minds of teens.
Q. Do you want to pursue filmmaking or a career involving the First Amendment?
A. This question is somewhat funny to me because I want to do something that has nothing to do with law or the First Amendment. I have an ambition to become a master mariner for a large shipping company, or become an airline pilot. The idea of transportation has always fascinated me, so I am determined to pursue a career in that industry.
Q. Other than being a First Amendment Warrior, what do you do in your spare time?
A. I enjoy swimming for the Coral Shores High School Swim Team, Sailing at the Key Largo Sailing Club, and going fishing with my friends. I do wish my dad would purchase a boat, even though I sometimes get to “captain” my friends’ kayaks.
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