Happy Activist Gabri Blankson: Exploring Teens’ Mental Health Through Film

This week, meet Happy Activist Gabri Blankson, who is using film to illuminate teen mental health. Her award-winning short film MIME, created through the Black Girls Film Camp, explores the emotional impact of pandemic isolation through a fantasy lens, using mimes as metaphors for internal struggles. Drawing from personal experience and inspired by Inside Out, Gabri crafted a visually expressive story that resonates deeply with young audiences. She also developed a downloadable viewers guide to help audiences interpret emotional cues and access mental health resources — proving that storytelling can be both healing and transformative.

What you'll learn:

• How Gabri used metaphor and fantasy to express complex emotional experiences.
• What led her to focus on the challenges of mental health and isolation during the pandemic.
• How she developed her viewers’ guide — and how it enhances emotional awareness and encourages open dialogue.