The Litmus Test for On-Screen Representation | Elyssa Fernández | TEDxAlexanderPark

The representation of marginalized communities in film is often offensive, inaccurate, and harmful - the stereotypes are everywhere.

Teen filmmaker, best-selling author, artist and entrepreneur Elyssa Fernández is determined to change that, starting with her unique idea: The Litmus Test for On-Screen Representation. It's a simple, three-step formula that will transform the narrative about representation, inclusion, and diversity in movies and film.

As a young person of color, Elyssa didn't see anyone that looked like her or shared her experiences on the screen - and she quickly realized that she wasn't the only one.

Young people everywhere are negatively impacted by the harmful stereotypes that are perpetuated by media - and they internalize what they see on screen. She learned that what we see in media plays a significant part in our beliefs and our perceptions about other people, ourselves, and the world around us.

Elyssa often says that "What we see shapes who we are," - so what we're seeing on screen really matters.

In her TEDx talk, Elyssa 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. 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. 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. Elyssa is also an OG theatre kid and she loves to sing musical theater songs all day – and most of the night. You can learn more about Elyssa at WhollyART.com and follow her @WhollyART. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx