By Priscilla A. Greear - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
From left to right, some of the stars of the Project SHIELD film: Ivan and Nicholas Cabrera, Dani Llano, Lauren Martinez and Alejandro and Andres Dones. All appear in a film made by Andres entitled Project SHIELD, which has been presented at Andres' school, Belen Jesuit Prep, and in several other archdiocesan elementary schools.
MIAMI | Andres Dones felt his little brother Alejandro’s pain one too many times.
Due to his hemophilia and other physical and learning disabilities, Alejandro was often ignored and excluded by his peers. So relying on his longtime cinematic interest, Andres decided to do something about it. He created a film entitled Project SHIELD: Siblings Help Inform and Educate Everyone About Living with Disabilities.
“At first I was angry but then I realized that it wasn’t out of spite but that they didn’t really know how to interact with kids with disabilities,” Andres said. “So I thought the best way to make a change was to educate people about it. I decided to make a movie because everyone loves a good movie.”
Andres just completed his junior year at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami. After three years of planning and labor, his first film premiered with a splash, winning a 2017 Suncoast Student Production Award for Long Form Nonfiction from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The competition included high school students from Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Puerto Rico.
“I was thrilled,” Andres said. “It gave me more confidence and it also opened a lot of doors to me to be able to spread my film’s message.”
Andres is the son of Madelyn and Jorge Dones of Epiphany Parish. He presented the documentary at Belen in January and has since screened it at St. Louis Covenant School, Blessed Trinity School, St. Thomas the Apostle School, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and Palmetto Middle School,with his family and other film participants also attending. Recently interviewed on NBC Channel 6, he is making plans for a summer community screening.
‘Amazing project’
Andres worked on the film as a school service project with the guidance of film and broadcast teacher Johnny Calderin, who spent “countless hours” after school helping him. “He taught me everything about filmmaking and really supported me ever since the project began.”
Calderin said he was honored to guide the “amazing” project.
“There are some compelling stories there that people don’t get to see, especially through the point of view of their siblings. And I think what comes across is a love greater than most,” said Calderin, a ‘92 Belen alumnus.
The parent of a special needs child himself, he said “when I watch Andres talking about his brother, and I see the other kids talking about their siblings, it’s my hope that my daughter sees my son the same way.”
The film features Andres and his only sibling, Alejandro, 14, as well as three other youths and their siblings with conditions ranging from Down syndrome to cerebral palsy. The interviewees express profound family love and discuss common themes such as how their siblings want to be treated normally and have friends just like anyone.
Andres spotlights how his brother’s friendship with twin girls at Palmetto Middle School brightened his world — as he did for them. “He’s so much happier after he met them. They made him feel accepted and included,” he said. “Now they are like family.”
And simple acts of kindness make a world of difference, such as inviting someone to an activity or saying hello in the hallway.
“It’s the great commandment, treat others as you would want to be treated yourself,” said Andres.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Andres Dones speaks in May at St. Louis Covenant School about his Project SHIELD film.
‘Heroic families’
As he spoke earnestly in his school blazer and striped tie, school president Father Guillermo García-Tuñón dropped by to express his pride.
“The fact is that there are a lot of other families out there that are very heroic families because they deal with these things on a daily basis and they do it very well. So he’s giving us the opportunity to look into the lives of all these individuals and how they overcome disabilities and challenges,” said Father García-Tuñón, who has a nephew with autism.
“It’s not simply what they do for these children but also what the children do for their family and for the community. It’s an expression of this conviction of the sanctity of human life. And for a lot of people what seems to be a challenge or maybe a burden, for these families is really a blessing,” added Father García-Tuñón.
St. Louis principal Eddy García praised Andres’ recent presentation at his school, which includes students with mild disabilities. He said many connected with the documentary, including a fifth grader who expressed for the first time his feelings about his sibling with special needs.
Afterward, some of them started spending extra time assisting with therapy or with feedings or just making social time to be with their brothers and sisters.
“I think in today’s society kids need to realize that there’s time to be with your friends and there’s also time for family,” García said. “It is important for (them) to recognize and to honor and continue to love and do whatever (they) need to for (their) brother or sister.”
Movie star
At presentations, Andres introduces Alejandro, who feels honored. His favorite visit has been to Lourdes, where some girls with siblings with disabilities stood up at the end to express their gratitude.
“I’ve felt like a movie star ever since I’ve been in the movie. I’ve met a lot of different families,” said Alejandro. “It’s been very special, very, very heartwarming.”
He now hopes “they will be finally nice to kids with disabilities” instead of acting like it’s strange or embarrassing.
Madelyn Dones said that Andres has made it his mission to speak up for all children with special needs.
“I’m so proud, so moved by the way the community has received it, embraced it, and I pray it makes a difference in the way the Catholic Church views children with disabilities,” Dones said. “I hope it inspires the Catholic Church to find ways to include them in our own schools and our own religious education classes.”
Andres has been inspired as well. “It’s been a very humbling experience and I do feel I’ve grown much closer to my brother,” he said. “I’m more grateful for what I have and I’m more determined to live my life in a good way, to live my life to the fullest, to be the best person I can possibly be.”
The young filmmaker is eager to present at more Catholic schools and churches as well as public schools, the forefront of special education.
“I really want to present it and give kids opportunities to ask questions and have interactions,” he said. “I also feel like the film really resounds with high schoolers because they’re hearing it from kids their age.”
Looking ahead, he added, “I’m definitely open to any future possibilities in filmmaking.”
For film information contact Teresa Martinez, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School communications director, at 786-621-4173.
