Independent Lens

The Bad Kids

Located in an impoverished Mojave Desert community, Black Rock Continuation High School is an alternative school for students at risk of dropping out; Black Rock is their last chance. Extraordinary educators believe that empathy and life skills, more than academics, give these underserved students command of their own futures.

Officer Martinez Makes It to the Tower

2m 31s

In this excerpt from Independent Lens documentary TOWER, two Austin police officers, Ray Martinez and Houston McCoy, who arrived on scene during the August 1, 1966 University of Texas mass shooting, give their firsthand accounts of the tense and terrible moments. Martinez used his army training to know to establish a command post and an assault team when under fire.

  • The Bad Kids - Breaking the Cycle - Clip: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Bad Kids - Breaking the Cycle - Clip

    S18 E10 - 1m 29s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens film The Bad Kids, students at Black Rock Continuation High explore feelings they've had when in a romantic relationship. Some describe their relationships as "horrible," or even lonely. But others feel they've become better people, learned from their mistakes and those of their parents and grandparents. They see a pattern, a cycle, that they can break.

  • The Bad Kids - Black Rock School's 29th Graduate - Clip: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Bad Kids - Black Rock School's 29th Graduate - Clip

    S18 E10 - 1m 56s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens film The Bad Kids, we glimpse a few moments that make Black Rock Continuation High School principal Vonda Viland's job worth it: Caitlin becomes the school's 29th graduate of the year (honored with an announcement and a "Pomp & Circumstance" march down the halls), while another student is just a few credits shy of becoming proud graduate number 30.

  • The Bad Kids - Principal Viland Goes the Extra Mile - Clip: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Bad Kids - Principal Viland Goes the Extra Mile - Clip

    S18 E10 - 1m 26s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens film The Bad Kids, Black Rock Continuation High School principal Vonda Viland goes the extra mile (or many miles) to go find missing student Lee, who was stuck at home after his mom and stepdad threatened to kick him out because he has a baby and no diploma.

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