It started with an apple – but not the kind you'd expect.
When Grand Rapids teens Caleb Jesse and Daniel Ewer picked up their smartphones to make a film about food access, they weren’t just aiming to create something artistic. They were documenting a reality many of their peers live every day: that healthy, affordable food isn’t always easy to come by.
Their short film,
Apples, uses minimal visuals and maximum impact to highlight what food insecurity looks like close to home. The three-minute mobile video recently earned the pair national honors in the inaugural Nourishing Narratives Mobile Film Competition, a storytelling challenge designed to amplify youth voices on food justice issues.
Now, the 17-year-olds are headed to Los Angeles, where their film will be screened at the historic Paramount Theatre on Aug. 2 alongside nine other winning entries. Each team receives a $1,000 grant and a creative prize package to further their storytelling and advocacy.
“We’re very excited that the film was selected, and we’re honored that our filmmaking skills were enough to be chosen among many other films,” Jesse says.
Local setting
Created entirely on mobile devices, the film follows a story of food resilience, from downtown Grand Rapids to a quiet, forgotten apple orchard.
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Daniel Ewer
“The process of creating the film was enjoyable, but the majority of the filming was done on the absolute windiest day of the year in downtown Grand Rapids,” Jesse says. “We had to do several takes because of wind, and even then, it’s still noticeable.”
The final scenes were filmed in Prairie Wolf Park, an abandoned apple orchard in Caledonia.
“My girlfriend Julia took me there to film; she was the character who planted the apples in the film,” he says. “We only lost two apples – we tried not to be hypocrites and end up wasting them. The rest were composted or left for deer.”
Giving youth a platform
The competition was co-led by
Mosaic Film Experience, a Grand Rapids nonprofit that connects underrepresented youth with storytelling and tech careers, and the
Newman’s Own Foundation, which honors the legacy of actor Paul Newman by supporting programs that uplift children facing adversity.
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Caleb Jesse
“This competition reflects what Mosaic is all about—giving youth the platform to tell meaningful stories, explore creativity, and shape the world around them,” says Skot Welch, Mosaic’s founder and president.
Youth ages 10–18 from across the U.S. were invited to use smartphones or tablets to create three-minute films about food justice. Submissions tackled issues such as food waste, rising grocery prices, cultural food connections, and the role of community gardens.
“At Newman’s Own Foundation, we believe many solutions start at the community level,” says President and CEO Alex Amouyel. “Bringing youth voices into the conversation is a key ingredient for change.”
Jesse says the opportunity has not only opened creative doors, it’s also sparked long-term possibilities.
“Though it’s not our primary focus, it is a possibility that we’ll pursue film as a career,” he says. “Personally, I have several potential paths like music, filmmaking, and game design, and I definitely plan to continue pursuing filmmaking as a passion at the very least.”
The experience has left a lasting impression. “It’s helped us learn how to convey important messages through film,” Jesse says, “and it’s given us a great boost of confidence in our filmmaking abilities for future contests and classes.”
Winners of the 2025 Nourishing Narratives Mobile Film Competition:
Apples – Caleb Jesse (17) and Daniel Ewer (17), Grand Rapids
Food Justice – Ambrosia Acevedo (18), Meridian, Connecticut
A Just Plate: Food for All – Jonathan Conley (17), Lexington, Kentucky
Cocos Frios – Mia Cuevas (17), Esmé Woerner, Tessa Stones, Dale Hancock, Duarte, California
Food Justice East of the Anacostia River – Morgan Hawkins (18), Sukey Hayden (17), Washington
Egg-straordinary Prices – Myles Frederickson (15), Castaic, California
Balancing the Equation – Leah Gold (18), Oak Park, California
Tomorrow Starts Now – Josiah Jesse, Brooklyn, New York
Food of Tomorrow – Jade Mitchell (16), Leominster, Massachusetts
The 411 on Food Fuel – The 411 Brand Class Project (8 students), Atlanta
Welch says the competition shows what happens when young people are trusted with the tools and platforms to lead.
“They don’t just imagine a better world—they show us how to build it,” he says.