“This film is about more than playgrounds, it’s about what happens when we truly listen to kids and build spaces that reflect their joy, creativity and potential. When schoolyards are designed with students at the center, they become places where confidence grows, friendships form and learning doesn’t stop when the bell rings.
— Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Co-Founders of Eat. Learn. Play.
About
Building Joy: A Movement to Reimagine Oakland’s Schoolyards is the second installment in Eat. Learn. Play.’s series highlighting its work alongside the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) to reimagine what school communities can be when students are placed at the center.
From the foundation’s belief that kids deserve more, Building Joy follows Eat. Learn. Play.’s efforts to transform underutilized schoolyards into vibrant, student-centered spaces that support learning, physical activity, creativity and community connection. Told through the voices of Stephen and Ayesha Curry, students, educators and partners at OUSD and KABOOM!, the film captures the joy, progress and collective vision behind a growing movement to create spaces where every child can play, learn and thrive.
Across Oakland, many schoolyards have long been treated as an afterthought, often reduced to expanses of asphalt with limited opportunity for play, exploration or learning. Building Joy reframes schoolyards as essential learning environments and critical infrastructure for student well-being, showing how thoughtful design and community collaboration can transform these spaces into places of belonging, imagination and possibility.
The release of Building Joy aims to leave viewers inspired, informed and motivated to support future schoolyard transformations through funding, partnerships, advocacy and volunteer engagement. By elevating student voices and community leadership, the film positions Eat. Learn. Play. as a national leader in equitable play and schoolyard design.
“Building Joy captures the heart of why this work matters,” said Chris Helfrich, CEO of Eat. Learn. Play. “Schoolyards are some of the most democratic spaces in our communities, yet too often they’ve been overlooked. By investing in joyful, inclusive environments for play and learning, we’re investing in kids’ health, confidence and long-term success—and in the strength of Oakland’s neighborhoods.”
The Filmakers
Building Joy: A Movement to Reimagine Oakland’s Schoolyards is a film collaboration between Eat. Learn. Play. and OpenLight Films, a full-service, San Francisco Corporate and Commercial Video Production company offering a wide range of video production services for corporations, organizations, startups, and influencers across all industries.
Kyle Henry, Executive Producer & Co-Director
Kyle is an award-winning California-based filmmaker and entrepreneur from New York, driven by a passion for storytelling that connects and inspires. A graduate of the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Kyle is known for his emotive approach and innovative eye for detail, creating work that resonates and sparks conversation. As the founder and executive producer of OpenLight, Kyle leads a thriving video production agency specializing in commercials and branded content.
Juan Topete, Co-Director
Juan is a director and writer in the SF/LA Area, specializing in documentaries, commercials, and corporate video projects. Previous collaborations include work with B Lab U.S. & Canada, Google, & Yerba Buena Center For The Arts.
Amber Fenton, Producer
Amber studied at the San Francisco Art Institute and California College of the Arts, receiving a B.F.A. in Film. For the past few years, she’s been honing her skills and working at OpenLight Films, producing a variety of commercials and other corporate video and photo content.
David Topete, Director of Photography & Editor
David is an Award-winning DP with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University and now shoots documentary, corporate, and event videos for several leading nonprofits and companies in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the NFL, TED, Together SF, and more.
Hanna Telford, Account Manager
Hanna is passionate about crafting high-quality videos that tell compelling stories. With a background in advertising and client relationship management, Hanna feels incredibly fortunate to collaborate with the talented team at OpenLight Films, helping bring powerful narratives to life through film.