Tuesday, December 24, 2013

4th ANNUAL ANGEL TREE EVENT


Last week we had another terrific Angel Tree Gift giveaway event, our 4th.  For those who may not be aware of  the Angel Tree Program, it is part of Prison Fellowship.  Studies continue to show that if an incarcerated parent can keep and build a relationship with their children, the likelihood of their children becoming incarcerated drops dramatically.   Angel Tree helps to build that relationship by allowing inmates to sign up to get gifts for their children for Christmas.   Angel Tree volunteers go out, buy the gift for that parent, wrap it, put a label on it from that parent and deliver it to the child. 

Again this year, our people from HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS participated.  Some were formerly incarcerated themselves, some were the family members of those incarcerated and others were our instructors and staff. 



We met at In-N-Out Burger in Santa Clarita as we do every year for dinner and fellowship.  Once again, In-N-Out did a terrific job, serving us with that great attitude they always have. A big shout-out to them.  
.




After dinner, we loaded into (8) cars and caravaned our way down to the Pacioma, Sun Valley area.   At each stop we sang Christmas Carols (a little off tune at times) and then gave the gifts to the children from their parent. 






It was a great evening of joy and laughter all in a heart warming atmosphere. Thank you to everyone who helped. Everyone at HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS wishes you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014!!

Monday, December 9, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates



We're back in the classroom after a brief break between semesters.   Semester #14 is underway with 30 new student/inmates meeting in our classroom #42.   This seems like a very enthusiastic group who are eager to learn.   We'll be updating you as we move through the semester.   Welcome back and thank you to all of our volunteer instructors and of course Sherriff Lee Baca and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. 


Our Classroom...  Dorm #42.



Thursday, November 28, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - Thanksgiving Wishes

 
All of us at HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS are so thankful for the blessings God has bestowed on this ministry, but the most special blessing is all of our participants, volunteers, students and alumni.   We want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  

Sunday, November 10, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates


Well, semester #13 has been completed!  We had a terrific graduation with (16) graduates.  (2) of our them gave very moving speeches about their time in class.  Hearing them vocalize what they learned in both their film classes but also in their life classes really makes it all worth. 

We also had a nice time of fellowship afterwards.   Congratulations!   Semester #14 will be starting soon.  Please continue to pray for these guy and their families.





 
 
 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Hollywood Impact Studios - News & Updates


A couple of weeks ago we produced our Semester 13 final video project. For some, you may remember that this semester we were teaching live story telling in our class. So this final video project was to "film" our students telling those stories in front of a live audience. It was a terrific show, complete with a live band and (3) celebrity judges. Our first place winner was Socrates.

 
The guys had a great time both working behind the camera and telling their stories in front of the camera. It really helped many get out of their shells and feel more comfortable talking in front of people.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - Working On The Outside

 
Two weeks ago HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS had a real production that actually was a paying job...  Yes, we got hired for a production job which was terrific because we were actually able to hire and pay many of our Hollywood Impact Studios Alumni who are out of jail and doing well.   We shot all day out at Melody Ranch Western Set in Santa Clarita, California.

 
HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS was contracted by the Lutheran Hour Ministries in St. Louis Missouri to shoot the "wraparounds" that will help re-launch their class series THIS IS THE LIFE. 




The shoot went very well... longer than expected but went well none the less.   We were also able to hire TRADE TECH to cater our shoot.  Their culinary students did a terrific job!  Thank you Charlie Roseland and Trade Tech for making this possible.

 

 Admittedly we did go way over budget for many reasons that were beyond our control so we will be doing a crowd funding project through Indiegogo to help cover finishing costs, so please keep an eye open for that offering.
 

We really would like to thank Lutheran Hour Ministries for their support and faith in HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS.  We'd also like to thank our crew who were incredible!  Also the Veluzat family for their help and support with our shooting location.   It was a glorious day of production. 

Sunday, September 1, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates



Our semester continues to roll along nicely.   Things are going well and although we've lost some of our students, those that are still with us are very engaged.  We've now moved into the hands-on portion of the class.  Ryan Sheridan is in the middle of his camera class.  We're so grateful to have him as part of our program.


We are also trying something new this semester, teaching story telling.   At the end of the semester each of our students will tell a 3-5 minute true story in front of a live audience (of other inmate/students).    We're trying to help our guys get used to speaking in public and learn some good communication skills.  We think it's going to be fun for all. 




Monday, August 12, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

Our semester is going very well so far.   Gary has just finished his "The Business of  Television" class.  



Stan, Luke and Branden are heavily into the their editing classes.




Next week we start camera taught my director of photographer Ryan.  The guys always love his class.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates


We're back in the classroom after a brief break between semesters.   Semester #13 is underway with 30 new student/inmates meeting in our classroom #42.   This seems like a very enthusiastic group who are eager to learn.   We'll be updating you as we move through the semester.   Welcome back and thank you to all of our volunteer instructors and of course Sherriff Lee Baca and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. 

 
Our Classroom...  Dorm #42.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates



All of us at HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS want to wish you a very Happy 4th of July.   Happy Birthday America!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

ALUMNI & CONTINUUM - News & Updates

 
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Christine Garcia, mother of our Alumni, Shawn Cavette.  Christine gave countless hours working on the HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS Newsletter.   She was also a regular attendee of the Tuesday night Alumni/Continuum, even though she had to do so from a wheelchair as she suffered from MS.  Below is a photo from one of our Angel Tree Christmas Gift giveaways (to the children of those incarcerated).   Sorry for the poor quality of the photo, but Christine is the one in the white van.  She may not have been able to walk, but that never slowed her down or kept her from being their for others.

Her always present, bright smile will be missed by all that knew her.   Please pray for God's comfort for her grieving family.


 
Although we will miss her, we celebrate that she is no longer bound by a wheelchair and is in the loving arms of our Lord.
 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates



Last week we held our Semester #12 graduation with (18) graduates.   Good student speeches that challenged those in the audience to change their lives and make this the last time they come to jail.  I continued that challenge by asking everyone to come to the Alumni/Continuum; a support group to help them to succeed once they're out. 

We're down for (4) weeks and then will start Semester #14 and begin our 5th year... Wow!!  Praise God!   Thank you to all of our volunteer instructors and all their support.   We couldn't do it without them.    See you all soon. 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

ALUMNI CONTINUUM - News & Updates



Amazing things continue to happen at our Tuesday night Alumni/Continuum meeting held at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita.   A man showed up struggling with Heroin addiction.   He'd been clean and sober for nearly three years but recently had a set back and was back on "Smack".   He called the Sheriff's Department looking for a nearby support group and was directed in our meeting.  He was met with support and love, not just from our instructors but by the entire group.  One of our members, a former addict himself, even offering to drive him to a rehab center that night.  Unfortunately, our visitor wasn't ready that night to take the help.  We don't know how this story is going to play out yet, but the man continues to come and stay in touch with some of our Alumni members.  At this point we can pray for him that at some point soon he will have the strength to get back into a sober living environment and "get back on the wagon" to success.

Please come by and join us any Tuesday night from 7PM to 9PM in room C215 -  Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita:

22833 Copper Hill Drive
Santa Clarita, CA 91350


Sunday, April 14, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Update

 
For the last (5) weeks, Derrick, our guest writing instructors, has been working with our students to teach them story and structure as he's helped them to write their scripts for a 10 minute short film.   It's not easy learning the screenplay format, but Derrick is an excellent, passionate teacher who has taught them these skills.   I think he has also given some of our students a new passion for writing that they did not have before.

 
 
 We will be reviewing the scripts and be selecting a winner soon.    Along with writing, our editing class have been going very well.   We should be moving in the camera class next.  
 
 
 
Thank you to Derrick and all of our other volunteer instructors who give up so much of their time to make a difference in these men's lives and show them another direction. Thank you and God Bless you all!
 


Saturday, March 9, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

We have started Semester #12, with 18 brand new students and 4 returning students.   We will be doing something very different this semester.  We will be concentrating on screenwriting.   Our plan is to spend about a month focusing on the craft of writing.   We will then break the students into 5 or 6 teams with each team writing a 5 to 10 minute "short".   The best teams script would then we shot mid-semester and edited during the last half of the semester...  that's the plan anyway.   We'll keep you posted.  Please continue to pray of these men and their families, that God will change their lives so they may live, happy, productive lives when they are released from jail or prison.   Thank you for your continued support.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

 
Semester #11 is over.   We had a great group of students.  We held our graduation (2) weeks ago, with (18) graduates.  Congratulations to all of our grads!!    Thanks for all your hard work.  We'll be down until we start Semester #12.  

Friday, January 18, 2013

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

HAPPY NEW YEAR  -  2013


As we begin 2013, we are ending our 11th Semester.  It's been a good semester with lots of enthusiasm.  We're ending with some exciting projects.  The end of semester editing projects are looking great.   This semester our guys were creating and editing some commericals for several different MERIT programs.   We are excited to see all (5) teams "Finals".  We will also be shooting our end of semester video project where our students run the cameras, set up the lights, built the set... all of it.   Thank you to everyone for all your support, especially the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.