THOUGHTS FROM OUR STUDENTS & ALUMNI

A few weeks ago, I challenged our students to come up with some of their thoughts for the blog. Below is one from Aaron who is currently incarcerated in South Facility, Pitchess Detention Center, Los Angeles County Jail.

"All the way to my childhood, I was a very troubled person.   In my family, there was a tremendous amount of fighting.  My brother and I got into some pretty bad fistfights when we were teenagers.  The neighbors would call the police because we would be out in the front yard beating each other up.  When there was any kind of tension or problems my way of solving it was anger, and that was all I knew.  I had some martial arts training; I was in Golden Gloves in high school. I knew how to fight and I got in many fights.  As I got older I found that my behavior as a child carried over into my adult life.  It only got worse when I enlisted in the U.S. Army.  I was always fighting in bars and regrettable, I hurt a lot of people, but most of all I harmed myself.  It landed me in jail.  I managed to alienate everyone who loved me in a very short time.  I felt alone most of my life and very much lost.

When I reflect on what has been a rough go in life, Gary and Cyndi Hall [HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS] reminded me that things in life would break apart and come together many times.  I remember  a video shown by Cyndi that was about the amazing transformation of butterflies and all the astounding things God did when he created them.   When I found Christ, my psyche was like being in the chrysalis.  I am finding that transforming into a new creation does not just happen once, but continually throughout life.   Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear each other's burdens.   Gary shared with me that it is in the the difficulties of life that we find the chief work of love; essentially he said to comfort each other, again and again.   In that, I learned my trials of life have made me more humble, more contrite and more open to the guidance that I rejected before.   The fire I go through becomes my purifying agent.   What was chaotic at the time, ultimately had a healing effect, and sometimeS, when I am really fortunately, I look up in the sky and see a rainbow.  Then I remember that it could not have happened without the rain."

Thank you Aaron.  

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

This semester we're continuing to teach, editing, acting, careers of the television business, typing, Bible Studies and computer skills.   We're now at the point where we begin teaching camera and lighting.    Our special guest instructor, Ryan Sheridan, will we be teaching these disciplines again this semester.  They guys really like his instruction.  He makes it so interesting and engaging.   Thank you Ryan!

ALUMNI NEWS

"The Alumni" is a meeting held every Tuesday night at 7PM with those men who've been released from jail or prison and their family members that support them. Two weeks ago, one of our very first students from our semester #1 droppped by to visit. It was a real struggle for him for the first year he was out, but finally he was able to get a part time job in his given trade, butcher, at a grocery store. He has now been out three years, been promoted to manager of the meat market, has gotten married, is plugged in to his neighborhood church. Life is good. Congratuations!

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - Continuing Education

Below is an interesting acticle from Gillen Entertainment, an interview from Director of Photography, David Libertella. I hope you find is interesting.

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Cinematographer David Libertella

Approaching the Script

Libertella's initial preparation for a film project begins with the script. "I read the script once through, reading aloud and paced so as to get a feel for the rhythm of the script." He says, "I don't begin consciously thinking about what shots or what lighting to employ until after I have read through it once and come to understand the story, the arc."

Notetaking follows the first read-through. "I read it again and as I go through it I make notes, either in the margins or on a separate paper, about possible shots, color palettes, foreseeable problems to be solved."


Camera Tips

Most young filmmakers begin shooting with a prosumer-level camera, such as the Panasonic DVX, long a workhorse for indie filmmakers. What does a new DP need to do when ready to film? "One of my first cameras," says Libertella, "was the DVX, and after many years with it I can tell you to keep the gain low, and keep all your settings on manual. Manual focus, iris, zoom...the whole thing. You can learn a lot about how cameras work in general this way."


Lighting Without a Budget

How does a filmmaker deal with no budget for lighting? "Be aware of what you can get away with," Libertella says. "Sometimes all it takes is knowing what time of day to shoot to maximize the available light. If you really need a light and there is no budget, go to Home Depot and get some clamp-on lights. They're dirt cheap. Bounce them into the ceiling or a piece of showcard."


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This article was re-printed on our blog with permisssion from Bob Gillen. To read more, please visit their website:

www.thefilmmakerlifestyle.com/The_Filmmaker_Lifestyle/Home.html

Thank you Bob Gillen!

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

The semester is going very well. We're down a few students, but the group we have is hungry for everything we're teaching. It's interesting, one guy in particular seemed so hard in the beginning, always keeping his arms crossed and the look on his face said, "I'm not sure about you guys..." I've noticed as each week goes by, he softens and softens. His arms are no longer crossed and he smiles often. He even cornered me last week to tell me he might be going to "State" [Prison], but wants to know how to stay in touch with us... God is really working on this young man.

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

After a short break, we started our semester #9 class. Following our interviews, we ended up (33) new inmate/students. They seem very enthusiastic about the class. More updates on their progress in future postings.

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS - News & Updates

A few weeks ago the Sheriff's Department contracted with HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS to produce a video about the current condition of the LASD laundry facility. One of the great parts to this story is that the Sheriff's Department approved of us using our current inmate/students as part of our crew.



This had so many blessings to it. Our guys had an opportunity to truly give back and help the Sheriff's Department and the deputies had an opportunity to see our guys in a different light. Men of Integrity that truly want to give back to society and the Sheriff's Department that incarsarates them.





The guys did a great job. Worked very hard, gave 100% and were able to have some fun along the way. What a great crew we had, a blend of Hollywood professionals and our students.



Thanks to our terrific, giving instructors, Ryan Sheridan, Stan Cassio, Branden Morris, Chris Ackerman, Josh Holt, Scott McLean, Richard and Keiko Badger. We couldn't have done it without you. Thank you all!!