2nd ANNUAL FAMILY FESTIVAL

Hollywood Impact Studios is hosting their 2nd annual Family Festival Fundraiser featuring Live Music, BBQ, Kids Games, Activities and more!

Saturday, June 11, 2022 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Early Bird Tickets and more may be purchased by clicking HERE.


Location: Hollywood Impact Studios Vocational Training and Education Center 38200 Lake Hughes Road , Lake Hughes, CA 91384

Formerly Warm Springs

Festival Volunteers Needed

If you would like to volunteer for the festival or set up a Vendor Booth, we would love to have you! Please see the list below of volunteer needs:

Note: set/up and tear down – morning shifts will set up and afternoon shifts will tear down within each area

Food, Activities, crafts and games

  • food area 4 volunteers
  • Kids games 10 volunteers. (5 morning shift and 5 afternoon shift)
  • activities 4-6 volunteers. (2-3 morning and 2-3 afternoon shifts)
  • crafts 10 volunteers. (5 morning shift and 5 afternoon shift)
  • re-enactors 1930s (2-4 prohibition, CCC Camp boys (15yrs and older) mining and gold panning actors 2-4

Music needs

  • Bluegrass or 1930’s music band to play – acoustic only 1 set for 45 min with 30 min set up and tear down.

If interested in volunteering please contact us make sure to say festival volunteer in the subject line.

2020 – A YEAR OF STRUGGLES AND BLESSINGS

As 2020 comes to an end, we would like to reflect on the year.  Yes, there were many trials, struggles and some sadness.  But there was also much to be thankful for as well, and that is what I want to focus on in this end-of-year newsletter. 

First and foremost, we wish to thank God for His Grace over this ministry, and for Him sending us such terrific people to work with.   Throughout this letter we want to thank some of those incredible people.   I know we may forget some, and for that we apologize, and we will only be using first names as none of these people want any glory for themselves.  So, here we go… 2020 Year in review.

IN JAIL PROGRAM:

  • In March 2020 we completed our 30th Semester, it was a great semester.   Unfortunately, before we could start semester #31, our program, like all the other educational programs inside the jail, had to be put on hold due to COVID-19 concerns.  GOOD NEWS!   As of this posting, we are scheduled to go back inside in early 2021!
  • Special thanks to the LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT and to you Sgt. Jake and CA Gayle for all of your continued support of our program, and your desires to truly help these inmates inside your facility.
  • Since we could not go into the jail, we switched our focus and concentrated even more on our re-entry programs highlighted below. 

ALUMNI-CONTINUUM & STRAIGHT & NARROW

  • In mid-March our in-person meetings were forced to stop by stay at home orders, but a special thanks to Zoom Technology which allowed us to continue to hold both of these meetings.  I think we were only down for two weeks.  Because of Zoom, we have been able to increase attendance.  We have people from as far away as Washington State and Montana who have been able to attend. Thank you to Richard for leading our Alumni-Continuum each week, thank you Tony for leading music, and thank you to Matthew for leading our Straight & Narrow Men’s Group. 
  • We also want to thank John for filling in wherever needed.   All four of these men have such terrific servant hearts to lead these important Bible-Based groups, and give such wise council to our men and women.
  • We also held our very first Church Service.   Our Chaplain Matthew gave a very moving sermon on “The Thief on the Cross.”   Tony once again did a terrific job with the praise music.  A huge thank you to Grace Baptist Church for allowing us to use the amphitheater for our service.

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS REHABILITION & VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER

  • Again, thanks to Zoom, in 2020 we were able to hold many classes.  We had a (6) week acting class that was a real blast.  It wasn’t to make everyone actors, it was just to be able to have some fun.  Thank you, Dominic.  Next, we had (6) weeks of iPad Editing Class – Learned a ton.  Thank you, Stan, for donating the loaner iPads and for your terrific teaching abilities. 
  • As soon as we finished editing classes, we moved on to an (8) week class to learn Closed-Captioning for television shows and movies.  The closed-captioning class has enabled our guys to get paid.  We are now working on close-captioning several projects for CDCR TV (Calif. Department of Corrections)  Thank you, Yelena and John, for teaching and leading this class and giving us an opportunity to get our students paid jobs when so desperately needed-perfect timing!
  • We also were hired by Lifeline Global Ministries to film their Malachi Dad’s series, which will now be utilized for teaching in all of the California Prisons.  Much thanks to Pastor Mike and all of the folks at Lifeline Global for giving us this production job.

MIRACLE MOUNTAIN CAMPUS (In Castaic, Calif.)

  • Although we have had to limit the number of people, plus wear masks and practice social distancing, we have still been able to use the campus quite affectively.   Prior to the lockdown were able to get some good workdays in cleaning up the campus.  This is not just about cleaning the campus but also a time of fellowship and bonding. 
  • We also held another Fire Prevention/Brush Abatement School, which lead to a lot of jobs.  Thanks to Darryl for teaching again this year, and also, thank you to the Federal Government for giving us some much-needed PPP (Payroll Protection Plan).   All of the money they gave us went directly to paying our guys.  I did not mention before, but one huge downside with the shut down was we had to cancel our big annual fundraiser, so money was tight, but this PPP money really helped.
  • Our tractor barn at Miracle Mountain was in very bad shape, so by working in small teams on alternate weekends we have been able to repair it.  We are still working on replacing the tin roof.   A huge thank you to Brent who oversaw this project.  Then his team of Rick, Vartan, Charlie, Tony, Richard, and Sheree.
  • Special thanks to LAFD, LACoFD and the U.S. Forest Service Fire Department. 
  • The fire that started near Lake Hughes got to within one mile of the Miracle Mountain Campus but turned and went in another direction.   Thanking the fire departments involved and God.   It was an answer to prayer.

GENERAL NEWS

  • Also, one of our original students who has now been out over ten years, made us an 11 foot cross, which is incredible.   A road trip of Tony, Cyndi and Gary got it down to Los Angeles from Washington State.   The person that made it, has asked to stop being thanked… he is a very humble man who gave us an incredible gift.
  • Although we had to cancel our main in-person fundraiser, we have to be thankful for the GO FUND ME CHARITY platform which allows us to raise some funds.  We so appreciate every single dollar.
  • And like all communities, we held both a wedding and a funeral, with our Chaplain Matthew officiating  both. 
  • Also we held our 10th Annual Angel Tree event, which is highlighted on this blog.   Great event in Palmdale.   Thanks to all that helped plus Victory Outreach Church Palmdale who allowed us to hold the event on their property.
  • More thank you…. Grace Baptist Church and Pastor Jared for your continued support and guidance. Also thank you to our special friend Wes, who has done so much for us… and so many more. THANK YOU!

ANGEL TREE 2020 – A LITTLE DIFFERENT YEAR

 

ANGEL TREE 2020  – A Little Different Year

By Cyndi and Gary Hall/Co-founders

 

DSC_4004

Chapter 1

Angel Tree Re-Imagined

Angel Tree 2020 was different than any other Angel Tree event we’ve ever held.  Covid-19 changed many traditions, and our Annual Angel Tree Event was no exception.  Although it was different, it might have been one of the best ever.

An amazing ministry of Prison Fellowship, Angel Tree Volunteers from the community go out and buy, wrap and deliver Christmas gifts to the children of the incarcerated.  These gifts are not from volunteers, but rather from the incarcerated parents themselves — we are the messenger.   As their mission statement says, “It is a program that serves incarcerated parents by providing a pathway for strengthening and restoring their relationships with their children and families.”

DSC_3974

Hollywood Impact Studios Prison Ministry has been participating in Angel Tree for the last 10 years, and we believe we are the only prison ministry with formerly incarcerated individuals actively participating in this event.

“With Flashlights in hand, and presents in tow,  bumbling, stumbling, off we go!”

Normally, we all gather at In N Out Burgers for a time of food, fun and fellowship, load onto the “Grace” bus and drive to the homes of the Angel Tree children where we deliver gifts from their incarcerated parents while merrily singing out of tune Christmas Carols.

Then came 2020 and Covid 19…everything changed!  We couldn’t gather at In N Out or travel together as a group.  How could we deliver gifts to the kids, give them a special day of hope and love letting them know their incarcerated father or mother was there for them – a miracle was needed.

“No mingling or gathering on sidewalks or streets, no singing or playing – Oh, what a defeat!”

Then, after much prayer we had an idea – how about a “contactless drive-through” event during daylight hours.  And so, our first Christmas miracle was born.  But in what form and where would this event take place? All of our children were located in the Palmdale area.

 

“So we internet searched and drove through the streets, a storefront, the sidewalk?  No, take a beat.

Then all of the sudden, a light had shown bright, Victory Outreach, a Church in Palmdale – that’s right! 

Their mission, addiction, incarceration too, we partnered with them and our ministry grew.”

Having re-imagined our event and finding a location, we now wanted to make the event special for the kids.  We didn’t want to have the families drive through, collect gifts and go home.  We wanted them to be involved, making it a family celebration.

“Now miracles happen, though world on its’ face, but this one was special – it now had a place.

From one tiny gift, then two joined along:  Now three as we all celebrated with song.”

 

We  also partnered with “Make Music Day” a global event of music appreciation and celebration that occurs every December 21st.  Our event was called       Car-o-ling in your neighborhood.  We figured why not?

DSC_3978

“With Angel Tree Gifts and Holiday Songs, Merrily did we all sing along.

Make Music Day donated bells and kazoos And Cyndi’s quartet made music too!

What a wonderful way as families drove through, to give something special

Merry Christmas to You!”

 

Chapter 2

The Day of the Event

Our masked volunteers got there early to set up “the stations” as Christmas and Praise music blasted over a loudspeaker.  Cyndi’s quartet arrived and was practicing before our traditional In N Out Burgers were delivered.  After lunch, our annual Angel Tree event was underway.

DSC_4013  DSC_3992  DSC_4080

The first family drove up and stopped at Station One where Victor checked them in. Station 2, every child received a pre-wrapped handbell or Kazoo so they could “sing along.”  As Victor announced the family over the walkie-talkie the family drove to Station Three where the HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS “Choir” serenaded them with socially distanced Christmas Carols as kids rang their bells and played Kazoos from car windows.

DSC_3997 DSC_4063

DSC_4038

Then came Station Four, where a live string quartet of 2 violins, viola and bassoon played more Christmas Carols- window serenade turned up-side-down.   Looking at the expressions on kid’s faces told us that many had never heard or seen music performed liked this.

DSC_4090

Next, Station Five, where Richie and his family delivered the gifts to the children, a children’s Bible and just as important the Christmas message from their incarcerated parent.

DSC_4066

As they drove off, they were again serenaded by “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.  We repeated this many times during the day.

 

If this was all that happened, it would have been an amazing day…  but so much more occurred.

First, while we were setting up, two of our guys, Tony and Matthew saw a homeless man pushing a shopping cart down the sidewalk in front of the church, they went out to talk with him.   Here are two formerly incarcerated, former addicts sharing Christ’s love with “the stranger”.   They invited him to join our party.  They gave him food, fries and a drink, but so much more.   They talked to him about the path he was on.  They offered much wise council and offered to find “Jon” housing and brought him into our group.  Jon stayed all day, singing Carols and receiving fellowship from each and everyone of our guys.  Tony will be picking him up to bring him back to Eden Ministries Sober-living house next week.

DSC_4008    DSC_4009

Second, was two car loads of families, asked if they could just drive through our event to hear the Christmas music. Although we didn’t have any toys, we did give the kids Angel Tree coloring books, Bibles, children’s stories and of course hand bells and kazoos.

 

Next, I witnessed as Richie delivered those Christmas messages from their incarcerated parents.   Richie knew firsthand how tough it was to be an incarcerated parent and his reading of those messages were filled with compassion and love.

 

And lastly, as we were cleaning up, I had a chance to thank Victor for being the “check-in” guy.  Not the most glamourous job, but important.  He looked me in the eyes and said, his kids had benefitted many times from Angel Tree and finally he was able to experience it from the other side.  To finally be able give back to all those Angel Tree volunteers who had shared the love of Christ with his children meant so much to him.

It was quite a day, a good day, a great day…  Merry Christmas!

 

 

CROSS OF REDEMPTION – Journey from Washington State to Los Angeles

CROPPED

“ALFIO & THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION”

By Gary Hall

Hollywood Impact Studios Prison Ministry has been serving inside the Los Angeles County Jail since 2009.  One of our first inmate/students was a grey-hair older man named Alfio.  He was rough and weathered, with a deep, world-worn gravelly voice.

One of our instructors always likes to start his first class of each semester by asking our inmate/students, “How many of you have been in jail more than ten times?  twenty times?  Thirty times?”  One day, when the teacher got to “more than 50 times”, there was only one hand still raised… it was Alfio.

Alfio was very upfront with us that he did not know where his faith was and how he felt about God, but as the semester progressed so did Alfio’s faith.  One reason was due to Brandon Chandler our youngest instructor, who often walked alongside Alfio.  Alfio’s faith continued to grow to the point where, prior to his release Alfio told us he wanted to be baptized.  After spending much time on his knees in prayer, Alfio was released from prison two years early, to which he says,  “To God be the glory!”

 

After his release, Alfio continued to grow spiritually through our “Alumni Group” and through the Tinseltown Bible Study led by Gary and Judy Swanson, held on the 20th Century Fox movie lot.  God brought many gentle, kind, Christ-filled mentors alongside Alfio.  And, yes,  he did get baptized at Grace Baptist Church, standing right next to his beautiful wife.

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Life plans changed and Alfio and his wife moved up to Washington State. He began making crosses for churches.  When I thought about it, it was almost overwhelming, how our mighty Lord could take this man who had once been in our classroom in jail and so totally transform his life.

20150320_101109

More of Alfio’s crosses.  These face Highway 97 which is a major highway.  Traffic is estimated at approximately 35,000 vehicles daily.

In April of 2020, we reached out to Alfio and asked him if he would be willing to make a cross for our ministry.   He agreed, and the journey of our cross began.

Alfio wanted this cross to be one-of-a-kind.  He went out and found two older, dying oak trees, cut them down and began the milling process.

Milling and cutting continued.

Alfio's Cross #7

The cross begins to take shape.   Week after week Alfio would email us the progress of the cross…

… until finally it was done.

20200924_130134

This beauty is 11 feet tall and weighs 450 pounds.  The trees were cut down and milled by Alfio’s friend Alex Stoops, the authentic looking spikes were hand made by his friend Bob Null and Alfio’s wife JoEllyn used fire to “paint” the sign on the top of the cross.   All of these friends spent much time praying over this cross as it was being created.

So here’s the second part of this story.   How exactly do we get this cross from Washington State to Los Angeles?

We are going to send our guy(s) up to get it!   Right now, we have Tony Mendoza who has volunteered.  Tony has 30 years of addiction and incarceration but has been clean and sober for over five years. He has also reconciled with his family and leads music worship at his church.

Our plan is to make this a big event for GOD’S GLORY.   Given all the issues going on in our world, we want to show something positive and it is all positive because of our Lord and Savior.

Here is a man with a long criminal history who has been REDEEMED.   The cross he has so painstakingly made with his own hands will be picked up by more people who have been REDEEMED.   Families and marriages have been restored,

We are going to reach out to every Christian radio station and many churches between Spokane, Washington, and Los Angeles.  On the route down,  Tony will interview people touched by this ministry.   He will have a big roll of blue painters’ tape for people to write their favorite Bible verse, prayer request or other word of encouragement.  Those people will stick that piece of blue tape on Tony’s car (yes, he said that was okay)  on the cross itself or even on the trailer.   We are hoping that radio stations will interview him on his way down.  He will get a lot of attention.  We hope he meets tons of people at gas stations, rest stops, restaurants and along the road.   Share his testimony and hear theirs.

 

Please pray for this trip and that it will all be to the Glory of God and maybe help heal some hurting people along the way.

 

THIS JOURNEY HAS BEGUN…  October 26th!  Updates to follow.   See our Facebook & Instagram.  You can be part of this by contributing on our Website.

 

GO FUND ME CHARITY – FUNDRAISER “FAMILY RESTORATION”

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS, helping break                  

                                                                the cycle of incarceration and addiction since 2009…

FAMILY RESTORATION

DSC_4072

“I am so thankful to Hollywood Impact Studios.  I am a mother that prayed so long for my son.  It pains a mother to see her children lost, well my son Richard has been found and Hollywood Impact Studios has been an instrument in his life.  I live out of state and have not seen him since he got out, but he calls me almost every day.  He sounds so happy and excited about his newfound LIFE and working with all of you.  I so truly thank the Lord but I also thank your outreach program.  I  pray for this ministry these prisoners need your Ministry, it is one thing going into the jails and prison’s but it’s another thing being on the outside for them that’s the important part AMEN. MUCH LOVE MARTHA [LAST NAME OMITTED] a PRAYING MOM, GOD TRULY ANSWER’S PRAYER.”

_____________________

Addiction and incarceration do not merely affect the person involved.  It affects the entire family and the community associated with that person.   Just as it took years to break down those bridges and family bonds, it sometimes takes years to rebuild them.   And that is where HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS comes in.

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS is a faith-based ministry that started this “bridge building” in 2009, with our In-Jail Program, inside the Los Angeles County Jail.  It continued in 2011 with our Alumni-Reentry program on the outside and expanded in 2015 with our Miracle Mountain Vocational Training Center in Castaic, California

Our goal is simple, we want to help our men and women coming out of jail, prison, and recovery programs, which often includes veterans and the homeless, to transform their lives, helping them become substance-free, vocationally trained, and morally strong.  This will help them become productive citizens and in turn may restore those broken family relationships…and in the process reduce crime which makes this program even more important given the current prison reform programs.

DSC_1811 -cropped
20180817_192900

The keyword to our program is mentoring.  We start with these men inside the Los Angeles County Jail.  Our volunteers teach vocational training, life skills training, and spiritual encouragement – we walk alongside and support them. What makes our program so unique is that we continue that walk with these individuals on the outside directly from prison, or upon completion of a recovery program.  Hollywood Impact Studios is that “NEXT STEP.” Why is this unique?  This holistic model integrates in-jail, out of jail and vocational/educational training together.  We do all three within a loving, supportive, and encouraging environment. Through what we call discipleship (walking with them and training them throughout life) healthy relationships are modeled and rebuilt.

We have seen over and over again how this approach works to rebuild those damaged family relationships; not overnight, but over time.

dsc_5533

We believe this model is why their recidivist is less than 20%.   And it works over the long haul; the very first semester of our In-Jail Program (2009) had (10) graduates. (8) of them are still out after 10 years!   But we can’t do this important work without volunteers and funding.

Will you please help support the  HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS vocationally training program, no amount is too small.  Please donate today!

__________________________________

Tony,s Family - Smaller

“My life has completed changed in the five years I have been out.   My entire family did not want to have anything to do with me, and I don’t blame them.  I spent 25 years in addiction and in Jail with three prison terms.   But now, I have a restored relationship with my father, my daughter, my grandchildren, and even my ex-wife.   Life is good.  Praise God!”  

PLEASE SUPPORT US BY CLICKING ON THIS GO FUND ME CHARITY LINK:  https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/hollywood-impact-studios-rehabilitation-and-vocational-training-center

a/o 9/3/20  

IRON SHARPENS IRON SERIES – “One beer away from losing it all”

Support Sign

“I AM JUST ONE BEER AWAY FROM LOSING EVERYTHING…”

By Chaplain Matthew Feldmeth

My name is Matthew Feldmeth.  I was sentenced to 85 to life for commercial burglary.  And yet I was raised in a good home, with two terrific parents.   So how did I end up in State Prison?  Drugs.   No, I am not blaming drugs for my behavior because no one held me down and made me start using drugs.   That was my choice, my decision.  I started with Marijuana and then went to Heroin, Methamphetamine, cocaine…  all of it.  I was a drug garbage can.   Drug use lead me to sell everything I owned and when I ran out of that I started stealing everything I could.  I lost my wife, my family, and eventually my freedom.

The good news,  I am NOT writing this from inside a prison cell.  I am writing this from inside my home.   Jesus Christ delivered me from drug abuse and lead the judge who sentenced me to help me get out after 18 years.  I have now been out for five years.   I have re-married, I have a great job, money in the bank, I am the Chaplain for this prison ministry.

20180817_192900

                                                                                                          The Straight & Narrow Men’s Group

I can honestly say, I am living, Joel 2:25-27:

25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and none else.”

But I also know I can not take this gift for granted.  Addiction is always looking over my shoulder.  Drug use is so insidious.   We do it when we’re down, we do it to celebrate and oftentimes, the enemy tells us, we’ve been clean and sober for so long, we deserve to just try one time…   that is a lie from the pit of Hell and I have seen over and over again, the guys and gals of our ministry fall because they believe this lie.

I must continually remind myself that I AM ONE BEER AWAY FROM LOSING EVERYTHING!   One beer will lead to a six-pack, will lead to the 12 pack and I will be back on heroin within a month.    So the way I live my life and my suggestion to you is to know within yourself that you can not have a beer, a puff from a marijuana cigarette….  Nothing! Sobriety is a day by day choice…  chose it!

IMG_7233 - Revised

Two of my friends.  Life is good, God is good!

Matthew Feldmeth has been out of prison since June 11, 2015.  He now works full time for UPS, leads the HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS STRAIGHT & NARROW MEN’S GROUP on Friday nights, helping ex-offenders to stay clean, sober, out of jail and mainstreaming back into society.  He is the Chaplain for Hollywood Impact Studios Prison Ministry.  He is happily married living in the San Fernando Valley.  

IRON SHARPENS IRON SERIES – “Preparing For Success While Incarcerated”

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA 

“Preparing For Success While Incarcerated”  by Tony Mendoza

(A moment of realization, and a positive decision!)

I’m Tony Mendoza, it’s 2015 and I’m incarcerated at the L.A. County Jail Pitches Detention Center, for the 20th or so time.

While standing in the “count box” to get my lunch, a group of Sheriff’s deputies and a search dog entered our dorm. They are about to conduct a surprise unannounced search! They’re all done that way. Right away my heart started racing! Are they going to find my extra laundry, boxers, t-shirts, socks? My stash of peanut butter, will they notice I have two mats stacked?

Stressed out over boxers and peanut butter packets!

Realization…“Makes no sense” I finally told myself. “I don’t want to feel this way anymore”

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

When we were allowed back into our dorm it was a mess, looked like a tornado had hit! Piles of random property everywhere. Then the bickering between inmates, sometimes resulting in fights over what belongs to who… all bad!

When the Sheriffs find Contraband in your bunk area they “toss it up” even more looking for additional contraband…those are consequences.

Some bunk areas go untouched.

Decision… At that point I made a decision to “clean up my act.” and that after 20 plus incarcerations in County Jails and three prison terms, I never wanted to come back to jail again. I can start working on that goal RIGHT NOW, even while incarcerated.

 

I can start preparing for success when I get out of here, in the real world, while incarcerated! This is what I did.

No more contraband, no more extra stuff. Everything to code from here on. Start doing the right thing in all things in this jail from here on. If I don’t like the Deputies yelling at me and in front of everyone, don’t give them any reason to. I have the power to take that away from them, it’s my choice. It’s a whole different MINDSET for me.

 

A mindset changed… my mindset!  – I began listening to God and His direction for my life, even while inside.

Everything was different from that day on. No more anxiety when I see cops and the canine squad going into my dorm.  That mindset carried over upon my release.   I have now been out for 5 years and doing the same things.  I have current registration and insurance in the glove box of my car and a driver’s license in my pocket.  I drive the legal speed limit… funny thing, I don’t get pulled over anymore.   It’s amazing what a new mindset will do.  Life is good!  God is good!

DSCF9019

Tony Mendoza was in the 2015 HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS In-Jail Class.   He now works full time for HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS RE-ENTRY and part-time as a music worship leader at New Life Church in Canyon County, California.

 

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – IN JAIL & PROGRAMS UPDATE

IN-JAIL PROGRAM UPDATE:

Hello HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS followers/supporters.    I know it’s been over a month since my last post, so this one is going to cover two stories…  first, in Mid-December, we had our end of semester shoot for semester #29.  We did something a little different.  We invited several of our success stories to come back in and be interviewed.   To explain what they are doing to stay clean and sober and how to stay OUT OF JAIL!

DSC_1946 DSC_2033 DSC_2113

It was so encouraging to our current class to meet all of our alumni…

DSC_2020  DSC_1945 

Including our Chaplain, Matthew Feldmeth.

 DSC_2179

DSC_2160

Here are our Alumni that participated plus Matthew and Josh who had to leave early before we could take this picture so 7 of our graduates were there to help inspire those still inside.

DSC_2143      DSC_1950

Lots of new faces,  Hal, his grandson Logan and…

DSC_2168

our long-time friend, Paul came out to help.  Paul has been on the hit CBS show NCIS for over 10 years.   Thank you to you all!

DSC_2204DSC_1960DSC_2200

Overall, it was just a great day!

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS/LASD ALUMNI PROGRAM –  Update:

Also in Mid December, we did our 9th annual Angel Tree Event.   It’s done by our Alumni group.  We first meet at In N Out Burgers for dinner and fellowship.  Then we gather up gifts purchased by our team and head out to deliver them to the children who have an incarcerated parent.

DSC_2221  DSC_2230 DSC_2234 DSC_2247

New friends came out to help us.   And poor Lawrence had just gotten out of neck surgery but he still showed up.  Said he just couldn’t miss it.   That is dedication.

DSC_2242

It was a great night.  We had two teams go out, Lancaster and Pacoima, handed out gifts to 37 children of incarcerated parents.   We pray events like this will build that healthy relationship between parent and child and help that child to stay on the right path.

DSC_2256 DSC_2241

Thank you to everyone who helped this year!  Hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

 

 

 

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – MIRACLE MOUNTAIN PROGRAM – Update

On the Thursday before Thanksgiving, (November 21st), we hosted 38 freshmen from Santa Clarita Christian School at Miracle Mountain for their service day.   They have come up and helped us clean up our campus every year for the last two years.

DSC_1834   DSC_1837

These young people are amazing!   They all have great hearts, great attitudes of service.

DSC_1844 DSC_1870

And they also love having fun as well…

DSC_1934 DSC_1892

It was such a pleasure to work alongside them.  It encouraged all of our staff about this next generation.                They were so respectful to one another, to their teachers and to the Hollywood Impact Studios Team.

DSC_1884 DSC_1914

DSC_1867

DSC_1897  DSC_1895 

It was a great day!   And we got a lot done.

SC Christian work day

Thank you, Santa Clarita Christian School!

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – IN-JAIL PROGRAM – News & Updates

We just completed our semester #28 end of semester film project.   We decided to do something a little different this time… shoot a music video.  And it actually started a month before.   Our friend, co-worker and former student, Tony Mendoza did an incredible arrangement of the song AMAZING GRACE.   The first thing we had to do was pre-record the song.

DSC_0013    DSC_0001  DSC_0004

We did this at a recording studio at 20th Century Fox.   Much thanks to them for helping us with this.

DSC_0015  DSC_0029  DSC_0033

With the song completed, we set up to do the shoot in our classroom “sound stage” at South Facility.

DSC_0088DSC_0089 DSC_0098

DSC_0055  DSC_0066

The shoot went very well.  We had a little interruption with a 30-minute facility lock-down.  But it all still worked out great.

DSC_0065  DSC_0043DSC_0037

Thank you to 20th Century Fox Sound and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for making all of this possible.

20thCenturyFox[1]   DSC_0159  

Once edited we will be putting this music video on our youtube channel.  Please check out our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1yZgLtp22hdEjY-rxby44w