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

 

MIRACLE MOUNTAIN PROGRAM – News & Updates

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS’ – MIRACLE MOUNTAIN PROGRAM just completed its first brush abatement/fire prevention school taught by retired LACoFD Fire Captain, Darryl Coe.

DSC_9216   DSC_9228   DSC_9099

  DSC_9151   DSC_8970Fire Camp #9

Darryl did an outstanding job.   This in-depth class taught our students the proper way, the LACoFD way, of clearing brush for maximum fire prevention.

DSC_9038  DSC_9002 DSC_9013

DSC_9007Fire Camp #2

Thanks for Darryl, our chainsaw class was taught by F.S.A. Nathan Sotro, who was amazing.   He taught everything from the proper maintenance to the safe operation of a chainsaw.

DSC_9210  DSC_9181

Our class even got a demonstration from a real fire camp.   These guys were incredible.

  Adrienne ChainsawDSC_9273DSC_8987    DSC_9124  DSC_9144 DSC_9255  DSC_9293

This class was held over a two week period, was a lot of fun, we learned a ton and also had some great team building.   We hope our HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS FIRE PREVENTION TEAM can do their part to help make this fire season a little better than last years.

Fire Camp #7

Thank you to Mission College Re-Entry Hub for sending over Julio Catalan.   Our guys have already started working!   They just finished their third job; putting money in their pockets and making Santa Clarita a little safer against wildfires.   Much thanks to the County of Los Angeles 5th District, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and of course Retired Fire Captain Darryl Coe!

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS/ALUMNI PROGRAM – News & Updates

Last week the HIS/LASD Tues night Alumni Group attended a TERRIFIC cooking class taught by Grace Baptist Church member , Janiece Dixon.

DSC_8967      DSC_8918

We learned how to make breakfast and even how to flip an egg in the pan without it hitting the floor.

DSC_8932 DSC_8934

DSC_8922  DSC_8951

We then moved on to learning how to cook lunch… everyone had a great time and Janiece is such an amazing fun cooking teacher.   Really great food too!

DSC_8938 DSC_8947

DSC_8957DSC_8928

Janiece then moved on to cooking dinner… an even taught everyone the proper way to set a dining table.

DSC_8952 DSC_8907

What a great class and a great time!   Thank you so much Janiece and Grace Baptist Church for hosting this amazing class. “Grace 2 you”.

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

We had a terrific semester #27 “End of Semester Shoot” last month.  For those who may be new to this blog, at the end of each 12 week semester, we bring in a ton of grip, electric, sound, and camera equipment along with a lot of our Hollywood professionals friends.  All of whom volunteer to work with our students to help them build a set and produce a half-hour program.  You can see some of our past ones on our YouTube Channel.

Closer up of HIS   DSC_8298

We turn our classroom in barracks 42 into a TV studio.

DSC_8366  DSC_8316

This semesters shoot was of a radio podcast from our Straight & Narrow program.  Three of our guys, Charlie, Matthew & Tony, all of whom have been out for a long time, give advice on how to stay out of jail /prison and how to stay clean and sober.

DSC_8302 DSC_8352

DSC_8154  DSC_8400  DSC_8186

Our student crew did an amazing job!   We had a lot of fun and lots of laughter.

DSC_8542  DSC_8261  DSC_8273

DSC_8595

We really did have a great day.  Thank you to all of our volunteers, to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department and of course God!

 

8th ANNUAL ANGEL TREE – 2018

Our 8th Annual Angel Tree Gift Giving Event was a great evening of fun, fellowship but most of all giving gifts and showing God’s love to those children in need.  For those who may not know, Angel Tree is a ministry of Prison Fellowship.   Volunteers go out and buy gifts for children with an incarcerated parent.   Statics show that keeping a relationship between an incarcerated parent and their children greatly reduce the chance of those children going to jail or prison.

As in past years, we start out at In N Out Burgers for dinner and fellowship.    One of the neat things about this is that we get to connect with past Hollywood Impact Studio friends that we may not have seen since last year.   It’s a time to catch up and hear their success stories.  Praise God!   Thank you to In N Out for your excellent food and service.

DSC_0173 DSC_0200

DSC_0215 DSC_0220

Then after a great meal, we loaded onto the Grace Baptist bus and Eden Ministries van and headed to Pacoima.  Thank you Grace Baptist Church and Eden Ministries for allowing us to use your vehicles and to Bob Amstutz for volunteering to drive the bus.

DSC_0263 DSC_0272

We delivered gifts to (5) family, 15 children.   We also had a fun time singing some Christmas carols through the neighborhoods.  We may not have the greatest voices, but it is all to God’s Glory.

DSC_0277DSC_0313

And we had our annual end of the evening photograph of everyone.  Again what a great evening.   Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who pray for this ministry.

DSC_0332

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!   Excited to see what God does through this ministry in 2019!

 

 

 

 

 

 

#GIVING TUESDAY 2018

 

2018-Giving-Tuesday-Logo

BLACK FRIDAY, SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, CYBER MONDAY…. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER…

#GIVING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2018

 #GivingTuesday 2018 funds will benefit THE NON-PROFIT, FAITH-BASED,  HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS REHABILITATION & VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER/MIRACLE MOUNTAIN, helping those people coming out of jail, prison and long-term drug recovery programs to become substance free, morally strong, vocationally trained so they may return to society as productive citizens. 

As we begin to open our vocational training center we are in great need of funding.   Please remember us this holiday season by giving 

Please support us using our online Givelify account:  https://giv.li/0dknyq

Wishing you a Blessed and Peace-filled Thanksgiving.   We have much to be thankful for.

Blessings,

Gary & Cyndi Hall

and the entire HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS team

Members: Guidestar (Non-Profit version of the BBB)

Miracle Mountain

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – ALUMNI & MIRACLE MOUNTAIN – News & Update

I know it’s been a very long since we have updated the blog…  Lots going on.   All good.

First on HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – IN-JAIL PROGRAM. We finished semester #26  with a terrific shoot.   We interviewed producer Ardon Albrecht who was one of the original producers on the THIS IS THE LIFE series.   This interview will go on the next DVD as bonus material.    Here are some photos from the shoot.

DSC_9938 DSC_9663DSC_9598

One very exciting fact about this particular shoot is that we had three of our formerly incarcerated guys as part of this project mentoring currently incarcerated guys.   Love this MINISTRY!

DSC_9937 DSC_9719 DSC_9703 DSC_9646   DSC_9998

It was a great shoot!   We’re down for this month and then will start semester #27 in November.

Next, our ALUMNI PROGRAM is going well and we’ve added THE STRAIGHT & NARROW MEN’S GROUP led by our Chaplain Matthew Feldmeth.  After several meetings, we had a pizza party to help bound this group of men.

20180817_192900 Straight & Narrow Men's Group

MIRACLE MOUNTAIN –  we now have an agreement with the County of Los Angeles to begin our vocational training center on the lower compound.   We’re preparing it for students and now accepting applications.

IMG_0596

It’s been a great few months.   We will try to update our blog a little more often.   Thank you for your support!

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – News & Updates

Recently we had 20 high school students from Santa Clarita Christian School come up to help us clean up and prepare for the pending rain.

DSC_7825   DSC_7826

What great, hardworking kids….

DSC_7832DSC_7904

All were very polite and had great attitudes too.

DSC_791720180222_132137

Thank you, SANTA CLARITA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL!!

 

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – ALUMNI – News & Update

Our HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS/LASD ALUMNI CONTINUUM (wow that’s a mouth full) continues to grow.  For those who may not know, this is a support group for those family members who have someone who is incarcerated and for those who have gotten out of jail and prison.  It’s a safe place to discuss everything.  Help with jobs, housing, and everyday struggles.   We meet every Tuesday night from 7 PM to 9 PM at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita.

For the past seven years, we have gone out and supported Angel Tree, (a ministry of Prison Fellowship).   We go out buy Christmas gifts for children of the incarcerated and give those gifts to the children making sure they know it is from their incarcerated parent.   Research has shown that if you keep a relationship between the child of an incarcerated parent and their parent intact, the chances of that child ending up in jail/prison drops dramatically.

DSC_7650DSC_7647DSC_2167

Our annual tradition is to meet at In N Out Burgers for dinner.

DSC_7638  DSC_7644

Then we load into vans and head out to sing Christmas carols and deliver the gifts.

DSC_7660

It was a great night.   We had 22 Hollywood Impact-ers volunteer for this year’s event.

DSC_7668

Thanks to all who helped.  And thank you to Prison Fellowship for offering this ministry.

HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS – #GIVING TUESDAY!

 Helping people coming out of prison with Recovery, Vocational Training in a faith-based environment

BLACK FRIDAY, SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, CYBER MONDAY…. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER…

#GIVING TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017

 #GivingTuesday 2017 funds will benefit THE NON-PROFIT, FAITH-BASED,  HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS REHABILITATION & VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER/MIRACLE MOUNTAIN, helping those people coming out of jail, prison and long-term drug recovery programs to become substance free, morally strong, vocationally trained so they may return to society as productive citizens. 

As we begin to open our vocational training center we are in great need of funding.   Please remember us this holiday season by giving 

Please support us using our online Givelify account:  https://giv.li/0dknyq

Wishing you a Blessed and Peace-filled Thanksgiving.   We have much to be thankful for.

Blessings,

Gary & Cyndi Hall

and the entire HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS team

 

Members: Guidestar (Non-Profit version of the BBB)