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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.

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!!

On January 18, 2012, we held our graduation for the semester #8 class. It was our largest class ever. We had (16) graduates and gave certificates of appreciation to (8) of our teacher’s aids. Congratulations men!

We will be holding interviews for semester #9 soon. We are looking forward to seeing how God moves in these men’s lives and the lives of their families.

In memory of our dear friend and brother,Brandon “Chandler”, we had our very first “CHANDLER’S DAY OUT”. We came up with the name, because Chandler used to love taking our graduates out for lunch, a movie, or go out with a video camera to continue their education.

So about (3) weeks ago we met at CHICK FIL A, (one of our supporters), had some great tasting lunch, jumped in the HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS van with a bunch of our guys and drove down highway 126 with both a still camera and a video camera and let the guys see what they could photograph. Below is some of their work…

Great job guys! It was a really fun day, can’t wait for the next one.

Last week, (19) of our Alumni Group met at In & Out Burgers in Newhall for our first ever Angel Tree gift giveaway.

Angel Tree is a ministry of Prison Fellowship, which allows those who are incarcerated to buy Christmas Gifts for their children. Studies have found that if you can keep a relationship between incarcerated parents and their children intact this will help to keep those children from ending up behind bars… Angel Tree coordinates with volunteers to go out and buy and then deliver those Christmas gifts to the children, always reminding them that the gifts are from their fathers (or mothers). (www.angeltree.org)

We found out that one of the kids had moved to Oakland. Not wanting to disappoint that child, we drove up to Oakland and dropped off our last gift.

It was a great time of fellowship. Thanks to everyone who was involved. We look forward to what God will do with HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS in 2012. We wish everyone a Happy New Year.

We were very blessed a couple of weeks ago to have composer, John Graham, come in and teach a class. John is an accomplished film and Television composer. The guys loved the interaction and hearing exactly how John composes his scores. To hear some of John music go to:

www.johngrahammusic.com

Thank you so much John!

We’ve started our hands-on camera class with Ryan Sheridan. Ryan is an accomplished Director of Photography and technical guru who works for the world famous, Otto Nemenz Camera in Hollywood. The guys are absolutely loving Ryan’s class. His enthusiasm is contagious. He’s a terrific instructor who we’re lucky to have.

Otto Nemenz has graciously loaned HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS an entire camera package. Thank you so much Otto Nemenz Cameras and thank you Ryan for all you do.

As a tribute to our good friend and instructor, Brandon “Chandler”, who passed away last May, we held our first “Chandler’s Day Out.” Chandler used to enjoy taking HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS graduates out for a day… Maybe it would be a movie, maybe it would be doing some filming.

Our classes are going very well. We are now a couple of weeks into Editing (taught by Stan), Typing & Computers (taught by Cyndi and Scott), beginning acting (taught by Chris and Josh) and “The Careers of Television” (taught by Gary).

In the next couple of weeks we will be starting camera class, creative editing, new technologies as well as having a composer come in to discuss writing music for the screen.

Stan and I shared a fun moment during one of our classes. Really looking forward to the coming weeks.

We’ve had a very busy past two weeks… We said goodbye and congratulations to our graduating semester #7 class. We had (10) graduates and gave certificates of appreciation to (4) of our teacher’s aids. Right before our graduation we…

…welcomed our brand new semester #8 class. We currently have (35) students and (8) teacher’s aids.

We are all really looking forward to the next (12) weeks of instruction to see how God is going to move in these men’s lives and the lives of their families.