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We have just begun semester #6 at the Pitchess Detention Center. We’ve decided to do somthing a little different, though. Instead of starting with a brand new class and all new students, we decided to do an “advanced” class using our students from semester #5; a kind of “Hollywood Impact Studio 201” class; building on what they learned last semester. We are having to take on some new student/inmates to make up for those who have left Pitchess. We will be starting with 20 students.

This semester is entitled, “Preparing For Broadcast”. Our student/inmates will edit, title and prepare all of our previous ABOVE THE LINE episodes to “air” on the LASD TV channel hopefully sometime in the summer.

As we’ve said in the past, we want HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS to act like a real studio, not just a school and this is just another step. Next entry we will share some of what God is doing with our guys after they get out.

Thanks for reading the blog…

We just completed our 5th Semester episode of ABOVE THE LINE with special guests Murray Adler, musical contractor for THE SIMPSONS, FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD, and Christine Day, musical casting director for the hit Fox series, GLEE. Thanks so much to both Murray and Christine as well as our host Nikki D’Amico.

If you’re new to this blog, ABOVE THE LINE is an interview show produced at the end of each semester by Hollywood Impact Graduates. This is where our instructors and students trade places. The students, create the set, run the cameras, and adjust the lights as instructors give them one on one, hands-on guidance. Below, Gaffer Daz Reynolds instructs students on lighting.

We are so blessed to have such great instructors…

Putting on the finishing touches…

Christine, Amy and Nikki share a moment together..

We would like to thank Chick fil A of Santa Clarita for their generous contribution of delicious food. The cast and crew loved it! If you’ve not visited their new location at 24180 Magic Mountain Parkway, please go by to say thank you and enjoy one of their many terrific meals. If you don’t live in our area, find your nearest Chick fil A… It’s great food!! It really is. Thanks you so much!!!

It truly was a great day for everyone involved! Praise God for all He is doing through HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS. We’re so happy to be part of it.

We are coming to the end of our fifth semester. We will be shooting our next episode of ABOVE THE LINE on Saturday (1/29/11). It has gone by so fast. Always striving to do a better job, we ask our students at the end of each semester to complete a questionnaire. For all of you who support and work with us, Iwe just wanted to share this note from one of our students…

“I pray that this program will continue to help individuals incarcerated like myself. This program is a true blessing, as well as a life changing experience for me. A father that has gained skills that would cost thousands of dollars, but I receive them for free. I can’t put a price on the knowledge I have gained. I love all of you like brothers and sisters. Thanks again. May God Bless you all.”

Above is a photograph of a tour I gave recently of the Fox Foley Stage. I am often asked, “What is foley and how did it get it’s name?”

Foley is a sound effects technique named after a sound effects editor at Universal Studios, Jack Foley who invented it. Foley Artists, or “Walkers” create live sound effects on a foley stage as the watch the film projected on a screen in front of them. It’s an extremely creative job that takes years to master.

At the end of our screenwriting class, we invited some of our actor friends to come in and read our students scripts.

The actors were amazed how good these short scripts were. Like the professionals they are, they memorized and performed each script beautifully. It brought more than one of our students to tears.

Thank you!

Last week, 33 of our HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS family met at 20th Century Fox for our first annual Christmas lunch. It was held in the Shirley Temple Room of the executive dinning room. Lots of great conversation and catching up with friends we’ve not seen recently.

After lunch we enjoyed a tour of the studio, including the set of BONES and New York Street.

The tour also included the scoring stage and the Foley stage (pictured above). We had such a glorious time. Everyone at HOLLYWOOD IMPACT STUDIOS wishes you a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy 2011!

Derrick Warfel, one of our continuing guest instructors, came in again to teach screenwriting. Derrick is such an incredible teacher. Our students can not stop talking about how much they enjoy and learn in his class. After their first class, he gave them their assignment…”head to the computers to start writing your first script”… Derrick doesn’t just teach them screenwriting though, he also covers how to write magazine articles and short stories.

Once again, Derrick is having them all compete in The Hollywood Impact Studios writing contest. First prize will be awarded. Thanks Derrick.

Last week, Keith Rogers, from Smart Post Sound, came in to teach a class on Pro Tools sound editing and re-recording mixing. For those who might not know, re-recording mixing is the final step in creating the sound track for a motion picture or television show. Re-recording mixers like Keith, combine (or mix) all the final sound effects, dialogue and music. It’s a very creative job and our inmate/students, really enjoyed the information. Just another possible career path. Keith was a terrific teacher. He currently mixes for the Fox show, BONES. In years past he has also worked on such hits as PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.

Thank you Keith!

We’re happy to report that our 20th Century Fox donated computers are all up and running. This is terrific news because now our student/inmates can use them during our screenwriting class and our resume and office skills class. Cyndi worked very hard to make this all happen. The guys couldn’t be happier!

In our last class, “Post Production”, we talked a lot about visual effects. The 20th Century Fox film, AVATAR, of course had a great deal of visual effects in it. Below is a brief clip from Giant Studios (one of the visual effects companies that worked on the film). The reason I’ve included this, is so you can see how actors have to learn to perform, even when everything is make believe. Go to the link below and then scroll down to “Performance Capture”. I think you’ll find it interesting.

http://www.giantstudios.com/avatar.html

Note: To buy the movie AVATAR go to: www.avatarmovie.com