As a Teacher I founded the Video Production program at Millikan Middle School & Performing Arts Magnet in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and as a result, I’ve had the incredible honor of teaching hundreds of 7th and 8th grade students how to write, direct and edit their own movies. And we’ve enjoyed a good deal of success. In 2008, Millikan students screened their videos in multiple film festivals across the country and won numerous awards, including Best Science Film at the Video in the Classroom Awards. We also had some incredible speakers visit the program to share their knowledge of professional filmmaking. This year, our guests included music composer, Jorge Patrono; casting director, Julie Solomon ; and the Oscar-winning director of Rocky and The Karate Kid, John Avildsen.
 Students at the
Video in the Classroom (VIC) Awards
Millikan filmmakers at
the Digital Voice Awards
Q & A with students at the Silverlake Film Festival
Millikan Video at the
Echo Park Film Center
Still from the powerful
short documentary “Open Wounds”
Still from the music video
“Lean Like a Cholo”
Audience at the
Millikan Student Film Festival
Schmoozing with great parents
 of outstanding students
 
Millikan students gather shots for their newest masterpiece
Casting director, Julie Solomon, leads video students through a practice casting session  
Two Millikan visionaries flash the hardware after winning a Video In the Classroom Award
Renowned film director, John Avildsen, helps a student improve his script
Millikan students learn about
a professional 35mm camera
Pow!  Getting trigger time with the same gear as a major Hollywood production
Still from from the Digital Voice Award winner, “The Tell-tale iPod”
Still from the hit video “Birdy”