Afterschool Cornucopia

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education provided equipment and mentoring to Judy Richter, Director of Afterschool Cornucopia. The equipment, a SONY camera package, was used by Ms. Richter to document the El Marino Language School’s Mexican Exchange Program. A group of ten 5th grade students from California spent a month in Guadalajara, Mexico learning Spanish and more about the culture of their Latin American neighbors.

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Angel in a Red Hat

Filmmaker Heather Visali Malo is documenting the philosophy and challenges of caregiver, Frances Lessard, who provides care, guidance and mentoring to mentally challenged individuals. Heather’s goal is to produce a documentary to inspire and celebrate anyone has ever responded to the needs of others.

Since ANGEL IN A RED HAT is a work in progress, Heather thought we would enjoy a bit of summer fun on a New England beach. Enjoy.

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Answers 4 Dancers

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education provided support and mentoring to two aspiring videographers, Carmen Orange and Clifton Parish. They documented the daily lives of a small group of professional back-up dancers and filmed a one-day instructional seminar conducted by Mr. Grover Dale of Answers 4 Dancers. Clifton Parish continued on as editor of the documentary, mentored by Keith Lawrence. The completed documentary and the filmed seminar was made available to the general public and the dance community to increase awareness of the challenges of and opportunities available in the dance world.

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Camp Bravo

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education mentored two aspiring videographers, Melinda McKee and Brandy Tseu, both alumni of the Camp Bravo experience, to document the 4-week performing arts camp that is held each year in Big Bear, California. They were taught basic camera and filming techniques. Brandy, mentored under Keith Lawrence, edited a short documentary on the experience of the camp.

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Debbie Allen Dance Academy

Throughout 4 seasons of partnership with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) MPI chronicled their outreach programs, which include: The Summer Dance Intensive, Tap Fest, Hip-Hop Festival, and their Winter Production. Staff members filmed and edited promotional fund-raising DVDs and taught students and staff of the academy how to create their own productions. The resulting productions are being used as tools for fund-raising. Thousands of young people and talented professionals in the fields of entertainment and dance have been served through our work with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.

Debbie Allen Dance Academy Intensive

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education partnered with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) and provided scholarships to two members of the Y0! Watts Program, Myeisha Smith and Tierra Alexander. As they completed the Debbie Allen Summer Intensive Dance Workshop, Brooke Minters, a young and aspiring filmmaker, documented their participation and successes in the program. A documentary of Brooke’s experiences as a videographer before, during, and after the workshop was produced. A 3-camera shoot of the final dance performance was produced. As a gift by the MPI to the DADA, Tap Fest 2004 was also filmed.

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Documenting Brundibar

The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education provided training and guidance to 4 young videographers, Michael Stampler, Nadia Kent, Phil Baitzel, and Cayetano “Cookie” Chavez, and one producer, Ali Franzen, as they learned the art of documentary filmmaking. They filmed the rehearsal process and performance of the children’s opera, Brundibar, which was produced by the Madison Theatre Project in association with the LA Opera. Their work resulted in a 6-minute short film about the experience. A second, longer documentary version was prepared under the supervision of Hugh Munro Neely.

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Exceptional Children’s Foundation, Mentally Disabled Worksite

In partnership with SONY Entertainment, the program served: 40 people directly + 350 who were touched by or involved in the process in one way or another. This was a life-changing experience for all who participated, including our own staff members. The resulting DVD production raised $750,000 for the Exceptional Children’s Foundation.

George Eastman House / Selznick School

for Film Restoration Training Program

MPI trained students and teachers of the Selznick School for Film Restoration on a new approach to film restoration and promotion of the restoration process. The training resulted in a DVD to be used in their grant proposal process. Our program also directly resulted in a change to the way the Eastman house approached film restoration and the teaching of film restoration.

Hope Center High School

This outreach program served 20 at-risk Compton youth, all on probation. The MPI taught how to express themselves through the medium of filmmaking and storytelling. They learned that they are important and that they have a voice. The participants discovered that there are tools available to them that can facilitate their ability to make themselves heard in a creative and important way.

John Burrows Middle School

This outreach program served 150 Los Angeles students. Our Mobile Film Classroom was introduced to them on their Career Day as the Audio Visual component of the event.

Mobile Film Classroom

The Mobile Film Classroom was conceptualized, designed and built by the Mary Pickford Institute as an educational opportunity on wheels.  In this complete mobile production unit equipped with cameras, editing bays, sound booth, and DVD production equipment, instructors guide students through the film creation process as they discover the art of storytelling through digital media.  MFC represents a revolutionary way of teaching in the digital age - one that is immediate, relevant and current.  Since its inception in early 2006 the Mobile Film Classroom has served over 5000 Los Angeles area elementary, middle and high school students.  

Montgomery County School District

This ongoing program plans to serve 5,000 Maryland students ages 11 to 12 years. The goal is to teach children about film history, silent films, the story of The Poor Little Rich Girl and its literary significance as an American novel and feature film. This special study will culminate in their attendance at Strathmore Hall where the National Philharmonic Orchestra will perform live to accompany a screening of Mary Pickford’s The Poor Little Rich Girl.

Moving Arts

With the rapid decline of arts and physical education opportunities for today’s youth, many go through school and beyond without the benefits of performing arts and dance. Moving Arts is a program designed for teens and young adults to explore the physicality of communication through dance and creative movement. A vital element also included education on the importance of exercise and nutrition. These 2006 workshops were taught to a diverse group of teens and young adults at Cornerstone Theater Company in downtown Los Angeles, and were documented by a student filmmaker under a mentor.

Point Fermin Elementary School

This outreach program served 30 San Pedro 3rd graders. This was the first time any of these children experienced the art of filmmaking. Our presence, through the Mobile Film Classroom, not only inspired these young students but also changed the way the teaching staff looked at our state-of-the-art approach to teaching and storytelling. Our presence and program has helped the school educators in revising their curriculum.

Santa Monica College

This outreach program served 250 SMC 4th of July Celebration attendees directly and informed over 1,000 people of our programs through the distribution of our brochures and flyers. The Mobile Film Classroom was on display as we interviewed and filmed close to 1,000 visitors during the event.

Sheriff’s Learning Academy

This outreach program served 35 at-risk Lynwood youth directly and continues to have a far-reaching effect on future members of the Learning Academy. Due to the influence of the Mobile Film Classroom the school administration directly changed their approach to education and their curriculum.

Story Project

This outreach program served 60 at-risk youth in South Central LA. We worked directly with the Story Project staff and their gang intervention program. MPI taught them filmmaking and story telling skills.

Story Project I

This was a program to excite young writers by teaching them a new way of telling a story. Through the music video concept, six students from The Story Project, an educational non-profit foundation, participated in a ‘Filmmakers’ Boot Camp’ at The Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education. Partnered in teams of two, the teens produced three, 3-minute public service-style announcements. The first project was completed in March 2004.

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Story Project II

Modeled after the success of The Story Project I, The Story Project II saw the return of three original participants, Anthony Emanuel, Don Tisby, and Trechelle Ratcliff as seasoned mentors to a new group of partnered teens. They produced three new 3-minute public service-style announcements. The second ‘Filmmakers’ Boot Camp’ was finalized and completed in November 2004.

Story Project III

MPI and The Story Project teamed together once again to assist the first year TV production class at Centennial High School in Compton, CA by providing this class of 30 teens with the equipment and mentoring necessary to create a multi-part TV news magazine called, What’s Right With Compton.  The program featured news and poetry about students’ lives, the city of Compton and Centennial High School.

10,000 Kids and a Cop

MPI partnered with The Fort Lee Film Commission of Fort Lee, New Jersey, to introduce the art of filmmaking to teens at the Lou Costello Youth Center in Los Angeles. 2006 marked the 100th anniversary of comedian Lou Costello's birth, who created this recreational facility for underprivileged youth back in 1940. Shortly after, Lou produced 10,000 Kids and a Cop, a short film about the center. To honor his memory, MPI and The Fort Lee Film Commission mentored teens as they wrote and produced their own version of life at the Youth Center today.

Tri-City High School

This outreach program served 20 at-risk Compton youth teaching them the art of filmmaking and storytelling. Students learned they have a voice and the tools to make themselves valuable members of their communities.