Lights, Camera, Inspiration: Celebrating Our Latest Film Workshop Success!
What an incredible day of creativity, learning, and connection! We recently wrapped up our Online Horror Film Directors Workshop hosted by the Dr. Barbara Seniors Harkins Foundation, and we are still buzzing from the energy of our wonderful community of educators and filmmakers.
From diving deep into the art of storytelling to sharing practical techniques for the classroom and set, our participants brought incredible enthusiasm and passion. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do what we do: empowering the next generation of visual storytellers and supporting the educators who guide them every single day
Thank you for being such a vital part of our community. See you in December!
A massive thank you goes out to our incredible featured guest speakers for sharing their invaluable industry expertise and inspiring our attendees:
Jennifer Liao (Director, TV Show “From”)
Gigi Saul Guerrero (Director, Culture Shock & Blumhouse’s “Into the Dark”)
Raymond Creamer (Goody Goody Film)
Thank you to everyone who attended, engaged, and made the day so special. Your dedication to the craft is what drives our mission forward.
What’s Next? The momentum doesn’t stop here! Mark your calendars because we’ll be back in December with an exciting new session focusing on Film and Television Directors. You won’t want to miss it.
Bring Our Afterschool Photography Program to Your School!
Photography is more than just clicking a button—it’s about teaching young creators how to capture the world through their own unique perspective.
We are thrilled to announce that our Afterschool Photography Program is officially open for bookings to bring hands-on media arts directly to local campuses!
What We Bring to Your Campus
We bring professional gear, expert instruction, and a turnkey curriculum right to you—making high-impact arts enrichment seamless for educators. Students dive into:
- The Fundamentals: Lighting, framing, angles, and visual storytelling.
- Hands-On Practice: Gaining confidence with real camera equipment.
- Portfolios & Showcases: Building creative confidence that culminates in a student gallery exhibition.
- Expert Mentorship: Working alongside experienced media educators.
Whether you want to launch a new enrichment track or expand your arts offerings, our program integrates easily into your school schedule.
Book Your Program Today!
Seasonal schedules fill up quickly. If you’re an administrator, teacher, or parent coordinator, we’d love to tailor an offering for your students.
Get in touch at the Foundation’s website to check availability and equipment packages. Let’s empower the next generation of visual storytellers! From First Drafts to Buddy Comedies: A Conversation with Our Scriptwriting Judge
As part of our ongoing mission at the Dr. Barbara Seniors Harkins Foundation to empower the next generation of visual storytellers, we love looking behind the curtain at the creative process. Writing a screenplay can feel daunting, but every professional writer started on a blank page.
To give our young filmmakers and scriptwriters some insider wisdom, we sat down with one of our esteemed scriptwriting judges, Yael Galena, for a quick Q&A on the art, craft, and inspiration behind writing for the screen.
Q: What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started writing scripts?
“Everyone’s first draft is terrible. They just kept working on it until it wasn’t. Reminding myself of that every time I sit down to write a first draft allows me to be brave enough to fail.”
Q: In three words, what makes a memorable screenplay?
“I’d do it in two: ‘defying expectations’.”
Q: What movie script inspired you to pursue a career in the film industry?
“This is going to sound silly, but Tommy Boy was one of my favorite movies as a teen. I watched it so many times and had so many lines memorized; it made me want to write a buddy comedy, which ended up being the first feature I wrote!”
Keep Writing Your Story
Whether you’re dreaming of writing the next great comedy, an indie drama, or an animated short, remember that every great film starts with the courage to write a messy first draft.
Thank you to our incredible judges and mentors who continue to pour their time, wisdom, and passion into our student creators!
Foundation: Save The Date Events:
October 31: Film Contest Scripts Due!
November: GivingTuesday Fundraiser
November 14: Online Film Screening: “Ms. Doubtfire”
December: Online Film Workshop: Film and Television Directors
Support Us
The foundation accepts donations throughout the year for all of its programs. If you would like to donate to the foundation, please visit our website at https://barbaraseniorsharkinsfoundation.org and click “Support Us” in the top right corner.