Reflecting on our first year in the Center for Cinematic Arts, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for all that we have accomplished as a center. From the outset, our goal was to cultivate a space where students could explore their creativity, develop their technical skills, and share their unique perspectives through the art of filmmaking. Looking back, it’s clear that we have met these objectives and exceeded them in many ways.

One of the most thrilling moments of the year was seeing two of my student’s stories featured on ABC7 LA news. This recognition underscored our students' talent and hard work and gave them a platform to showcase their work to a broader audience. It was a powerful affirmation of their dedication and the quality of content they can produce. This exposure has inspired our students to push their boundaries and think even more ambitiously about future projects in the Broadcast Journalism realm.

Over the past year, we have completed various projects that demonstrate our students' versatility and range. "The Lancer Beat," our regular news program, has become a cornerstone of the LTV playlist, providing timely updates and engaging features. Our Sports Media Days were a fantastic opportunity for students to experience the fast-paced world of sports journalism and broadcasting, delivering dynamic coverage of our school's athletic events and producing game day media. Additionally, the videos we created for graduation captured the significance of this milestone for our seniors and served as a lasting memento of their achievements.

We are in the final stages of post-production for our feature film, "Ice Cream." This ambitious project has been a labor of love, involving countless hours of planning, filming, and editing. I am incredibly excited for its debut and confident that it will be a testament to our students' creativity, resilience, and growth.

The foundation we’ve laid this year is just the beginning. I am deeply grateful to our students, staff, community, President Perry Martin, and Board of Trustees for their unwavering support and enthusiasm. Together, we will continue to nurture a vibrant, innovative, and inclusive environment where every student can find their voice and share their stories with the world. Here’s to many more years of creativity, collaboration, and cinematic magic in our Center for Cinematic Arts.