Hollywood Pros Help Hathaway-Sycamores’ Teens Write, Cast, and Film Original Movies

Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services’ residential campus in Altadena was recently transformed into a Hollywood movie set replete with professional directors, actors, and crew members. The true stars, however, were a dozen teens – all of whom are contending with serious life challenges – who are either in Hathaway-Sycamores’ residential-treatment program or attending the agency’s non-public school. All had participated in a 10-week program called Kids in the Spotlight (KITS) that culminated in actually filming two short movies that the teens had written.

KITS is a Burbank-based nonprofit that enables struggling youngsters to express themselves through the art of filmmaking and encourages potential interest in movie-industry careers. KITS’ volunteers have been holding scriptwriting and acting workshops twice weekly – since late February – for the Hathaway-Sycamores’ teens. This training resulted in the production of two short films that will be screened on Nov. 7 at KITS’ annual film festival, “Movies by Kids, for Kids.” The Hathaway-Sycamores’ teens can look forward to celebrity treatment, including being decked out in donated gowns and suits, as well as being driven to the event in stretch limos. To be emceed by Modern Family’s Ty Burrell, the event will feature the presentation of acting, writing, and other awards.

On shoot day, Hathaway-Sycamores’ Altadena campus was teeming with silver-screen trappings – lights, cameras, an electrical crew provided by CBS Studios, as well as professional actors and directors. One acting role was assigned to a Hathaway-Sycamores’ teen who excitedly commented, “It was really cool being in a film with professional actors!”