Hollywood Heart - The Movie Team

Click above to see the
Movie Team South Africa
Promo or the completed
film 'The World is Full
of Consequences'.

Six years, thirty-five films, one goal: to provide children with encouragement and acceptance through a collaborative and creative movie making program.

Hidden Revenge

More crazy fun was had at the final Movie Team of 2006 when Hollywood Heartland campers and Coach Art kids joined forces to make "HIDDEN REVENGE." Armed with their vivid imaginations and a full volunteer crew, the seven youngsters produced a rollicking flick about a famous rapper saddled with some "princess" nieces to mind, while his resentful younger brother tries to derail his career. Two female singers go head to head in a jealous spat, until they realize that the villain is playing mischief with them too. All is resolved in the end with two fabulous video performances, a girly shopping spree - and the bad guy languishing in jail. The film was directed by Jeff Melnick and edited by Movie Surfers' editor Steve Friedland in time for a gala premiere party, complete with hair & make-up stylists, on December 10th at Raleigh Studios.

Hollywood HEART in the Hollywood Reporter:

Our second annual collaboration with CineVegas was another smashing success! The kids of The Reynolds Unit Boys & Girls Club of LV made a movie about some trailer park gals with a fondness for Ashton Kutcher, a rapper who would be president and some alien interlopers called RAP THE VOTE! which screened at this year's annual CineVegas Film festival on June 11. CineVegas generously sponsored the entire Movie Team project and we look forward to returning to the desert for another partnership next spring.

June 16th 1976 - Soweto Township, South Africa:

a group of young students protesting the new laws that would force them to learn Afrikaans in school, march in the streets and are met with force by the SA police. Firing upon the children, the police kill dozens and the resulting riots spawn even more violence and death - but also more determination than ever by people of conscience in SA and around the world to end the system of institutional racism known as Apartheid.

This day has become Youth Day in South Africa and Hollywood HEART was very honored and privileged to be invited by the Cape Town Film Commission to take part in the 30th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising on Youth Day 2006. David Gale joined Executive Director Lisa Cavanaugh and program coordinator Nichole Sepulveda on a trip to CPT for a whirlwind few weeks of speeches, celebrations, radio & TV interviews and most importantly, two Movie Team projects with children from the area's foster home & townships. We worked with many wonderful film industry professionals organized by production companies Ground Glass & The Imaginarium and the post production facility Condor Cape. The resulting films are two of MT's most heartrending, dealing with some very serious issues such as alcoholism, homelessness & child abuse. But with the spirit of joy that is ever present in the children of South Africa and in grand Movie Team tradition, both movies ended on a positive note with singing, dancing and laughter.

We will be returning to Africa in June 2007.

The Movie Team became an independent program in 2001 after years of success as part of the Camp Pacific Heartland programming. A unique filmmaking workshop, The Movie Team utilizes the film industry background of its founders, board members and volunteers to give children the opportunity to write, direct, produce and star in their very own short films.

This hands-on approach, in which kids actively participate in the challenges of filmmaking, gives children and adolescents the chance to feel productive, collaborative, creative and proud of their final films. In creating The Movie Team, Hollywood HEART has broadened its impact beyond children affected by the AIDS virus to include any deserving child who has the desire to experience the magic of filmmaking.

Because Hollywood HEART is a Los Angeles-based organization, it can easily tap into key resources to insure successful Movie Team programs. Professional screenwriters, directors, actors, cinematographers, editors, make-up artists, and costume designers are among are regular volunteers. Children actively participate by brainstorming for script ideas, learning about plot, dialogue, and theme, creating their costumes and make-up design, learning how to use camera and sound equipment, designing props and scenery, and finally starring in their very own original film. Once the movie is complete the kids are invited to an exclusive screening and after-party, usually at a real Hollywood studio, where they receive a VHS or DVD copy of their film to take home.

There are two versions of The Movie Team program: a three day intensive workshop or a one to two hour class held weekly during a four to nine week program. Hollywood HEART has worked with established organizations including the Hollygrove Residential Facility for orphaned, abused and neglected children and the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood, to tailor The Movie Team experience to meet the specific needs of their children. Many of these children have later credited The Movie Team program with keeping them off the streets and out of trouble.

Each Movie Team programs costs an average of $4000, which is funded completely by Hollywood HEART, to cover the expenses of hiring a coordinator and a production assistant; meals for the children and volunteers; rental of various camera and sound equipment; costumes and make-up; van rental for transportation; cost of script copies and other administrative expenses; editing, screening, and video dubbing costs; and insurance. Hollywood HEART brings The Movie Team to the partnering organizations and the programs are free of charge to the children served.