High School's Student Film Fest Also Raises Funds

Renaissance High School of the Arts' student films will be screened Saturday night in a festival that also aims to save the very program in which their videos were made.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the screenings begin at 7 p.m. at Renaissance, located at 235 E. 8th Street, in Long Beach. Tickets may be purchased with cash for $8 adults, $6 for students. Hot dogs, desserts and drinks will be sold, along with opportunity drawings for dozens of $50 gift cards, dinners, and a $50 brick.

Concessions will be offered, and the opportunity to purchase an engraved $50 brick for a campus walkway, the proceeds of which go toward a balance of $4,900 to save the video production program.

Two parents have managed already to raise $21,000 of the cost the district required toward keeping the teacher of the program - at the district's arts high school. Parents selling t-shirts for "The Wedding Singer" production by Renaissance High said the school's guitar and chorus programs have already been cut in district budget slashes.

Some of the film entries in the second annual festival include: a) Split Chances; b) One by One; c) Fool’s Pursuit; d) Dark Obsession; e) Rachel’s Repose; and more.

On site, festival announcement reads, will be "the head of the Film & Video Production program, Mr. Richard Hilgenberg, a well-recognized educator, beloved by students and faculty. Before the event, and at intermission there will be concessions sold in the Renaissance quad, along with other fun and Opportunity Drawings. All proceeds collected will go to the Long Beach Education Foundation for the Save RHSA Video Production program."

Janice Reeder, whose son attends Renaissance, has been a lead in the video program fundraising, and writes:

 "I'm a parent of a RHSA video production student.  With the help of one other wonderful parent, Leslie Gilpin, we have raised over $21,000.00 to help keep the Video Production program at RHSA.  I still need to raise $4,900.00 to meet the amount due to the district for 1 class, for 1 school year (2012-2013) of Video Production.  It was a very large undertaking but we did it for the better good of the school and the well deserving RHSA students.  Next school year is in question if there will be enough money to keep the Video Production program at RHSA.  It would be great if you could do an article about this program. I have attached a letter you can post to your readers.  It includes the engraved brick information and a link to another story that was posted in the Grunion newspaper and newamericamedia.org  http://newamericamedia.org/2012/04/successful-video-arts-program-on-chopping-block-at-inner-city-school-in-long-beach.php.  

Brick orders can be made with a check payable to:  Long Beach Eduction Foundation (LBEF) note on check: RHSA engraved brick and send it to 1515 Hughes Way, Long Beach, Ca. 90810, or it can be paid by credit card at http://www.lbschools.net/Community/Education_Foundation/Donations/index.cfm  choose the drop down menu RHSA –Engrave Brick.

We are hoping to raise money at this Saturday June 1, Film Festival.  My son and I will be presenting at the LBUSD Board Meeting June 4, about RHSA Video Production.  We hope the community will be able to make donations to keep the program at RHSA next school year."