On any given Friday, you might imagine the head executive of a Hollywood movie studio jetting from a movie set to meetings with directors and actors and making multi-million dollar deals. However, if you had visited West Adams Prep teacher Mario Galindo's English class on a Friday during the first quarter of 2008, that's where you would have found co-chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment Tom Rothman.
Rothman led an English class in the Media, Film and Arts small school for five weeks, teaching students about the process of how novels are transformed into scripts, and then into movies. Rothman has been an influential figure in the film industry for years, and has been involved in some of the most memorable Hollywood hits, from Romeo & Juliet to X-Men. In 2002, Rothman worked with Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise to produce Minority Report, adapted from Philip K. Dick's short story "The Minority Report" and one of the films Rothman chose to focus on in his class for West Adams students.
Rothman worked directly with West Adams English teacher Mario Galindo to outline for students the process of taking a book to the big screen. Students learned to identify the differences between reading a text and shaping it into a visual medium, and studied the modifications that take place under various interpretations from authors, screenwriters and directors.
In April 2009, Rothman will be honored at MLA's annual gala, and wanted to roll up his sleeves and make an impact for West Adams students. "I wanted to truly be immersed in the school and earn the honor that MLA is awarding me with," Rothman said.
Juggling the responsibilities of a co-chairman, which included an unexpected trip to Australia midway through the quarter, Mr. Rothman bought a fresh approach to the classroom. "He worked very well with the students," said Galindo. "He was in a groove and I just really wanted to step back and let him be comfortable sharing his personal knowledge and experiences."
Throughout the class, Rothman challenged students with the various themes of the class, which included a dystopian vs. utopian worldview and how that theme carries over to a large percentage of science fiction books and movies.
The class culminated with Rothman taking the class on a special field trip to Fox Studios where they had the unique opportunity of watching the film Minority Report in the lot's screening theater. As an added bonus, Steven Spielberg, who Mr. Rothman defined as "the greatest director to ever live," stunned the class with an unexpected visit, which included a question and answer session.
Kevin Lum, Associate Director at West Adams who worked closely to oversee the project, called it a success. "It was great to see how comfortable the students felt with Tom in their classroom," said Lum. "Tom related to the students with ease. Building trust and respect is definitely something that needs to be earned with students and Tom was able to do that. The result was a once in a lifetime experience that they can build upon."
Rothman's goal of making a difference in the lives of these students was a success. His involvement in the class was a unique opportunity that required time away from his day-to-day responsibilities, but was tremendously powerful in providing a perspective into filmmaking held by few.
Go For College - Fall 2008
In its second year at West Adams Prep, Go For College (GFC) continues to deliver essential information to students about higher education. On October 23, 2008, representatives from more than 35 colleges came to the West Adams campus to take part in the event. The day started with a keynote address by LAUSD Board President Mónica GarcÃa. Ms. GarcÃa spoke to over 600 freshmen, recalling her own college experience and advising students about the benefits of having a college education.
Later that day, more than 2,000 sophomores, juniors and seniors attended the GFC fair held on the field. Representatives from Princeton University, Duke University, L.A. Trade Tech, FIDM, CalArts and a host of other colleges and universities spoke with interested students, while nonprofit organizations like the Posse Foundation and Young Black Scholars were present to share important college-related information. Students had the opportunity to test their knowledge of college information and win prizes in a college quiz and raffle.
Sci-Tech Seniors Help to Save Lives
On Friday, October 17, the School of Science and Technology at West Adams Prep hosted a blood drive on campus. Through a partnership with the American Red Cross, students in Eddie Cuevas' 12th grade Advisory managed this important community service event. After educating themselves about the blood donation process, Mr. Cuevas' students made presentations to Advisory classes in an attempt to persuade others to donate blood. During the actual event, the students volunteered in various capacities, including working the canteen, checking in donors at the registration table, and escorting donors to and from their classrooms.
The students' hard work paid off in many ways. Students further developed their leadership, public speaking and event planning skills. They will also receive the service learning requirement needed for graduation. Lastly, and of utmost importance, the blood drive collected 104 units of life saving blood!
West Adams Prep would like to thank Mr. Cuevas and his 12th grade Advisory for managing this large project from start to finish. Special thanks to Cesar Fontanilla and the local chapter of the American Red Cross for the work that they do every day to support the 6 million citizens of Los Angeles County. To learn more about the American Red Cross and how you can help, visit www.redcrossla.org.
Creative Artists Agency Hosts Power Lunch
On October 15, MLA board members Rick Hess of CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and Erik Feig of Summit Entertainment welcomed West Adams students from the School of Media, Film and Art to a pre-screening of a highly anticipated film slated to be released this Thanksgiving holiday. Also present for this visit were screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and production executive Gillian Bohrer. Following the screening, students were able to ask questions to the professionals involved in the film's creation and gain insight about the filmmaking process and the business of developing and marketing films. Finally, lunch was served in one of CAA's large conference rooms where the students enjoyed sitting in the executives' chairs and the ambiance as they continued their career discussions with their hosts.
The Power Lunch was the kick-off to a new class, "REWIND," being offered through the 7 to 7 program. The class will explore the journey filmmakers take to become successful in the entertainment business. From set designers to cinematographers, the class will feature top industry professionals who will give students a personal account of their career highlights.
Thanks to all who made this day a very memorable one for our students!
Two-Day College Symposium Delivers Key Information
For a first-generation college student, going to college can seem impossible. With so many decisions to make, such as choosing the right school, how to pay for tuition, or whether to travel out of state, high school students and their parents are often overwhelmed.
Recently, three of the country's top liberal arts colleges visited West Adams Prep and Manual Arts high schools to offer key information and advice about going to college and help ease the concerns of students and their parents. Middlebury College, Williams College and Amherst College hosted a two-day symposium on September 30 and October 1 to discuss various college choices, how to apply for financial aid, and scholarships and grants. In addition, the college representatives, knowing firsthand the support needed for students attending colleges outside of the Los Angeles area, spoke with students and parents about the various types of assistance available for students living away from home.
With over 130 attendees, the workshops offered hope and encouragement as seniors at West Adams and Manual Arts work hard to finalize college applications and personal statements, and look for creative ways to secure funds to pay for college.
Organized in conjunction with MLA's Go For College Initiative, the symposium was one of many events to take place throughout the school year, offering students a personalized opportunity to discover the right college options for them.
MLA's Go For College Initiative was launched with the belief that whether or not college is for everyone, the choice to go certainly should be. This comprehensive effort creates a college-going culture within large public high schools that have a history of neglect and low performance.
On Friday, October 17, the School of Science and Technology at West Adams Prep hosted a blood drive on campus. Through a partnership with the American Red Cross, students in Eddie Cuevas' 12th grade Advisory managed this important community service event. After educating themselves about the blood donation process, Mr. Cuevas' students made presentations to Advisory classes in an attempt to persuade others to donate blood. During the actual event, the students volunteered in various capacities, including working the canteen, checking in donors at the registration table, and escorting donors to and from their classrooms.
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