Hollywood’s Heartbeat: Empowering Youth Through Filmmaking

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Too often, the systems set in place to support foster and opportunity youth fail, leaving them unhoused, imprisoned, or without a voice. LA’s youth— particularly those impacted by foster care— are left to fend for themselves without a support network, and those who care are left without a straightforward way to help. Typically, foster youth who’ve aged out of the system face several barriers to employment compared to their non-foster peers. This pattern of unemployment can lead to a lack of stable housing or homelessness, poor academic performance, and low educational attainment, as well as leaving youth with limited work histories and job training. Even when youth formerly in foster care are employed, they typically earn less than their peers and face multiple barriers to securing and maintaining meaningful employment. While efforts are being made to address these challenges by the state and LA County, continued support is crucial for these youth as they transition into adulthood.

KITS offers unique support to youth impacted by foster care, inspiring opportunity and healing through film. Despite our youth's adversity, KITS’ programming offers a positive pathway, enhancing resilience. Once we’ve provided training to help youth write, cast, and star in their own short films, our focus shifts to creating sustainable employment opportunities for these emerging adults through our Production Studio with Purpose (PSWP). The PSWP primarily operates as a workforce development hub where older, transition-age foster and opportunity youth, ages 18-24, can further obtain filmmaking skills that lead to paid work in the film industry. KITS takes a multi-pronged approach to meet the complex needs of these youth, including arts and filmmaking education, mentorship from teaching arts and staff, job training, and wraparound services that help address and overcome trauma. KITS envisions a pipeline of Black and Brown entertainment industry leaders achieving higher education, economic stability, and community leadership. We combat racism in Hollywood and the carceral system by investing in the untapped potential of youth. We empower them with tools to transform negative outcomes like imprisonment and unemployment into wholeness, wellness and employment. By offering industry training, employment, and mental health support, we ensure full and equal participation of Black and Brown Americans in economic life, retaining program alumni as integral parts of this pipeline.

If our work at Kids In The Spotlight and our Production Studio with Purpose is successful, several positive changes could be expected: More capable, confident, creative, and employable youth who are empowered with skills in filmmaking & media production
Increased industry engagement and mentorship from film/TV professionals, nurturing the next generation of filmmakers and promoting community support Direct contributions to diverse and inclusive media representation, enriching cultural understanding and storytelling across LA County Economic growth through career pathways in entertainment, benefiting residents and industries Strengthened community bonds through the involvement of families, caretakers, and local organizations, celebrating cultural and creative achievements Reduced number of youth going into the homeless & prison population Our success can significantly enrich LA County’s cultural, social, and economic fabric by empowering youth and diversifying media perspectives.

Since 2009, KITS has served over 1000 foster and opportunity youth and produced over 100 films. Programming evaluation thus far has indicated success, with 100% of our participants being connected to entertainment industry jobs and professionals who could potentially hire them. Upon completion of our screenwriting program, 73% of 2023 participants said they are interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. The success of our work in 2023 was made even more apparent when KITS: provided over 356 youth with direct career exploration opportunities, celebrated 3 college graduations for former foster youth participants, a grip certification, and a graduation from New York Film Academy, and created direct payments of over $220,000 to our alums. Now, KITS is planning a Registered Apprenticeship Program that will allow us to further our impact and increase business to our Production Studio with the goal of empowering our youth and allowing industry pros to give back.