Just-Us Film Lab: Healing Through the Lens

Access to tech and creative industry employment

Antelope Valley

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

The Antelope Valley, despite being part of LA County’s booming creative economy, lacks accessible career pathways in film and media, especially for underrepresented youth. Nearly 60% of AV residents identify as BIPOC, yet youth here face high rates of disconnection from school and work, limited access to technology infrastructure, and few local industry opportunities. The Just-Us Film Lab addresses this gap by offering a culturally relevant, workforce-centered media arts program that equips youth with technical skills, creative confidence, and industry exposure. The Antelope Valley currently has no initiative that combines filmmaking, mental wellness, and career development. As LA’s creative sector grows, the AV must not be left behind. This program builds an innovative, youth-powered bridge into the region’s creative workforce, and does so in a community that’s long been overlooked.

The Just-Us Film Lab is a 22-week creative workforce development program for youth and young adults in the Antelope Valley, designed to cultivate job readiness and industry exposure in Los Angeles’ growing film and media economy. Participants receive hands-on training in screenwriting, lighting, camera operation, sound design, editing, and digital storytelling. Rooted in cultural relevance, the program integrates FLC’s proprietary curriculum with social justice themes and personal narrative to support healing and career development.
The Lab includes technical workshops, field trips to LA-based film institutions, and Wellness & Reflection Labs facilitated by a licensed professional. Participants gain career exposure through Teaching Artists and guest speakers such as directors, cinematographers, editors, producers, and content creators. Sessions highlight freelance and entrepreneurial pathways across the creative economy.
Youth also receive guidance from FLC’s Youth Media Mentors and build a professional portfolio through a capstone project. The program culminates in a public showcase of youth-produced short films, zines, and digital content, paired with a networking reception that fosters industry connections. All participants receive stipends and leave with tangible tools, industry knowledge, and certificates, bridging geographic, economic, and cultural barriers, creating a sustainable pipeline into LA’s creative workforce for youth.

If successful, the Just-Us Film Lab will transform the Antelope Valley, one of LA County’s most underserved regions, into a model for inclusive creative workforce development. The program will create scalable, licensable pathways into LA’s creative industries for BIPOC, low-income, and justice-impacted youth. By equipping youth with technical skills, mentorship, and real-world experience, we will build a pipeline of diverse talent. As alumni advance, their presence will reshape who gets to create in Hollywood, leading to more BIPOC filmmakers, directors, and authentic narratives. Long-term, we envision expansion across school sites and districts, with Future Leaders California administering the program, licensing curriculum, and offering implementation support. LA County will be different because this work ensures the next generation of creatives isn’t just watching the screen, they’re shaping what’s on it.