The following 67 students have been nominated for the Artist of the Year in Film & TV by teachers and private instructors representing Orange County high schools and arts organizations.
Each nominee is listed below with an endorsement from their nominating teacher. We have not included links to students’ films, as many film festivals to which they may submit require that entries not be publicly posted online.
Leon Aguilar
“Leonardo’s work is defined by thoughtful storytelling and strong visual intention. His storytelling is grounded, reflective, and visually deliberate. His leadership is rooted in action and consistency, and his presence has raised the level of artistic focus within our program. Leonardo Aguilar is an artist with a clear voice and a strong sense of purpose. His work reflects both creative depth and integrity, and his commitment to storytelling continues to inspire those around him.” — Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
Piper Alsop
“Grecia continues to enthrall and surprise me with her effort, courage, and her improvement as an artist within the Film and TV pathway at our campus. Grecia was a new student to our program last year. Shy, quiet, and very reserved, Grecia struggled to balance the concept of being true to herself, and being outspoken of her work, with the idea of being understood and palatable. That year, she decided to step outside her comfort zone, and step into what she knew she wanted to create. She then proceeded to create her very first ever short film; a three minute stop motion animated piece.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Ani Alyanakian
“In each film Ani brings a unique perspective to her storytelling working seamlessly with both novice and professional actors and directing her crew with skill and diplomacy. Her most emotional film, ‘After Us,’ utilizes sound design to help reveal emotional character beats as her character slowly realizes she is trapped in a coma. I was particularly impressed with the ending which felt satisfying and complete. Ani has a wonderful instinct for creating subtle and emotionally powerful moments in her films.” — Karen Bennett, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Reef Applebaum
“Reef first joined my video production class during his 10th-grade year, and returned to the advanced level of the course in his 11th-grade year to enhance his skills. Almost right away, Reef made it apparent that he had a natural talent for filmmaking and storytelling. In his first-ever video production project in my class, a short documentary film about his love of nature, he impressed not only me, but other seasoned film students and industry professionals. In fact, that short film won the Coast Film and Music Festival’s Student Film Showcase in 2023.” — Jun Shen, Laguna Beach High School
Alexander Arizpe
“I have seen remarkable growth in his artistry over the time he’s been in my program. He brings a unique, creative vision and embraces trial and error to refine his work. Hard-working and flexible, he reliably prepares shoots, adapts under pressure, and leads collaboratively. Trusted and respected by peers and faculty, he mentors others with clear, constructive feedback. His creative process, technical skill, and professional demeanor make him an outstanding artist.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Jacob Avila
“Jacob Avila’s music video work is street attitude personified, bustling and humming with kinetic editing and visuals. His cameras and lenses convey the worlds and desires of the urban songs he covers with a driving intensity. Whether his singers are rapping across cityscapes or roading through deserts, Jacob’s work shows the influence of past master and a window into something new and all his own.” — Aaron Orullian, Orange County School of the Arts
Julian Ivan Bautista
“Julian stands out as the most involved student in my class — someone who touches nearly every aspect of our program. He films live events, manages broadcast production schedules, oversees student crews, and still finds time to pursue his goal of becoming a narrative filmmaker. He is often the first to arrive and the last to leave, setting the standard for professionalism and work ethic. His classmates look to him for guidance, and he never hesitates to lend a hand, troubleshoot equipment, or step in to help another team succeed.” — Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Christopher Blocher
“Christopher is a creative, multi‑talented artist. He is a musician, filmmaker, actor, and writer, whose projects reveal a distinctive voice and careful craft. He composes original scores, directs with clarity, acts with sincerity, and refines scripts with keen insight. Beloved by peers, he routinely mentors others, offers practical technical help, and contributes to every phase of production without seeking credit. Humble and kind, he accepts critique constructively and persists until his work meets high standards. When shoots face setbacks, he stays to solve problems and improve outcomes. His passion, persistence, and generosity make him a perfect filmmaker and artist.” — Conner Brown, Yorba Linda High School
Elijah Bradley
“Since joining my video production program this year, he has distinguished himself through bold creative choices and a clear storytelling voice. Elijah works at the intersection of music and film, using both to connect with people in immediate and meaningful ways. … As a filmmaker, Elijah takes creative risks and tells personal stories with honesty. In ‘Me vs Me,’ he explores inner conflict with clarity and emotional urgency. He also wrote and directed ‘Lil Sis,’ a horror film made with his own family, demonstrating range and commitment to storytelling.” — Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
Rhys Braunstein
“Rhys loves peeking around the corners to reveal the hidden worlds of his nonfiction stories. He’s curious and compassionate and lets his subjects be themselves. His urban sensibility leads him to traverse abandoned buildings to find moments of beauty and contradiction. His work can be gritty, like an act of discovery, as his camera pops in and out of shadows, through desolate, post-apocalyptic shops and office buildings. He always has a smile on his face, exudes a sense of possibility and collaboration, and makes you look forward to the next he’s going to create. He sets high standards for himself and pushes himself in new directions. His work is consistently well-crafted as it explores the human condition.” – Aaron Orullian, Orange County School of the Arts
Carlos Cardenas
“Carlos has developed a strong presence as a storyteller and interviewer, using film to capture authentic moments and meaningful conversations. His work reflects a natural understanding of pacing, tone, and audience engagement. He approaches filmmaking with professionalism and adaptability, excelling in live and fast paced production environments that require focus and creative decision making in real time. What distinguishes Carlos is his ability to communicate with honesty and ease. He leads naturally, collaborates effectively, and thinks quickly while maintaining a clear creative vision. His growth has been steady and intentional, and his contributions consistently elevate the work around him.” — Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
Citalli Castillo
“Citlalli has directed/co-directed 50+ broadcasts and led livestream productions for school events and district Board of Trustees meetings with steady decision-making under pressure. Beyond the studio, she represents our pathway as an ROP classroom and program ambassador. Her storytelling voice is strengthened through past ASB leadership, TED-Ed Student Talks, PBS StoryTellers, and the NBCU Academy, and by attending the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures’ Careers in Film Summit. Citlalli’s work reflects collaboration, clear purpose, and a commitment to using media to inform and uplift her community.” — Joey Flores, La Vista High School
Joyce Chang
“Joyce’s art is among the most thoughtful, creative, and beautiful of any student currently in our film program. In the short amount of time that she has been working with film, she has created experimental art films, touching, heartwarming, animated stories of connection and loss, and she is always looking to push herself in new directions.” — Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Josh Choi
“Joshua brings a natural talent as a writer and director to all films that he produces. His films are full of creativity, humor, and heart that showcase multiple dimensions of his personality. In addition, Josh’s natural charismatic presence makes him easy to get along with as he is a friend and collaborator to all other film students that he works with.” — Nick Ochoa, Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Melody Choi
“Melody Choi is a perfectionist and an exceptionally talented artist and filmmaker. From the moment she joined our film program three years ago, her attention to detail immediately stood out. Melody consistently takes on projects that challenge her to do more than she has ever done before, pushing herself creatively and technically with every new piece of work. She is unafraid to explore different mediums and excels as both an illustrator and an animator, bringing a strong visual sensibility to all of her films. Melody’s work is often introspective and deeply personal, and she demonstrates a level of artistic voice and maturity that is rare among filmmakers her age.” — Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Jeremiah Dang
“Jeremiah Dang brings a goofy energy to everything and anything that he touches. He approaches being a creative with such a brilliant and fun loving energy, it almost radiates off of every product he touches. Whether that’s in his affinity for the look and feel of analog, and many of his projects reflect this; or found within his boisterous and humorous live video directing style. Jeremiah has overcome so much to become the artist he is now, and his work reflects his struggles and achievements. He’s a bright spot in my day, every time he enters the classroom.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Matteo Dawson
“Matteo Dawson … came to us as freshman with little to no camera experience, and he’ll graduate this year as the most skilled director/camera operator that we’ve seen in the last 5-10 years. His skill is rivaled only by his passion and work ethic. Not only are we excited to see what he produces for his projects, but we’re equally as thrilled to see what he goes on and creates as a budding young filmmaker.” — Kenny Connolly, Mater Dei High School
Anvi Dayal
“From commercials about food additives and hot sauce, to short films about community gardens and pumpkin spice, Anvi Dayal infuses everything she does with a clever and vibrant visual energy. She is a master at editing, effects and titling and can make any film story look good. Can I add that she’s also a crack at production design and cinematography? Anvi can do it all.” — Aaron Orullian, Orange County School of the Arts
Sean Dong
“Sean Dong is a talented cinematographer and a true technical wizard. He understands cameras and complex systems better than most. As a director and editor, he is defined by his intense attention to detail. Sean doesn’t settle for ‘good enough,’ he is willing to schedule endless reshoots until he captures the moment exactly as he envisioned it. That dedication to getting it right, paired with his deep technical knowledge, results in high-quality work every time.” — Nathan Boice, Beckman High School
Ellie Elam
“She is someone who is curious, hard working and willing to do the uncomfortable job of leading peers in a way that is authentic and comes from leading by example. Her work is filled with vision and purpose. But it is also at the service of the story. I have a huge amount of respect for her and her work.” — Criag Landino, Capistrano Valley High School
Jack Francesconi
“Jack Francesconi is truly an auteur in the film program here at HBAPA. Inspired by filmmakers like Luca Pizzoleo and Guy Ritchie, he aims to tell stories that have narrative depth, creative character conflicts, and a unique visual language. As a writer, Jack works hard to develop his concepts until he believes their ready for the silver screen. Additionally, he’s a team player, often working on several of his peers’ projects at once, all while balancing his own production schedule.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Ryleigh Goddard
“As a director, Ryleigh Goddard stands out for her ability to marry a distinct visual style with effective leadership. Influenced by the surreal worlds of Tim Burton and David Lynch, Ryleigh’s work showcases a sophisticated, atmospheric aesthetic and carefully designed characters. Crucially, Ryleigh understands that cinema is a team sport. She has a talent for identifying strong collaborators and trusting them to execute her vision. Her ability to lead a crew while maintaining a singular artistic voice makes her a truly exceptional filmmaker.” — Nathan Boice, Beckman High School
Carson C. Good
“Carson is an incredibly unique storyteller and his enthusiasm for filmmaking is infectious. His most recent suspense film included a monster that not only kidnapped people, but caused them to be forgotten so that no one would come looking for them. It was a tricky concept to put into a screenplay and the end result was incredibly effective. His comedy ‘Chicken Feed’ centers on a young girl who accidentally gives chickens watermelon seeds that, to her horror, she discovers causes them to explode. The comedic timing and well done visual effects make this film stand out for sure.” — Karen Bennett, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Alexys Guerra
“With a calm, solutions-first leadership style grounded in his past leadership in ASB, Alexys brings organization, energy, and high standards to every project. He has helped re-imagine our studio space, transforming it into a more efficient, creative environment through thoughtful layout changes, improved workflows, and a renewed focus on collaboration. Alexys continues to invest in the program’s growth by supporting productions, mentoring peers, and taking on responsibilities that keep the studio running smoothly.” — Joey Flores, La Vista High School
Helen Han
“Helen’s collaborative spirit is truly outstanding. She consistently ensures that all voices are heard during group discussions for segment ideas, demonstrating a profound respect for diverse perspectives. Her ability to thoughtfully consider others’ input while confidently contributing her own fosters an environment of mutual respect and intellectual growth. This open-mindedness is further exemplified by her eagerness to explore novel ideas and her unwavering commitment to ambitious, creative projects, such as her integral involvement in the recent mixed-media sports animation.” — Hali Kessler, University High School
Audrey Harlan
“Audrey Harlan is an editor at heart who has developed into a very strong director. She explores a wide variety of genres in her work, showing she isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone. What really sets Audrey apart, though, is her professionalism. She hits every deadline and understands that compromise is often the key to finishing a film. She balances her artistic goals with the reality of production, which is exactly what a filmmaker needs to succeed.” — Nathan Boice, Beckman High School
Eli Hooper
“With a natural inclination for leadership, and an attitude to rally the troops, Eli Hooper is one of my students that I can depend on, both as an example for those to look up to, and as an artist that will share his unique experience via film and broadcast. Eli has the rare ability to consistently expand his capability and experience, all with a smile. The last three years have been years of major growth for this filmmaker. Going from not knowing how to format a script, to writing film festival ready submissions.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Zhenjun Hou
“Zhenjun (“Johnny”) Hou is a talented and passionate cinematographer and director who has a natural and inquisitive talent for capturing human emotion. His passion motivates him in pursuit of finding the perfect image and composition to match with the visuals that live in his head, and he is effortlessly able to work with others to meet his goals.” — Nick Ochoa, Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Joseph Ito
“I have watched him grow into a creative, hard‑working, and multi‑talented artist. He combines strong technical skill across producing, writing, filming, and editing with thoughtful conceptual work. Joseph leads collaborative projects that have driven clear artistic growth for him and his peers. Joseph is respected by peers and faculty for his constructive feedback, reliability, and leadership in exhibitions and productions. He consistently blends disciplines to create immersive, well‑crafted pieces that communicate powerfully.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Alyssa Jackson
“As a filmmaker and editor, she demonstrates a strong sense of pacing and visual storytelling, shaping her projects with clarity and purpose. Alyssa has created meaningful work centered on mental health, approaching sensitive topics with care, honesty, and maturity. Her ability to translate complex emotions into visual form allows her films to connect authentically with viewers. She creates work that feels personal without being insular, inviting empathy and understanding. Her background as a musician informs her filmmaking in subtle but powerful ways, giving her work a strong sense of rhythm, mood, and emotional balance. This interdisciplinary approach adds depth to her storytelling and sets her apart as a multifaceted artist.” — Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
Alvin Taemin Ji
“Alvin has worked very hard on creating new, interesting, and dynamic films, and has proven to be an avid student with strong writing skills and a good eye for film analysis. He is clearly passionate about directing and has a strong creative vision that has enabled him to apply his filmmaking skills to challenge audiences and his peers. As a filmmaker he is inspired by unique directors and genres and often works to bring his inspirations into his films.” — Nick Ochoa, Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Preston Jun
“I have have watched steady, substantive growth in his craft. He is creative and often surprising, approaching stories from unique perspectives that invite viewers to think differently. Preston is a fun, engaging storyteller whose work balances humor and poignancy. He is a determined hard worker with an excellent attitude, arriving prepared, meeting production deadlines, supporting cast and crew, and responding to feedback constructively. His attention to details and thoughtful cinematic choices consistently elevate his projects.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Brendan Kavanagh
“I have watched Brendan grow into a hardworking, persistent, and creatively driven filmmaker. He arrives prepared, meets deadlines, and treats every phase of production with rigor. His film work showed his ability to listen, synthesize perspectives, iterate on feedback, and achieve emotional clarity. Humble and eager to learn, he studies peers and visiting artists, then generously teaches others, staying after school to help classmates. On set he is professional, organized, and respectful of all roles, fostering collaboration under pressure. Each year his technical skills, story-telling, and artistry improve, yet he remains grounded and open to growth.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Samantha Lee
“Samantha Lee understands that effective visual storytelling is often driven by reactions. She brings creative, out-of-the-box ideas to her work and executes them in a way that genuinely moves her audience; she knows exactly how to make viewers feel the emotion she intends. Sam is also a fantastic leader who recognizes that high-level filmmaking requires support. She has built a trusted team around her to help bring those ambitious visions to life, proving she understands the collaborative nature of the art form.” — Nathan Boice, Beckman High School
Boya Li
“Boya’s consistent dedication and commitment to learning filmmaking and applying her knowledge to each film project has made her stand out amongst her peers. She has developed a consistent visual eye that is adept at capturing moments during performances and live events and has grown into a strong cinematographer. In addition she is a talented editor as a documentarian and narrative filmmaker and her leadership is well respected by her fellow classmates.” — Nick Ochoa, Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Vivian Li
“Vivian Li is a filmmaker with an incredible talent for thinking outside the box. From her film about a match maker trying talking to god through a cloud to her film about an office worker stuck inside a complaint box, she knows how to get our attention by building unique characters. Her newest film is a dark comedy taking aim at online influencers about a young woman considering the purchase of a new face.” — Karen Bennett, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Timothy Lindenfelser
“Timothy Lindenfelser is a truly passionate filmmaker. He absolutely loves practical effects and set design, seeking out opportunities to learn how to construct unique locations and interesting props for his films. He is also equally interested in visual effects. He set up a green screen studio in his garage (parents park in the driveway now) and is constantly doing videocopilot.net tutorials to help inspire new stories for his films.” — Karen Bennett, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Otis Liu
“Otis Liu is a talented director, cinematographer and editor; a true jack of all trades. Since his freshman year he has always thought BIG and loves to create ambitious projects with strong dramatic themes. Otis’s strength comes from his understanding that learning is about making mistakes, and that every project is a learning opportunity. He has taken it upon himself to learn as much as he can about each discipline in filmmaking and it shows each of his films.” — Nathan Boice, Beckman High School
Ethan Loh
“Ethan has grown exponentially as a filmmaker over his four years in film and it has been so fun to watch him find his voice and passion in the process. He is a self learner. Reliable. Loyal. So many qualities that are necessary in a collaborative art like film. I only see him growing and developing in this same upward trajectory in the industry as he develops as an artist and filmmaker.” — Craig Landino, Capistrano Valley High School
Richard Luan
“As a budding filmmaker, Richard has a passion for directing interesting and entertaining stories. His thoughtful and compassionate nature has made him well liked among his peers and has influenced him to try to work outside of his comfort zone, where he has expanded his abilities cinematically.” — Nick Ochoa, Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Marlee Martinez
“Always up for a challenge, Marlee Martinez is a media student with a mind for making art that reflects the emotions and experiences she’s collected and reflected upon. Marlee herself is an ace writer, excited by the possibility of exploring character depth, and willing to break down a draft of her script, in order to create a better one. Additionally, she’s developing as a visual filmmaker, becoming more and more comfortable with the role of a director amongst her peers. Currently, a major source of inspiration is the vivid, unseen lives of the strangers you pass every day, and I’m excited to see her utilize this on her next short film.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Sean Massoumi
“Among the many students I have, Sean Masssoumi stands out for his creativity, persistence, and work ethic. He is a true one-man-army, eager to learn writing, directing, cinematography, sound, and editing all while remaining collaborative, listening to peers and leading with quiet authority. Faced with constraints, he finds inventive solutions and creates opportunities, organizing student exhibitions and community partnerships. His films are technically polished and creatively distinct, reflecting a unique perspective and impressive ambition.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Mel Medina
“Mel Medina is a third-year student in our film program who has developed a strong passion for experimental and artistic filmmaking. Over the course of her time in the program, Mel has gravitated toward bold creative choices, often working with distorted imagery, expressive sound design, and symbolic visual storytelling to communicate ideas in unconventional ways. Mel brings a unique artistic voice to her work and is unafraid to challenge traditional filmmaking structures.” ∞ Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Aracely Aispuro Morales
“Aracely is drawn to stories that are personal and challenging. Her films explore identity, family, and lived experience with care and sensitivity. Rather than relying on explanation, she allows emotion to emerge through imagery, pacing, and sound, trusting the audience to engage with the work on a deeper level. Aracely’s influence extends beyond her own films. The clarity and care in her storytelling have shaped the creative environment around her, encouraging her peers to think more deeply about the stories they tell and why they tell them. Her work resonates because it is precise, honest, and deeply human.” — Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
Claire Ng
“Over the past three years, Claire has demonstrated exceptional growth as a cinematographer. She has a strong command of both the technical and artistic aspects of the craft —understanding not only how to operate a camera with precision, but how to use framing, lens choice, movement, and light to elevate visual storytelling. Claire approaches filmmaking with a thoughtful, deliberate eye.” — David Junker, FilmED Academy of the Arts
Fernando Nuñez Coindreau
“Fernando is one of the most passionate, dedicated and imaginative filmmakers in the entire DMAA program, and his growth as an artist over the past several years has been extraordinary. His work reflects not only technical skill, but a deep curiosity, and a unique creative perspective that elevates every project he works on. … Fernando continues to exceed every expectation placed before him. His passion is unmatched, his work ethic is inspiring, and his artistic journey is one defined by courage, creativity, and a love for film.” — Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Sophia Caroleena Ortega Perez
“Sophia Ortega Perez is an exceptional filmmaker and director whose work reflects a rare combination of artistic taste, discipline, and leadership. Grounded in a fine arts background, she approaches filmmaking with a strong visual foundation and a clear understanding of how imagery, rhythm, and tone create meaning. Her award-winning film ‘Birthday Blues’ is a deeply personal project that demonstrates her ability to translate lived experience into emotionally grounded storytelling. The film resonated beyond the classroom and has been used in adult QPR suicide prevention trainings, reflecting the care, responsibility, and real world relevance of her work.” — Shayan Vaziritabar, Buena Park High School
Hailey Poole
“Hailey is an observer and boy, does she have a unique visual point of view. I saw glimpses of this in her fall junior documentary, which she shot, directed and edited herself. I didn’t realize how much she was connected to the camera though until I saw her work on the junior class film ‘Dead Weight.’ Her camera is alive, quirky, colorful, ready for a rumble or a rhumba. She loves a good wide-angle lens too (watch out Yorgos Lanthimos).” — Aaron Orullian, Orange County School of the Arts
Mercer Reilly
“Mercer Reilly is one of those special cases in which he is totally in tune with filmmaking on the artistic and technical side. He has a beautiful gift of rallying students together of all different skillsets to create his vision. His leadership skills inspire our whole class, and unite the technical, artsy, meek and bold. Mercer, sees the film and can articulate it to the people that can best lend their skillsets to him. I’ve never been more certain that a student has the skills and delivery that Mercer has.” — Blake Sepe, Edison High School
Kai Rolland-Engel
“I’ve seen Kai Rolland-Engel consistently jump right in, show persistence, and earn the trust of his peers through consistent reliability. He is creative, an impressive storyteller, and always supportive in production, handling scheduling, crew coordination, and problem-solving with calm leadership. His scripts and films demonstrate visual creativity and narrative clarity. Kai is trustworthy, dependable, and generous with his time, helping classmates with editing and lighting while mediating creative disagreements with tact. He brings practical discipline and original ideas that elevate collaborative work. He is the true definition of an artist.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Leonard Rosa
“I have watched him grow into an impressive, hardworking, and creative filmmaker. He brings out the best in those around him. Classmates consistently choose him to lead projects because he is trusted, respected, and makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Humble yet confident, he has begun to master every area of production, from camera and lighting, to directing and editing, Leonard applies his skills to uplift group work. He leads naturally, listens well, and encourages collaboration. Leonard is a perfect representation of artistry in Orange County. He creates impressive bodies of work while leaving a positive impact on everyone around him.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Zayn Saade
“Zayn Saade as a freshman in our Film and TV Production course was quiet and reserved, but he always had a sense of direction about him. He knew what his influences were, and where he wanted them to take him as a writer and director. But Zayn was also quick to understand something that others students are slow to figure out. He knew he didn’t know everything. So often, he offered to do anything and everything on other classmates’ sets. Soon, Zayn went from writing short screenplays as an individual, to working on short film productions as a team. This led him to being on crew for over 20 film projects in the span of three years. Zayn now is one of our program’s most accomplished producers.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Sophia Smith
“Sophia Smith is a talented filmmaker and actor, whose versatility and creativity make her an outstanding nominee for Artist of the Year in the filmmaking category. Having explored various roles in filmmaking, she is now finding her stride as a director . …Sophia is creative, composed, and deeply respected by her peers. She listens before she speaks, leads by example, and consistently elevates every project she touches — not just through her artistic skill, but through her integrity, patience and understanding.” — Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Skylar Snyder
“Skylar is a wonderful storyteller. Not only does she have amazing ideas for her films, but she has the directing, cinematography, and editing skills to fully realize her vision. Many students gravitate towards certain aspects of filmmaking; Skylar is a unique talent who truly can do it all. She is also an incredible mentor to everyone in the class, and very graciously leads our class of 26 through all of our projects, including our school broadcast and the last two years of 24 Hour Film Competition events where she wrote the script, directed, filmed, and edited our music videos for our submissions.” — Richard Cadra, Yorba Linda High School
Luka Stantic
“Luka is a comedy king. He directed our very first musical movie about Christmas and Prohibition. Yep, it was called “Prohohoibition.” His visual storytelling is brisk and pops with joy. He also made a wild comedy last year about social media sociopaths called “Brat Brothers” further demonstrating his skill for comic timing and visual invention.” — Aaron Orullian, Orange County School of the Arts
Barron Syams
“Barron has a distinct and unique style and voice. From his first days in the program 3 years ago, he immediately got my attention with his work. He makes bold choices, takes risks, pushes himself. Most recently he was one of the cinematographers on our 24 hour film festival. He was involved in every shot and every aspect of the project.” – Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Raynalind Bethany Caritan Tan
“What sets Raynalind apart is her ambition to understand that true impact comes from knowing every facet of the work from creative storytelling to the financial strategy that allows art to thrive. This rare combination of artistic talent and analytical discipline positions her not only as a creative force, but as a future innovator in an industry that needs forward thinking leaders. Raynalind believes deeply in the transformative power of storytelling. Her goal is not simply to entertain, but to uplift, challenge, and inspire her audience to dream boldly and live authentically. Every project she takes on is approached with purpose and heart, reflecting a desire to create work that resonates with the human experience.” — Danny Flores, Sunny Hills High School
Davis Taylor
“He is selfless in his work, serving and helping others and pushing them to be the best they can be. He is known in our advanced film class as a reliable source that any student feels comfortable coming to for help. Students like this open the door for everyone to be their best. They foster a positive work environment and set the tone to treat each other with kindness and respect while always offering a helping hand to those in need. Davis has made my program so much better with his hard work and empathy towards others. I can’t wait to see where this hard work and quality of character take Davis.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Autumn Treister
“Autumn Treister immediately impressed me as a film student when she first walked in the door four years ago. Since that time, Autumn has really grown and developed as an extraordinary artist. Autumn is a gifted multitalented actor and filmmaker. Her films are meticulously made with an extraordinary attention to detail. She is able to find art and beauty in the small moments of everyday life.” — Mark Switzer, El Dorado High School
Mac Ullem
“Mac is an incredibly talented filmmaker whose background as an actor gives him a unique perspective in the development of plot and characters. His careful attention to character development and his maturity as a director is evidenced in his films by the emotional moments being allowed to breathe both in the actors’ performances and in the edit. He is one of the few students who shoots with the edit in mind and his films feel incredibly advanced because his framing, blocking, performances and lighting all serve the emotional storyline.” — Karen Bennett, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Natalia Velazquez
“She meets obstacles with calm determination, using trial and error until she perfects her craft. Her films show steady growth in storytelling, visual composition, and emotional clarity. Natalia brings people together, fostering a welcoming, warm environment where collaborators feel heard and motivated. Her leadership is inclusive as she nurtures talent while keeping the project’s artistic goals clear. She is hardworking and inventive, able to rework scripts and logistics under pressure to deliver stronger results. Her mind is brilliant, able to craft full narrative stories while also including small details that most students would roll right over.” — Conner Brown, Los Alamitos High School
Amy Wadsworth
“Amy Wadsworth has not only distinguished herself through technical proficiency and creative drive, but has also demonstrated the maturity and professional demeanor of an industry filmmaker. Amy has been recognized for multiple films, however her incredible aptitude for visual storytelling and commitment in her short film, ‘Storms,’ garnered a remarkable amount of awards and recognition, serving as a powerful illustration of Amy’s mastery of narrative structure, ability to translate abstract ideas into impactful visuals and profound capacity to connect with an audience.” — Rebeccah Phillips, Irvine High School
Cameron Wheeler
“Cameron Wheeler is an undisputed champ of cinema in our program. He’s been the cinematographer to multiple award nominated and award winning projects, utilized his skills as a gaffer to assist his peers in lighting their short films, has directed multiple music videos and short films, edited, color corrected and graded projects to achieve the style he envisions, and that’s all before his junior year. This year, Cameron along with his consistent crew, have had a goal to create a large quantity of short films and projects within the school year, and he’s currently had a hand in creating four, (that I know of!) all while developing his film for our own film festival.” — Bishop Rhone-Pratt, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts
Christina Wright
“Whenever we have a project that is dropped on us at the last minute or other students run into production delays, Christina is always the first person to say, ‘I will take care of it.’ Christina is constantly busy during class assisting students with their edits and is an incredible mentor to all of the younger students. … On top of all of the time she has spent as a producer, Christina has also become an amazing editor. She has a talent for knowing exactly how to get the most out of any footage on her timeline.” — Richard Cadra, Los Alamitos High School
Peihong Wu
“Peihong (“Jerry”) has a strong sense of visual style and composition and is most at home behind a camera. He has worked hard to understand all aspects of cinematography and approaches many of his projects with a unique and methodical eye. As a filmmaker Jerry works well with other students and contributes many interesting ideas to all types of projects.” — Nick Ochoa, Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Belle Wuich
“She has developed a deep and well-rounded understanding of all aspects of filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera. Beyond her academic excellence, Belle consistently creates films on her own time and has built a budding YouTube channel that showcases her originality, strong visual storytelling, and impressive creativity in editing. She approaches every project with maturity, integrity, and genuine passion for the craft, and she elevates those around her through her leadership and collaborative spirit.” — Leslee Myers, Crean Lutheran High School
Esther Yoo
“Esther’s presence in my class is truly transformative. Without her, our classroom would undoubtedly lack the vibrant spirit of experimentation and the courage to embrace new ideas and techniques. Esther brings an insatiable curiosity and a ‘let’s just try’ mindset that not only pushes her own creative boundaries but also inspires her peers to challenge norms and create art without limits. Her experience working on sets with diverse skill levels has clearly honed her ability to share knowledge and uplift those around them.” — Hali Kessler, University High School