annual report 2014-2015

annual report 2014-2015

What was the highlight of the past year at Light House?This was such an exciting year at Light House it’s hard to choose. One big change is that Light House is creating a new teaching space at Vinegar Hill Theatre. We started talking about buying the then-closed theatre last January and by May, with the help of our philanthropic partners, we purchased the building with high hopes for its use for our

community. We have an ongoing campaign to complete the theatre renovation and preservation. The renovation includes building two teaching studios, allowing us to run workshops simultaneously under the same roof. The theatre will once again serve as a space for the entire community to view and discuss film.

Light House has been mentioned in the news 23 times since May. Although some of the articles showcased our purchase of the Theatre, many of the articles focused on what is most important to us - our unique, quality programs. Light House won the 2015 Dominion ArtStars award that recognizes arts organizations which best advance arts and education.

Tell me about some of the films students created this year.Light House student films were accepted into 19 national film festivals this past year, a 58% increase from the prior year. This shows how our students’ technical and storytelling skills are getting stronger every year. Student film Beatrix won best documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The film Space Girl also won best editing at the Women’s Independent Film Festival and Lemonade Standoff won runner-up for the CINE Golden Eagle Award–the prize that helped jumpstart Steven Spielberg’s career!

Light House reaches so many kids. How do you do it?A core part of our mission is partnering with local nonprofits and schools. This year we partnered with 47 community organizations, 21 of which were new. To this point, we collaborated with Walker Upper Elementary to produce environmental-themed films that

taught students about moviemaking but also encouraged them to engage with nature. Light House worked with older youth from Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center who knew nothing about film but learned how to create a storyboard, use a camera and produce a film that they were all so proud of. We also welcomed students from Prince William County who made anti-bullying films with Light House.

What do the students learn besides film through their experience at Light House?In addition to hard skills like lighting, sound, and editing, students learn soft skills like storytelling, collaboration, communication, and self-expression. We follow the seven principles of Harvard’s Excellence in Arts Education model. These principles include teaching artistic skills and techniques without making those primary, encouraging understanding of the world, and providing a way to engage with community, civic, and social issues. Through teaching film, we are encouraging youth to look at different perspectives–to look at the larger world around them and become leaders to influence that world. For example, students from the Westhaven Community Center made a documentary film that explores the meaning of the word “smart.” This film was selected by Scribe Street Movies and played to an audience in Philadelphia.

Where is Light House headed next?Next year we will roll out a new certification program. Students who have completed a variety of film workshops will receive an official Light House certificate of accomplishment and will have built a diverse portfolio of work. We are also excited to add to our programs an opportunity for teenage filmmakers to create documentaries about the multifaceted challenges arising in contemporary society through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Interview by Marissa Bialek, Program Support Intern

Interview with Deanna Gould, Executive Director

“The 2015 [Dominion ArtStars] awards celebrate arts and education in the community, recognizing arts organizations that best demonstrate and advance the synergy of arts and education.”

- Virginians for the Arts

Student filmmakers from The Power to Make a Difference, an anti-bullying film made in collaboration with Jack and Jill of America.

The Walker Upper Elementary School Science and Film Afterschool Club.

annual report 2014-2015

878students enrolled in 72 workshops

of students want to take another class

58area schools represented

61%of students received

scholarships

533scholarships

awarded totalling $100,880

89%of students say they can be themselves at

Light House

FY 14-15 Numbers

FY 14-15 Financials

FY 14-15 Festival Awards and AcceptancesAnd more including:

CineYouth Chicago International Film Festival Irvine International Film Festival

National Film Festival for Talented YouthSanta Monica International Teen Film Festival

Sun Valley Film FestivalUniversity of Virgina Student Film FestivalVirginia Film Festival Action Competition

Washington DC International Film Festival William & Mary Global Film Festival

OFFICIAL SELECTION

FUTUREWAVESeattle International

Film Festival

2ND PRIZE

Adobe Youth Voices

WINNER

LA Film Festival

BEST DOCUMENTARY

WINNERBEST

EDITINGWomen’s Independent

Film Festival

Sources of Revenue Allocation of Funds

DOCUMENTARY

93%

Donations & Events

31%

Grants,Foundations, Collaborations

41%

27%

Other 1% Tuition

Admin

OpsPrograms

Fundraising9%

4% 14%

73%

annual report 2014-2015

Community Partners

Albemarle High School - ESOLBig Brothers Big SistersBoys and Girls Club

Jack Jouett Middle SchoolSouthwood

Center for Nonprofit ExcellenceCharlottesville City Parks &

Recreation

Charlottesville Public Access TVCHECCity of PromiseComputers4KidsFirst Night VirginiaFriendship CourtIvy Creek School

Jefferson Madison Regional LibraryLive ArtsMountaintop MontessoriPB &J FundPiedmont Housing AlliancePiedmont Virginia Community

College

Renaissance SchoolSecond Street GalleryThe Paramount TheaterTomTom Founders FestivalVirginia Film FestivalWesthaven Community Center

Barrett Early Learning CenterBeaumont Juvenile Correctional CenterCamp Holiday TrailsCharlottesville Albemarle SPCAConvenant SchoolFluvanna Middle School

The Fralin UVA Art MuseumGreat ExpectationsGreenstone on 5thLockn’ Music FestivalJack and Jill of America, Inc. Prince William County Chapter

Mt. Zion First African Baptist ChurchMurray Elementary SchoolPlanned ParenthoodSenior CenterThe Links, Inc.United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area

UVa Arts AdministrationUVa School of ArchitectureWalker Upper Elementary Science and Film ClubWorkSource Enterprises

Continuing Partnerships

New Partnerships

FY 14-15 Outreach and Highlights

5Staff

37

Mentors

72

Workshops

878

Students

>13,545

Theatrical Views

>70,000

Online Views

>200

Films

“My favorite part in...[the Southwood Boys and Girls Club Film Workshop] was watching the kids, along with their Light House

educators, enjoy their films. The laughter was contagious. At the end of each of the films the text ‘THIS FILM WAS MADE BY YOU’ appeared. The kids spontaneously, and with great pride,

loudly read this in unison after each showing. The kids gained so many life-long skills with the FUN factor remaining intact. “~ Kate Zirkle, Board Member, Boys and Girls Club of Central

Virginia

Congratulations to FY 14-15 Light House Studio graduates who were accepted to, among others:• Chapman University’s Dodge College of

Film and Media Arts• Pratt Institute• The University of Virginia

Student filmmaker introductions at the 2015 Youth Film Festival

annual report 2014-2015

$10,000+Albemarle County

Rotary ClubBatten Family FundWorrell Chapman Family

FundAnonymous (2)

$5,000-$9,999Nora Brookfield and Jack Bocock

L.E.A.W. Family Foundation, Inc.

PYMWYMI FundVirginia Commission for the Arts & the NationalEndowment for the Arts

Anonymous

$2,500-$4,999Allison PartnersCarolyn and David BeachKatie CowenCrutchfieldPam and Frank EdmondsAndrea and Peter GavinRobin HanesKelley MacDougall and

Mike PausicRed Light ManagementThe Prana Fund at CACF

$1,000-$2,499Elizabeth and Greg AllenKatharine Birdsall and

Karl PfefferkornMary Scott and John

BirdsallAndrew and Kelli Block

Family FundAntoinette and Benjamin

BrewsterRachel and Greg

BrozenskeStuart and John EllisAmy and John HarrisCharles HeinerHeiner Family FundSandra and John HigginsElvira and Joe HoskinsIgnaczak Family FundMadwoman Project FundAnna MageeKaren Moran and Wistar

MorrisQuantitative FoundationT&N PrintingThe MLG Foundation

The Rimora FoundationVirginia National Bank

$500-$999Gardy Bloemers and Nick Duke

Jackie and Ralph BradleyKara and Chris BurkeMr. and Mrs. Edward J. Casey, Jr.

Suzanne Tanner Chitwood

Dr. Lynn and Mr. Tobias Dengel

Duncan Automotive Network

Elizabeth and Temple Fennell

Amy Gardner and Jeff Cornejo

The Goodkin FamilyThe Gunther FamilySam Hill EntertainmentBryce and Monty HarrisDana and Peter HarrisAnne and Thad JonesCathy and Chris KramerJill and Patrick LernerAudrey and John LewisMartin Horn, Inc.Robbie and Mark Mascotte

Angie and Dan OakeyAnnette and Wyn OwensJane-Ashley and Peter Skinner

Stillfield Fund IAnonymous

$250-$499Eugenie and Rob Atherton

BJ and Joe BarnesThe Billings FamilyLeslie Blackhall and Stephen Nachmanovitch

Mary and Jay BlantonCatherine and Tyler BrownZooey and Lyons BrownElizabeth and Forrest Butler

Kara and Jim CoxElizabeth CrawfordPati and Allen Cunningham

Kaki and Rupert de VinkColin Doughertye.g. Charlottesville

Sarah and Tommy EverettLaura and Kirby FarrellEwa and David HarrAlex Ix and Gare Galbraith

Julia and Bob JonesKim MattinglyElizabeth Muse and Matt Singleton

Nancy O’Brien and Francis Fife

Susan PayneLynne Richards and Robert Boyle

Jennifer and Bryan Slaughter

Standish Family Foundation

Elizabeth and David Sutton

Christina and Tee TeagueAnna Towns and Dave Ackerman

Jennifer and Frank Winslow

Anonymous (2)

$100-$249Andrea and Fax AyresDr. and Mrs. R. Rives Bailey

Renee BalfourSally and Mark BarstowColleen and Brian BassettAnne and David BearKatherine BeardKathie and Taylor BeardKathy and Gregg BleamKatherine Brooks and George Beller

Maria and Robert ChapelKaren Kalsi Chapman and Jim Chapman

Charlottesville Public Television

Gabriella and Stuart Chase

Amy Chenoweth and Robert Lexa

Opal and Banks ConnerCaroline CoxStacy CrowellMaddy and John DealJulie and Guy DixonJanine DozierCorinne FieldChristy and Ryan FordSusan and Harry Frazier

Pamela Friedman and Ronald Bailey

Tony GentryJan Glennie-SmithRobert GoreJuan Granados and Will Trinkle

Emily Granville and Teddy Grennan

Ellen Hayes and Steven Vavrik

Kathy HeinerDeborah HenshawAnnie and Bo IzardThe Jackson FamilyDrs. Lee and Neal KassellLauri and Cameron KeenBill and Betty KernerWill KernerLynelle and John Lawrence

Chris LilleyMeg and Tom MackeyDonna and Bazil MathesTom NoelkeSusan and Robby NollReina Oostingh and Chuck Braley

Beatrix Ost and Ludwig Kuttner

Nancy PattersonSarah and Jason Robinson

Jeanne and Louis RunkleScarpaCheryl SchwandtTracy and Gary Schwandt-Hardley

Heather and Derek SiegRussell and Steve TaylorMr. and Mrs. W. McIlwaine Thompson Jr

Barbara VenerusErika ViccellioRoger VoisinetEllen and Paul WagnerMary and Fred WolfWoodard PropertiesCarrie and Zack WorrellAnonymous

Under $100Alison BellAnne BowdenMary CassellMoira and Alexander Crosby

Sarah and Paul Deigl

Doesy and T.M.Dickenson

David M. ErwinStruthers GignouxSuzanne Jewell and Israel Olegnowicz

Joe KettMcCrea and David Kudravetz

Christine LazorishakDonna LigushRachel and Bob LloydZanne MacdonaldLisa and Daniel MannMonica Markelz and Julian ConnollyNancy McAdamsLouise McConnellCatherine and Gene McGahren

Cathy and John MeaneyKaren and Kenneth Monger

Karen MoulisJennifer NickersonMartha and Craig

RedingerNicole and Mark RootAnne RunkleShelly SternMary A. SullivanMiller and Lee SusenGisela SwiftSharon TaraskaJessica TaylorNell and Steve TharpWill Van Der LindeSuzi VeerhoffMarisa VroomanBrooks WellmonJean WilhelmClay WittAnonymous (2)

In Kind DonationsAshley Cox PhotographyCharlottesville Photography Initiative

Grand Pops LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph

Market Street Wine Shop TEDx Charlottesville The Scout GuideThree Notch’d Brewing Company

Virginia Film Festival Clay Witt

Note, we will recognize our 2015 Film Festival Sponsors in our FY15-16 report. Our Vinegar Hill Philanthropic Partners are listed on our website.

Shannon Worrell, Founding DirectorPati CunninghamTemple FennellJack Fisk

Nicole KassellWill KernerPaul WagnerFenton Williams

Rachel Brozenske, ChairKatharine BirdsallOlivia BranchCatherine Brown

Katie CowenStuart Greer EllisDeanna GouldJuan GranadosJohn Lawrence

Jill Ashley LernerChris LilleyAnna MageeJohn McAllister

FY 14-15 Philanthropic Partners

Board of Directors 2014-2015 Advisory Board

After attending a Light House workshop, students report an increased ability to turn their ideas into a finished product, to plan and organize, and to work collaboratively with peers. Parents report a noticeable improvement in their children’s willingness to collaborate with peers and ability to clearly communicate their ideas and opinions.

“Light House Studio uses innovative teaching methods to help students tell their own stories through film. As the importance of film as a medium continues to grow, the skills Light House mentors impart are not simply resumé-building; they are an essential element of communication in the 21st century.”~Jody Kielbasa, Vice Provost for the Arts

“I would definitely recommend the program to a friend. I was sad that they didn’t have it for the fall. I learned different techniques when you film, what angles are better, and what questions to ask. I also got to learn to use cameras; I didn’t know how to before. Sometimes we had to work with people I didn’t really like, but in the end I really liked them.”~Izzy, Walker Upper Elementary Student

“My daughter took the documentary class last summer, and...she has used the skills she learned in her workshop throughout her senior year of high school, often being the only person in various clubs and project who had skills to produce a video for their needs. I cannot emphasize how helpful and professional the Light House staff are, nor to what lengths they will go to in order to help a student develop a film in their interest area!” ~Kirsten Miles, Light House Parent

“If I could give one piece of advice to someone currently going to Light House it would just be: take all the workshops you can. Light House was definitely a big help getting into film school. Just having the narrative films that I’d worked on and put my name on was just a really big help.”~Aidan, Light House Alum and Mentor

Program Impact