Hollywood Impact Studios
Gary and Cyndi Hall
Ministry Overview: Grace members Gary and Cyndi Hall are the
founders of Hollywood Impact Ministries, an outreach to and through the
entertainment community. A regular newsletter highlights the impact of
Christians in the industry, and outreaches to urban neighborhoods and
the Pitchess Detention Center allow industry believers to use their
skills and training to touch others with the gospel.
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Mission Statement The goal of Hollywood Impact
Studios is to honor God and bring NEW HOPE and a brighter future to those
individuals who have been dealt a tough hand in life. Mark 12:30-31 “And you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind, and with all your strength…You shall love your neighbor as
yourself”
Staff Our Teachers and staff are a caring community
of believers who work within the entertainment industry in Hollywood.
They are professionals who volunteer their time each week to teach,
disciple, and mentor our students both inside the Los Angeles Prison System and
within the community. Our teachers and
staff are committed to providing a positive, loving and supportive environment
to each student at all times while providing biblically-based alternatives to
unhealthy thinking and living, through:
“Encouragement - to live right; Enlightenment - to think right, and
Exhortation - to do right.”
Target Population There are three populations this organization
currently serves: Incarcerated men and Veterans who are incarcerated or
disabled and struggling to reintegrate into society, and At Risk Youth.
Programs
Behind Bars - Incarcerated men and Veterans
Hollywood Impact Studios Program Behind Bars uses
the art of television and film making to change lives by providing a training
ground where Hollywood professionals both teach and mentor incarcerated men
in order to identify and develop their life skills and individual talents
with the result of producing individuals who are both functional in society,
and able to successfully work in the entertainment industry – or profession
of their choosing.
It is a 12-week program which incorporates
lecture, special guest speakers, and hands on training in the careers of the
television and motion picture industry from production and post production to
basic camera, lighting, editing, music, script writing, acting and more. Each semester ends with the filming of an
interview show called “Above the Line” where students and teachers switch
places - students work as crew with teacher guidance.
Successful Re-integration
Hollywood Impact Studios is
unique and unlike any other prison or reintegration and reunification program
in that we begin our program behind bars and continue to walk through life
with our graduates after they are released.
- By sitting down with students
prior to their release to discuss/formulate a productive exit strategy
identifying their needs, goals, desires, as well as barriers to success we
not only help them have a successful re-entry, but it is comforting to the
inmate and helps reassure them that they are not alone.
- By mentoring and
discipling our graduates for a 15 month period upon release – this
encompasses their spiritual, financial, vocational, and educational needs, we
help them to mature in Christ and help restore their sense of value to their
family and community.
- By acting as a
liaison between our graduate and community based programs and resources where
needed, and by assisting our graduates with successful utilization of those
resources including but not limited to recovery, parole, housing, and
transportation, we are increasing their independence and rebuilding their
confidence, thus helping them to lead full, effective and productive lives as
God intended.
At-Risk Youth Our program for at risk youth is the same
program we use for the prison program except it is modified to meet their
individual needs and ages. It is a
program meant to spark interest, introduce new opportunities, challenges and new
ways of thinking. Its goal is to give
hope, keep kids off the streets, out of gangs, and help redirect their lives
with the ultimate goal of making Christ followers.
How Can You Help? If you are interested in teaching, or a support position;
or, if you would like to make a donation please visit our web page.
If you would like a tax
deduction you may also make out a check to: Grace Baptist
Church.
Please write Prison Ministry on memo line.