I've Been Phenomenally Lucky

Inner-City Filmmakers Meet
Their Hollywood Heroes

by Theron Alford

The Inner-City Filmmakers program has been helping high school students for five years now. Theron Alford is one of its graduates and descibes his experience:

"I was born in Los Angeles and grew up in South Central. I guess you can say I'm lucky 'cause I don't know anyone else in South Central living with both their parents. I felt different. Also, I never really took to academics like others in my family. Then in the 6th grade I won first prize in a writing competition. After that the teachers helped me develop my writing skills. I finally had something I could call my own and I didn't feel so isolated.

While at Westchester High School I enrolled in a video production class and soon discovered my calling in life. Filmmaking! My parents were not happy about this. They said it's not a secure job, it's difficult to find work, and besides how are you going to get the training. They wanted me to find a job that was 'a sure thing' and stick to it. At home I was considered the black sheep of the family because all my cousins had good down to earth jobs and attainable goals but I wanted something more.

Then my high school teacher introduced me to Fred Heinrich and his Inner-City Filmmakers program. After interviewing and showing some of my past work I was accepted for the 1995 summer class.

This was an exciting time for me because I got to meet and talk with my Hollywood heroes. Lawrence Kasdan spoke about his early beginnings, showed clips from his films and discussed the development of a script. Curtis Hanson, Allen Daviau, John Toll, Don Murphy, Jane Hamsher and Jon Jashni gave of their time to help us learn about all the different phases of production. Conrad Buff and Arthur Forney spoke about different styles of editing and showed us how a sequence developed from dailies to a finished cut. It's very easy to stay motivated when everyone around you is interested in the same thing. I began to feel that I really could 'make it' in the film industry.

As I got more and more excited about my future, my parents became more concerned. The film business is too iffy. It's like buying a lottery ticket. Find a job that's a sure thing and stick to it. So, wanting to be a good son, I did the 'right thing.' I got a job at the library and enrolled in college. But I still longed to be in film.

Luckily for me, the Inner-City Filmmakers program is a training and jobs-finding program. At first Fred got me a summer internship at Universal. Grieg McRitchie took me in and I got to see the whole post-production world. Fred then introduced me to Bruce Green, ACE who was starting editorial work on 'Phenomenon'.

'Phenomenon' editing crew members Jordan Corngold, Bruce Green, Tzarina Edillon, David Rennie, and Theron Alford with Fred Heinrich. "Helping Theron helped us. Not only did he bring a fresh perspective to the film but it felt good to be doing something socially useful," says Bruce.

This was a very difficult time for me. I was torn between going after the job I dreamed about or sticking with the library. I was hired on 'Phenomenon' as a part-time PA while still going to school and still working at the library. Boy was I tired. As luck would have it, the library cut back my hours and eventually that job vanished. So much for a sure thing. Luckily I was still working-in the film business-and now I could work full time.

'Phenomenon' was phenomenal. I was so happy. I spent a lot of time the first two weeks practicing splicing white leader and trying to get the bubbles out of the splices. I met a lot of wonderful and giving people on the crew and they all counseled me from time to time. Bruce took me under his wing, offered encouragement, and drilled into me the importance of continuing my college education. He sounded like my parents. But he also said, 'One day I'm gonna see your name on a movie poster' and that meant a lot to me.

David Rennie was my immediate supervisor and a walking encyclopedia of movies. He kept me busy doing runs and every now and then explaining the post-production process. Even the director, Jon Turtletaub, befriended me and gave me advice concerning my student film. I was so excited that on the weekends I wrote and then produced a four-minute light hearted video about life on the streets of the inner-city called 'Retribution'. I was really proud of this effort and showed it in Fred's summer class of 1996.

Meanwhile, Fred found me another gig as a post-production PA. Having just finished working on 'Phenomenon' and starting on 'Eve's Bayou' with Teri Shropshire, I found myself wondering how someone who just turned nineteen could be so phenomenally lucky. Right now I alternate between working and writing new scripts. My parents seem to have adjusted somewhat to my pursuit of a career in film.

I am returning to college in the fall, but I feel really at home in the motion picture community. I am here to stay! Thanks to everyone and especially the Inner-City Filmmakers program for making my dream come true.

Your Help is Needed

Do you need a PA in your cutting room? Do you want to act as a mentor? Do you know any other productions that need PA's?

Please help Inner-City Filmmakers continue providing this program to promising but disadvantaged inner-city students.

Call Fred Heinrich at (805) 985-2145.