“From start to finish our kids write, direct, produce and sometimes star in every feature,” Candace explains. “Students from Cleveland erected their own green screen, work with stop-motion animation and participate in the Giffoni Film Festival in Hollywood every year.” Students from the Media Academy go on to film studies at universities and colleges. Candace is very familiar with the local area – three generations of her family grew up in Santa Paula. “This was the perfect place for filming,” she said. “I looked up Limoneira online, and fell in love with this place. They are so cooperative; they’re amazing and very welcoming.”“Patrick and his family made it possible to do this project,” Candace remarked. In addition to acquiring training and experience, the cast and crew and their mentoring teachers now look forward to the film’s premiere. Coming soon.
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Limoneira’s barranca became the scene for World War II battle sequences, part of the film project of Patrick Kim, a student at Cleveland High School in Reseda. Patrick is the film’s director and writer. Above, actors (left) Jonathan Raynack and (right) Aldo Bigante pose as World War II Army soldiers. Inset, Patrick Kim discusses the film. Photos by Susan Branham |
Limoneira barranca scene for World War II battle
June 08, 2007
Santa Paula News
By Susan Branham
Santa Paula TimesIt was a bright and beautiful spring day at Santa Paula’s Limoneira Ranch. The sun was shining and a cool coast breeze wafted through the trees. It was Memorial Day weekend, and except for grateful remembrance, usually far removed from the sights and sounds of war. But this weekend was different. The ranch was home to a film project, and for two days was bathed in the dappled sun and shadow of history.Limoneira’s barranca became the scene for World War II battle sequences, part of the film project of Patrick Kim, a student at Cleveland High School in Reseda. Patrick is the film’s director and writer. “Today we are shooting some clips of the final fight scene,” he explained. “I’ve always been very interested in World War II. It was a very deep, dark moment in history, and one of the most important.”Patrick Kim has made an extensive study of World War II, and preparation for the film included visiting and talking with World War II veterans, and learning of their experiences. The story is set in the 1950s, and focuses around a veteran’s disturbing memories of the war, a distant world and distant time away.Candace Escobar is a make-up artist who works at Cleveland in her extra time. “Cleveland has a media academy that teaches filmmaking, special effects, computer animation, and art history,” Candace said. “We regularly work on student films and various related projects to give our students the experience of working on a real movie set.” Students and professional actors appear in the film.
