Hollywood Gives Its Heart to Massachusetts

Feb. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Burbank, CA – In Sunset Boulevard, we hear the immortal words, “All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.” Some lucky youth from The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester and Alternative Learning Program of Harwich High School, in Dorchester and Cape Cod, respectively, will be experiencing just that and more when they participate in the movie-making experience with  Hollywood HEART, a Los Angeles, CA-based nonprofit organization that serves at-risk youth.  One of Hollywood HEART’s signature programs, The Movie Team, is offered as an intensive two-day workshop, or as an after-school program spanning an entire week. The Dorchester Movie Team project will run February 16-19, 2010 at the Paul R. McLaughlin Youth Center and the Cape Cod Movie Team project will run February 22-26, 2010 at the Cape Cod Cultural Center in South Yarmouth, which is sponsoring that program.

Hollywood HEART’s Movie Team reaches children in foster care, after-school intervention programs, as well as those facing other difficult social and medical issues. Throughout each program, youth participants work directly with volunteers from the film industry to plan and produce a short film. The kids learn the entire process of making a film. More importantly, they are part of a successful team mentored by professional adults, a rare opportunity for many at-risk youth and a life experience from which they can draw pride and confidence.

To celebrate the success and create a lasting memory of the children’s accomplishment, each session concludes with a real Hollywood-style premiere. The “stars” are recognized for their talent and hard work, and receive a copy of the film. The screening of the Cape Cod Movie Team film will he held at The Cape Cod Cultural Center on Feb 28th at 7:30 pm.

Hollywood HEART is fortunate to have generous help from a number of Boston and Cape Cod area businesses to make these Movie Team films professional-grade - High Output (donating grip and electric gear), VER (providing camera and sound equipment), Andreas Skiadas and the team at Andreas & Co salon in Dennis (doing the hair and make-up of the Cape Cod participants) and several local volunteer crew members will be donating their time to give kids in their community a great week of learning and fun.

This is the first time that Hollywood HEART has gone “on location” in the Dorchester/Cape Cod area and is being produced in honor of Hollywood HEART board member Nora O’Brien, who died unexpectedly last year.  “It was really important for us to honor Nora’s memory.  She gave her heart and soul to this organization,” says Hollywood HEART Executive Director, Lisa Cavanaugh, who, along with Ms. O’Brien, is also a New England native and Boston College alumnus.

Hollywood HEART has worked with organizations globally including Los Angeles and Las Vegas area Boys and Girls Clubs, Hollygrove, School on Wheels, CoachArt, Intel Clubhouse, Hawthorne Cedar Knolls (NY), and the Cape Film Commission and SOS Children’s Villages (South Africa), to bring these film ideas to life.

David Gale, Executive Vice President of MTV New Media and Specialty Films Division and Founder and President of the Board of Hollywood HEART, said “The Movie Team has helped Hollywood HEART find its unique voice by tapping into the creative community here in Los Angeles.  Now we are bringing that creative voice to kids in other parts of the country and exporting one of Hollywood's greatest assets.”

About Hollywood HEART:
Hollywood HEART is a non-profit organization dedicated to opening doors for at-risk children and teens in the Southern California area and selected locations in the United States and around the world. Since 1995, Hollywood HEART has provided Hope, Education, Arts, Recreation and Teamwork through three unique programs: CAMP PACIFIC HEARTLAND – a traditional summer camp for kids impacted by HIV/AIDS; THE MOVIE TEAM - a filmmaking workshop for at-risk kids; and CAMP HOLLYWOOD HEART – an arts camp for youth ages 16 – 20 who are infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. For more information, visit www.hollywoodheart.org.