Lights, Camera, Learn

Tanaya Safi is a high school junior who has already produced three award-winning C-SPAN documentaries. In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn, Tanaya shares how her passion for storytelling, editing, and advocacy has shaped her journey through student media. She explains how media can turn complex issues into accessible, meaningful stories that inspire change. She reflects on the mentors and cla...

In this inspiring and entertaining episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , ABC10’s Mark S. Allen shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories from interviewing Hollywood legends, producing independent films, and building a decades-long career in media. He opens up about creativity, resilience, personal setbacks, and the relentless drive it takes to survive in the entertainment industry. From hilarious i...

Kathryn Luna, Director of Community Investment for Sacramento Republic FC, shares how her work with the soccer club goes far beyond the field—connecting players, fans, and staff to meaningful community impact through health, education, and environmental initiatives. Drawing on her background in athletics and professional sports, she highlights the power of authentic engagement, emphasizing that tr...

What happens when your dream doesn’t work out? In this powerful episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , ABC10 sports reporter Kevin John shares his journey from pursuing acting in Hollywood to building a career in broadcast journalism. He opens up about failure, rejection, and one of the most difficult periods of his life—when he struggled with his mental health and had to find a way forward. This is m...

Artificial intelligence is already transforming education—but many schools are still resisting it. In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , educator and author Holly Clark breaks down how AI is reshaping classrooms, why some schools are falling behind, and what students actually need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. She also shares global perspectives on how other countries are embracing...

What do you do when no one responds to your emails, applications, or outreach? In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , Bella Kunde shares her journey of persistence—cold emailing, networking, and pushing through rejection to break into the media industry. She opens up about the uncertainty, stress, and determination it takes to create your own opportunities when the traditional path doesn’t wor...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , we talk with NBCUniversal reporter Ignacio Dominguez. Just a few years into his journalism career, he’s already covered the emotional and political sides of the immigration issue on the California/Mexico border and investigated the illegal world of cock fighting. He discusses the importance of empathy, hustle, and bilingual storytelling in connecting with...

Rebecca Long was an aspiring actor, but a series of encounters and incidents led her to become a passionate middle school teacher instead. Find out more about her journey from stage to classroom, how her background in performance shaped her teaching style, and how her father influenced her interest in media. All that and more on this next episode of Lights, Camera, Learn!

This episode of Lights, Camera, Learn ! takes a look at the role of data and analytics in local television news. Kristie Gong, Director of Audience Insights, Analytics, and Programming at KCRA, the NBC station in Sacramento, discusses how data informs the stories and programming audiences see on television. Kristie also shares her journey from a media student at Cal State Northridge to a leader in...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn!, we sit down with Dennis Weaver, a media production teacher and coach at Highlands High School in Sacramento’s Twin Rivers Unified School District. Weaver shares how his journey as a musician, filmmaker, and lifelong creator shaped the innovative media program he built for students, emphasizing creativity, resilience, and real-world skills. He reflects on...

What goes into turning a script into a finished film or video? In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn, cinematographer Emi Mendieta shares insights from her career working across narrative films, documentaries, and music videos while revealing the creative and managerial realities of life behind the camera. She discusses the steps and creativity she uses to translate scripts into visual language...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , Ashley Adams, the Executive Director of the Arts, Media and Entertainment Institute, shares her inspiring journey from theater teacher to leading a national nonprofit. She reflects on the pivotal experiences that shaped her career, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and how her organization works to empower teachers and students to find their voices...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn! , artist, educator, author, and NASA Solar System Ambassador Tim Needles explores why creativity isn’t just for artists — it’s a skill every student (and adult) can build and use to solve real-world problems. He shares how embracing constraints, experimenting with new technology, and even using AI responsibly can unlock powerful storytelling and learning o...

Desiree Sheppard is the host and executive producer for the local Sacramento lifestyle show Your California Life on ABC10. In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn!, Desiree shares her journey from community college and early internships into building a career outside of the hard news reporting path she initially started. She talks candidly about discovering her niche in lifestyle programming, bal...

Most people who watch television news may not realize all the behind-the-scenes roles that help ensure the quality and facts of a daily newscast. In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn! , Monika Diaz, Director of Content at ABC10 in Sacramento, shares her career journey that brought her to that position. She discusses the different roles she’s taken and how being bilingual opened unexpected oppo...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn! , we sit down with Tammy Null, a veteran media educator at Joseph Kerr Middle School, on the very first day in her new classroom. Tammy shares how she dealt with thinking she would never go to college, let alone teach, and how education and her passion for lifelong learning have shaped how she approaches her role as a teacher. The conversation dives into h...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn! , we talk with Josh Weeks, a STEM teacher at North Lake Elementary in Sacramento, California about his journey into education and his passion for integrating media, technology, and hands-on learning in the classroom. Josh shares how filmmaking, coding, robotics, and digital storytelling help students better understand complex concepts while building confid...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn! , Scott Loehr, Superintendent of Center Joint Unified School District, offers an inside look at what it really means to lead a growing K–12 district through times of challenge and change. Loehr reflects on navigating the Great Recession and COVID-19, building a people-centered culture, and redefining the superintendent’s role as both an educational leader...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn , host Aaron Heinrich sits down with Ben Aston, founder and CEO of Black & White Zebra, to explore his journey from agency life to building one of the fastest-growing digital media companies in North America. Ben reflects on how his early experiences in digital project management shaped his approach to leadership, content creation, and entrepreneurship....

In this episode, education reporter Savannah Kuchar shares her journey from college newsroom writer to covering schools and communities for Abridged, Sacramento’s new digital news outlet. She discusses what drew her to education reporting, the importance of curiosity, and the value of elevating real stories from parents, students, and teachers. Savannah also explores major issues shaping local sch...

Filmmaker and industry leader Ri-Karlo Handy shares his remarkable journey from making music videos at the age of 14 to becoming a showrunner, network executive, and founder of the Handy Foundation. He reflects on the influence his mother played in starting and encouraging his passion for media, the mentors and peers who guided his growth, and the pivotal moments that shifted his career from music...

Alana Winnick—edtech director for a New York state school district, author of The Generative Age , and founder of Students for Innovation—shares how her unexpected journey from classroom teacher to technology leader shaped her mission to empower students. She explains how student-driven innovation and authentic learning experiences can transform classrooms and reduce barriers for both teachers and...

Apprentice editor Rhian Advincula shares her journey from Elk Grove student to working on the Warner Bros.’ upcoming Green Lantern series. She talks about the power of networking, the mentors and organizations—like the Handy Foundation—that opened doors, and how she discovered her passion for editing. Rhian also explains the creative and technical balance required in post-production and what it ta...

Franklin High School senior and Wildcat TV co-producer, Pia Mañez shares how she juggles journalism, student leadership, sports team managing, and community reporting. Pia talks about her passion for elevating student voices through Sacramento School Beat, covering stories ranging from local animal shelters to girls’ sports. She also reflects on the challenges of producing a daily school newscast...

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn! , Trevor Harding, media teacher at Sunrise Elementary in the Elk Grove Unified School District, shares how a small classroom grant sparked his passion for media education and transformed his approach to teaching. He describes how his student-run news program, Spartan TV, engages elementary school learners in every aspect of production—from anchoring to cam...