Video Production Guest Speakers
Professionals from the movie and TV industries have visited Palms or Zoomed to speak to students in the Video Production elective.
Spring 2024 Guest Speakers: Max Miller and Jody Booth
Max Miller is Executive Vice President of Technology for Skydance, responsible for Skydance's digital footprint and creative content divisions. They have also worked as a screenwriter.
Jody Booth is in actor, writer, and producer. She wrote and starred in the short film Mr. Right Now. Her other credits include the TV shows House and The Beast.
Max Miller and Jody Booth visited Palms and spoke to Video Production students on January 19, 2024, as part of Career Day.
Fall 2023 Guest Speaker: Zach Knighton
Zach Knighton is an actor, writer, and director. His film credits include The Hitcher and The Prince and Me. His TV credits include the Flashforward series.
He visited Palms and spoke to Video Production students on September 18, 2023.
Fall 2022 Guest Speaker: Ian Eyre
Ian Eyre is a Stunt Coordinator, known for his stunts on movies such as Baby Driver, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part 1 and Part 2), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
He visited Palms and spoke to Video Production students in Fall 2022.
Fall 2021 Guest Speaker: Frank Guzman
Frank Guzman is an Assistant Director in the commercial television world, and a member of the Directors Guild of America. He is an 8-year combat veteran and has worked on numerous TV features, public service announcements, and commercials.
He Zoomed with Video Production students in Fall 2021
Fall 2021 Guest Speaker: James Feld
James Feld is a Television Engineer at CBS, doing setup and or repair of video, audio, post production, and transmission equipment and studios.
Using Zoom, he gave Video Production students a behind-the-scenes view of CBS television in Fall 2021.
Fall 2021 Guest Speakers: Jenise Caiola, Danielle DiStefano, and Eric Hoberman
ITV America is behind some of the biggest non-scripted brands on television, including Pawn Stars, Farmhouse Fixer, Cake Boss, and Car Hunters.
Jenise Caiola is an Executive Vice President overseeing human resources, payroll, and travel.
Danielle DiStefano is Chief Technology Officer, overseeing all aspects of post production.
Eric Hoberman was a Senior Vice President of development, specializing in unscripted programs.
They Zoomed with Video Production students in Fall 2021.
Fall 2021 Guest Speaker: Jasmine Hernandez
Jasmine Hernandez produces short animations for Sonic the Hedgehog at SEGA.
She Zoomed with Video Production students in Fall 2021.
Spring 2021 Guest Speaker: Christian Gossett
Christian Gossett is an artist, actor, director, and member of the Visual Effects Society.
He Zoomed with two Video Production classes on May 20, 2021, telling how he got into visual effects, showing examples of his work, and commenting about career possibilities.
He let the classes experience some animation drawing techniques.
Fall 2016 Guest Speaker: Tony Schwartz
Tony Schwartz
Tony Schwartz, a producer, assistant director, and teacher at the New York Film Academy, visited Palms on September 20, 2016. His credits include Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Freaks and Geeks, CSI: NY, and many others.
Mr. Schwartz talked to Palms Video Production students about some of the essentials that every filmmaker should know: the importance of the story, character development, production design, and the importance of planning, collaborating, and staying on budget.
He covered an enormous amount in one short class period. Students were inspired, and loved hearing his stories.
Mr. Schwartz's son Daniel Schwartz was in the Video Production class.
Spring 2016 Guest Speaker: Steve Welch
Steve Welch
Steve Welch, a Primetime Emmy-winning film and television editor, visited Palms on February 1, 2016.
Mr. Welch's credits include the Malcolm in the Middle and New Girl TV shows, and the 72nd Annual Academy Awards broadcast.
Steve Welch with Video Production students
Fall 2015 Guest Speaker: David N. Weiss
David N. Weiss with Video Production students
David N. Weiss, a screenwriter and producer, particularly known for Shrek 2, The Smurfs, and All Dogs Go to Heaven, visited Palms on December 17, 2015.
Palms students had already compared one of his early drafts of the movie Are We There Yet? to the finished film.
Mr. Weiss was working on the sequel to Disney's popular Enchanted film.