Support the Next Generation of Film, TV, and New Media Creators
One of ACMA’s core objectives is to provide educational opportunities and mentorship programs that inspire future generations of AANHPI filmmakers, producers, writers, directors, and media technicians.
TAKE ONE Media Arts Academy is an annual, hands-on vocational youth media arts training and internship program provided free of charge for underserved transitional ages 18-25 in Southern California. This program also includes those from other under-served communities who wish to learn about the AANHPI culture and/or pursue careers in the TV and Film industry.
By providing youth media creators from under-served communities an opportunity to learn hands-on television and film production vocational skills as well as gain valuable leadership, teamwork, and self-development skills, regardless of their financial background, we believe TAKE ONE can also foster a better sense of pride and self-identity within their communities.
We also encourage them to create original ideas and projects based on their perspectives and experiences that can inspire and shape the perspectives of others, which can also affect the futures of their communities. You can view previous Take One Projects and Short Films on our YouTube Channel.
Enrollment for the 2024 Fall Program is now available online through August 15, 2024. CLICK HERE to Enroll.
TAKE ONE ALUMNI
Summer 2023
Aaron is a Communications major at UCSD. Growing up in the culturally rich San Gabriel Valley, where the Asian community is thriving, he saw firsthand the value of media representation and the necessity for diverse views to be heard. Seeing that lack of authenticity not only reinforces stereotypes but also ignores the Asian community's enormous contributions and abilities, Aaron is motivated by this discovery, and is determined to make a positive difference through TAKE ONE.
Advik is a second year TV, Film, and Media Studies major at CalState LA. He was born in India, but he has lived in six countries. Having lived in Dubai for over a decade, Advik came to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. Through his original films, Advik wants to one day change the world. Through TAKE ONE, Advik hopes to expand his knowledge and experience in filmmaking and make valuable connections for the future.
Angel is a 4th yr at CSULA, majoring in TVF (television, Film, Media) focused primarily on production. Born in Mexico, raised in San Diego, Angel recently moved to LA a year ago on the creed of efficiency and dedication to the growth of his field. Angel is passionate about Filmmaking as he is curious about how movies and series come to be, and he wants to express his creativity within the Film industry. He hopes to gain professional experience and reinforce his network opportunities through TAKE ONE.
Angela is a third year student at San Diego State University studying TV, Film, and Media with a pursuit of a theatre minor. She has always been interested in the production side of the film industry ever since her family frequently visited Universal Studios Hollywood as a child. It was until high school where that passion grew as she learned to film and edit short films. Angela hopes to use TAKE ONE as an opportunity to get into the production emphasis program in her school.
A southwestern college graduate and transfer student at SDSU, Chris is an aspiring filmmaker with hopes of becoming known for the stories that come from his imagination. He wants to help create childhoods for the next generations and perhaps inspire people like how he was inspired as a kid who watched a lot of movies growing up.
Ellen possesses a distinctive perspective due to her synesthesia. What she finds beautiful about art, movies, and media is its power to inspire transformations in our society. Ellen hopes to work in the entertainment industry, where she can actively contribute to crafting captivating stories encompassing a wide array of themes and genres. Through TAKE ONE, she hopes to gain valuable skills and knowledge that will help her achieve her creative ambitions.
Born and raised in San Jose, California, Harsimran is a recent graduate from SDSU majoring in Business Management, as well as minoring in Television, Film, and New Media. He believes in the power of stories to make us feel less alone, and hopes that his films are able to help people with the same struggles. He hopes to utilize his skills to bring diverse and fresh perspectives wherever he goes!
Isabelle is an incoming fourth year majoring in television, film, and media with an emphasis in production. As a Filipina-American aspiring screenwriter and producer she hopes to be able to bring her culture and heritage to life on the big screen as well as tell the stories of other Asian-voices and underrepresented people to make others feel uplifted and heard. Other than being on a set, her passions and hobbies include storytelling, dancing, and singing.
A 3rd year at San Diego Mesa College with a focus on music and audio production, Josh has been involved with a few independent films under the production studio Clockhand Studios which he had helped start with his best friend. His passion started from acting after having taken theatre classes in high school. Now, he wants to create original works that help people who struggle with mental health to let them know they are not alone and provide a voice to those who feel they don't have one.
Kanny is a 3 year college student majoring in Television, Film , Media and Studies focusing on post production, animation, editing and color grading. He transferred from Santa Monica College to Cal State LA, where he learned about ACMA's program that inspires Asian Pacific Islanders to create multimedia content for the community. Kanny hopes to deepen his understanding and knowledge of the post production process through TAKE ONE.
Lana majors in film production at SDSU, and she is greatly interested in a creative writing career. She got into film as a child because she loves making stories happen for many people to see, as well as creating stories that she can share through her favorite medium. Lana is currently working on an outline for a movie/television show, and she has made a few short comedy films when she was in high school. Through TAKE ONE, Lana would hopes to make meaningful connections with people in the industry.
Oliva is a transfer student at UCI for film studies, formerly at M. SAC. Passionate about films, she had always wanted to be a director/screenwriter. Oliviahas produced a documentary on youtube called "From me, To you...", addressing mental health. In addition to films, she enjoys listening to music which also gives her inspiration on film ideas. She is excited to learn more about filmmaking and screenwriting through ACMA's TAKE ONE program.
Currently a San Diego State University student studying critical media studies, Patrick has a great passion for film and television. He is originally from South Florida and have been living in San Diego since 2015. Patrick has served four years in the U.S. Navy, where he was a helicopter mechanic in Coronado. He wants to gain more experience in the industry for future employment and hopes to learn more about video editing and screenwriting as well as meet new people in the industry through TAKE ONE.
Originally from Thailand, Ponthakorn graduated from Cal State San Bernardino with a bachelor's in Communication studies, minoring in Film Studies and Digital Filmmaking. His passion for filmmaking starts when I was in High school and enjoys video editing. Ponthakorn hopes to learn overall industry knowledge, skills and hands-on experience, as well as meet with industry professionals through TAKE ONE.
Tyler is a recent graduate from Cal State LA with a B.A in Television, Film, and Media Studies. Unlike most people in the industry who grew up watching and inspired by Oscar-winning films, Tyler's role models are the YouTubers, and created his first one back in 2017 for a school project. Since then, Tyler has continued to make more videos for his YouTube channel and used them to develop his skills as a video editor. He hopes to further develop his skills, gain more industry experience and network through TAKE ONE.
Summer 2022
Hello! My name is Apollo Fabian (he/they). I am currently a 3rd year at UCSD with a major in Studio Art and a minor in Film. Although a lot of my work is based on visual arts I am also very interested in Film. I got my first exposure to the media industry when my brother was looking for a film school to attend when I was younger but it developed into a passion when I took two years of video editing classes in High School.
Hello, I am Brianna and I am 21 years old. I am a Media Major at the University of California, San Diego. I was born and raised in San Diego, however, I am still in need of visiting the exciting locations around the city. I became interested in film when I started editing videos for my Physical Education class in high school. I love movies and I figured that out when I became interested in the production and post-production of a film. I prefer movies over books, so that is another reason why I love visual representations. I am excited about this internship, and cannot wait for what is to come.
Hi! My name is Brianna Jimenez, and I’m entering my second year at Orange Coast College. I’m undecided about my major, but I’m strongly interested in film. I hope to gain experience/knowledge about film production and meet awesome people passionate about film. Since I was young, I’ve loved the power film has in telling a story. I specifically enjoy the many emotions you can experience through the words and actions of them.
Hello! My name is Cheryl Zhang. I’m from China. I’m in UCSD and I am majoring in media. I like films because I love the feeling of being busy behind the screen. I really want to study some filming skills in this program.
Hello! My name is Christina Phetsany. My pronouns are She/Her, and my birthday is December 7th, 2000. I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I’m a California State University San Marcos student, and I will be a senior this fall semester. I’m a Communications major and minoring in Film and Video productions. I was first introduced to this industry in high school and had an instant connection. It is incredible to be able to have the opportunity to be surrounded by so many creative individuals and become inspired.
Danqi "Danky" (She/hers) is a multimedia artist born and raised in China and now living and working in California, U.S. She recently received a B.A. in Visual Art (Media) at UCSD. Her practices are related to self-expression, expression of today's society, Chinese culture, and tradition, mainly Chinese in America.
Hi! I’m Ethan Lau and I’m going into my second year at UCSD. In addition to taking media and film history classes, I’ve also taken photography and acting ones to broaden my understanding of filmmaking. Lately, I have been working on personal short films, and have been involved with my friends’ films as their DOP. From this internship, I hope to gain hands-on experience with camera gear, along with obtaining the leadership skills required to lead a full cast and crew.
Jalal Al-Marashi Jaffer is an Arab-American filmmaker, studying Visual Arts - Media at the University of California, San Diego. He is currently the Director of Internal Affairs at Triton Television, a student-run film organization; a student worker at the UCSD Media Teaching Lab; and an intern at ACMA's Take One program. For film projects, he has served as an Assistant Director, Director of Photography, Key Grip, Script Supervisor, and Editor. He is interested in exploring the Muslim American experience through storytelling and film.
Hello everyone, my name is Jiaying He (her/ she). I am a media major student who just graduated from UCSD. I love media since I were in high school, I joined the school's radio and television station, setting me on my subsequent media path. I am a good storyteller and I like to be able to reflect more of my view of the world in my future work. Other than that, I'm addicted to photography, and I find it very fulfilling to take good pictures. I'm excited to meet everyone in the Take One program, let's do it together!
Julian (he/they) is a recent SDSU graduate for TV, Film, and Media with an emphasis in Critical Studies and an aspiring Filipino-American filmmaker and writer. He hopes to do more work to incorporate Philippine-American, specifically Bicolano, culture and storytelling into film, as well as uplift and inspire the masses at home and abroad. Aside from filmmaking, though, his other passions include dance, spoken word, and world-building among many others. He hopes to one day find a unique synthesis of all his interests and bring unique experiences through his stories.
My name is Kieran Vu. I’m a Junior at UCSD majoring in Visual Arts (Media). I have some history in acting as well as spearheading and creating my own short films. I’m hoping to gain film pre/post-production in a professional setting and can’t wait to work with every one of you. Aside from film production, I spend most of my days dancing on a collegiate hip hop team.
My name is Maggie Pour and it is with great enthusiasm that I am participating in the Take One 2022 filmmaker program at Asian Culture & Media Alliance. I am a graduate student in two California State University, Los Angeles programs: Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Arts (MA). Within the next academic year, I will be working on my thesis project, a short film, to fulfill my MFA requirement in production.
Hi! My name is Noemi Vasquez, and my pronouns are she/her. I just graduated from Cal State San Marcos with a bachelor in Sociology and a minor in communication. Although my degree is no where in connection with film, I’m always interested in getting involved in new things outside of my norms. I’m excited to see what my next journey involves.
Patrick Shartzer (he/they) is a current sophomore at Palomar College
studying Film, TV and Electronic Media; they were first introduced to the
rhetorical and entertaining power of film in a highschool video production
class. Focusing on writing and cinematography, their body of work
encourages audiences to practice awareness of their conceptions of the
world and empathy towards others.
Hi! I’m Rida Qadeer and I’m a third year undergraduate student at UC San Diego! I’m double majoring in Media and International Business and I’m very interested in screenwriting, directing, and social entrepreneurship. In my free time, I love reading, playing piano, and having new adventures. Here’s to the newest adventure-Take One!
My name is Sania Bhatia and I am a 17 year old recent high school graduate. I have loved the art of filmmaking since I was in the fifth grade, and continue to grow my understanding of it each day. I wanted to continue creating with a group of people this summer, so I am excited to be a part of the Take One team. I will be studying Film & Television in New York this fall and I am thrilled to continue studying this field. Some of my future goals are to 1) graduate with a minor in philosophy, 2) become a director of photography with an emphasis in creating independent commercials, and 3) travel to Iceland, Sweden, and Australia.
Hi! I’m Tiffany Huang, a rising junior at the University of Southern California (USC) who up until 2 weeks ago, was studying Human Biology on a pre med track (I just switched to computer science and business, and am also minoring in cinematic film/TV production). As an East Coast native who grew up in NJ/NYC my entire life, I never knew I had a passion for acting and film until I moved to LA last year for university. My Asian American identity definitely plays a huge role in my passion for telling diverse stories and representation. I’d love to learn more about
screenplay writing and directing, explore the business of the film/TV industry, and connect with everyone!
Fall 2021
Alijah Jacob Castillo Buada is a Filipino-American creative and aspiring screenwriter who majors in Television, Film, and New Media with an Emphasis in Critical Studies at San Diego State University.
24-year-old Andrew Cao recently graduated from San Diego State University in 2020 in General Business. He is currently studying Visual Communications at San Diego Mesa College.
Angelica Correa is a third year student at Cal State LA, studying Television, Film and Media Studies with an emphasis in production/post-production.
Ausdon Thong is a graduate from California State University of Fullerton with a degree in Cinema & TV Arts with a focus in Screenwriting.
Brittany Wang is a young screenwriter born in Tianjin, China and raised in Rockville, Maryland. She graduated from the University of California Los Angeles in 2019 where she supplemented her economics education with classes in screenwriting, production, and film history.
ESAE is a self-taught producer, singer, and artist based in Los Angeles and Orange County. ESAE (pronounced ee-say) is derived from the first two syllables of her Korean name and means second generation, which is an integral part of her identity.
Clara is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University with a deep appreciation for art of all mediums.
Cody LeDoux is currently enrolled at California State University LA majoring in Television/Film/Media. Hailing from Sacramento, Cody moved to LA to pursue his career in The Film industry.
Collin Gaja is a current junior studying Broadcast Journalism and Documentary and pursuing a minor in Sound Design at Chapman University in Orange, CA.
Darlene is a 4th year student at UC Irvine, majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Asian American Studies.
Donald West is a fourth year at Cal State San Marcos, on track to graduate this year, majoring in Arts and Technology with a minor in Video/Film Production.
Ina Ycasas is currently a 2nd year student majoring in Writing for Screen and Television at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Jazmine Myleigh Martinez is a biracial (Filipino/Mexican) Cal State Los Angeles transfer student aiming to be a screenwriter for film and any other mediums she could get her hands on.
Josdon Thong is an alumni of California State University of Northridge. He graduated in the spring of 2020 and his field of study was in the Cinema & Television Arts, specifically in Screenwriting.
Katherine Alexa Perez-Rojas is a Hispanic whose family is from Nicaragua but she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is an aspiring screenwriter who is majoring in Film/Media at Cal State LA.
Lara is a Communication Studies major at Cal State Long Beach. She has traveled extensively throughout the world and has a deep interest in learning about other cultures.
Lauren Yamada is a Chinese & Japanese American filmmaker born and raised in Southern California. She is currently a senior at Cal State LA majoring in Television, Film, and Media Studies with a focus on Production and minoring in Entertainment Marketing.
Merrienne Jimenez is a published writer who graduated from University of California San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature and World Cultures with a concentration in Media.
Nicole Tanaka is from Los Angeles, California. She has always had a passion for storytelling since she was a young girl. Currently attending Pasadena City College, she is majoring in Design Media Arts and hopes to do video and production work within the film and advertising industry.
Oliver Real Villa was born and raised in Long Beach, California, and is currently a freshman at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in Aerospace Engineering and minoring in Photography and Video.
Ran Ran Wang is a Chinese-American writer and director. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2019 with a degree in Business but quickly transitioned into the entertainment industry through an opportunity to do literary scouting.
Wendy Reyes is a Mexican-American upcoming graduate of Cal State University of Los Angeles majoring in Television, Film, and Media studies. With 2 yrs + of editing and several PA work experiences, they are always up and ready for new accelerating challenges within the media industry every day.
William Pellegrini is a Hispanic man whose family immigrated to the United States from Honduras. He was born in San Diego, and majored in Communication at San Diego State University.
Fall 2020
My name is Abigaile and I am studying Communication at UC San Diego. My career goal is to work in research, marketing, or HR for a creative media company. In my free time, I love to play music and watch movies!
My name is Joseph Celo. I am a senior at UC San Diego and former NCAA student-athlete. I am currently majoring in Communication and am pursuing a career in the sports media and broadcasting industry.
Bailey Chan is currently a sophomore at San Diego State University majoring in Multimedia and Photography with an honors minor in Interdisciplinary Studies. Born and raised in the Bay Area, she has had the privilege to be surrounded by diverse cultures as she grew up.
My name is Samson. I was raised and born in Hong Kong. I am a transfer student in UCSD and my major is communication. I am an adventurous person, I like hiking on the mountain and camping in the desert. My goal is to travel and meet people from different part of the world.
I am an undergraduate at UCSD, studying Computer Science. I am a Marshallese-Filipino American. I have an interest in production and most of my experience is in technical theatre and live events.
I am currently a student at SDSU majoring in communications hoping to do work in Public Relations in the future for entertainment or video game companies. I also like to do some acting myself and have been in a few plays and wish to do more voice-over work of my own in the future.
Hello my name is Anshali Lala but I go by my last name Lala. I am Info-FIjian and Nepali. I am from the Bay Area and moving to San Diego for school this fall. I go to UCSD with Communications as my major with an interest in media.
Joshua Lee is currently a 3rd year student at San Diego State University, currently majoring in TV, Film, and New Media production Ever since middle school, Joshua has been interested in art more than anything else.
A senior at UC San Diego, Jennifer majors in Communications with a minor in Media Production. Combining her culture and her love for movies she seeks to produce works in the future that will reflect her Asian American heritage in order to help foster representation in the media industry.
Moves with the silence, listens more than speaks, fits the mold of “being laid back” as California is home. Meticulous, ambiguous, and one might say ambitious, as dabbling in many things is a recurrence. Potential polyglot, aspiring artist, and a liker of literature.
Hello my name is Christopher, Chris for short. I am a 4th year student at UC San Diego. I transferred from San Jose and I have fallen in love with San Diego ever since. I enjoy hiking, sunsets, and good places to take pictures. My motto is "Never Settle" because I expect to achieve great things in the future.
Natalie Norasingh is a student at UCSD with a major in Communications. She is a transfer student. She has a multicultural background of Southeast Asian, American, and European upbringing.
Arleen is currently a Communications major at UC San Diego, minoring in world literature. She’s always had a love for storytelling and movies; someday, she hopes to combine both by becoming a screenwriter.
I am a senior at UCSD and majoring in Visual Arts: Media. Born and raised in Venice in Los Angeles City. My favorite director is Tim Burton for his unique animation style and best storytelling skills in his films.
Jake is a Communication and Business major at UCSD, a proud Filipino and Ecuadorean mix, breast cancer survivor, and most importantly, the funnest person you’ll ever meet.
Hello, my name is Andy Tapia and I am a Mexican-American student at UCSD, majoring in communications. I transferred from MiraCosta college last spring and I am about to start my first semester at UCSD this fall.
Emily is currently studying Television, Film, and New Media Production at San Diego State University. When she is not behind the scenes, she enjoys reading and hanging out with her dog, Eliza.
I'm currently a senior at UCSD. As someone who hopes to have a career in media, I hope to create meaningful works that people can enjoy and someday be someone who can empower future Asian voices.
My name is Vivienne Vo and I am a student at UC San Diego. I am currently majoring in Communications and minoring in Digital Film and Video Production. I have always loved movies and hope to work in the industry after college!
sabelle is a third year student at UC San Diego, majoring in communications and minoring in business. From dancing, to painting, to producing media, storytelling is and has always been one of her passions.
Daxuan Wu is an international student currently studying in UCSD. He majors in Visual Arts: Media, and has a minor in business. Daxuan is an aspiring media creator, and he takes pride in his cultural roots.
2019 – Spring 2020
2017 – 2018
Throughout the duration of this the Take One Media Internship Program, interns will learn about various aspects of the production process, create their own projects to add to their portfolios and have the chance to produce their own short film. Interns will have the chance to use real production equipment, from sound to lighting–while receiving instruction and feedback from seasoned film and television producers.
