Take One Vocational Media Arts & Sciences Program
Empowering Our Next Generation of FilmmakersStorytellersDigital CreatorsArtistsCinematographersFilm EditorsJournalists
About Take One
The TAKE ONE Vocational Media Arts & Sciences Program that was created to inspire and catalyze the next generation of filmmakers and media creators in the underserved communities.
TAKE ONE is an annual, hands-on media training and internship program provided free of charge for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) high school and transitional youth participants ages 16-25 residing in Southern California. This program is also inclusive to non-Asian youths from other under-served communities who wish to learn about the AANHPI culture and/or pursue careers in the competitive television and film media industry.
One of ACMA’s core objectives is to provide educational opportunities and mentorship programs that inspire our future generations of filmmakers, producers, writers, directors and media technicians. To provide such resources, ACMA founded TAKE ONE in 2016, where over 220 participants have enrolled and graduated. You can meet all of our TAKE ONE Alumni here.
By providing youth creators from under-served communities an opportunity to learn hands-on television and film production vocational skills as well as leadership, teamwork and self-development skills, we believe TAKE ONE can also foster a better sense of pride and self-identity within the communities they serve. We also encourage our youth to create original ideas and projects based on their own perspectives and experiences that can even possibly help to inspire and shape the perspectives of others that can also affect the futures of their communities. You can view previous TAKE ONE Projects and short films on our YouTube Channel.
Have a question about your eligibility, our program offerings, or just want to know more about TAKE ONE?
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TAKE ONE is a 12-week, in-depth curriculum divided into 3 stages or knowledge blocks focused on i) Story Development & Screen Writing ii) Production Tools & Principles and iii) Producing & Directing.
Each stage is 4 weeks long, providing students the opportunity to develop and apply their knowledge and newfound skills onto ACMA’s media projects such as Asian Voices TV and Asian Voices Radio as well as their own short films. With exploratory assignments, the TAKE ONE Program allows its students to build and strengthen their portfolios and prepare to break into the industry – no matter their level of skill.
After completing Stages 1-3, up to 4 TAKE ONE Graduates will be selected for ACMA’s 3-month Media Fellowship program, where they will have the opportunity to write and produce their own short films, funded and supported by ACMA, as well as have exclusive access to mentorship and networking opportunities with industry professionals.
Aspiring Screenwriters will be mentored over the remaining 8 weeks to complete writing their scripts. At the end of the 12-week period, they will also have the opportunity to pitch their story for the chance to be produced during the ACMA’s Media Fellowship program.
Curriculum Snapshot
Stage 1 – Story Development & Scriptwriting (Mandatory for Aspiring Screenwriters, Producers & Directors)
- Narrative, documentary, and creative styles of film & media
- Developing ideas and storylines for television & film
- If the student wants to focuse on screenwriting ONLY, they will continue developing their scripts through 1-1 mentorship over the course of 8 weeks (skip Stages 2 and 3)
Stage 2 – Production Tools & Principles (Mandatory for Aspiring Producers & Directors)
- Pre-production
- Lighting, Grip, Cameras, Shooting
- Post-production
- Video Editing
Stage 3 – Producing & Directing (Mandatory for Aspiring Producers & Directors)
- Producer Responsibilities
- Pitch Decks
- Budgeting & Capitol
- Script Breakdown
- Director Responsibilities
- Storyboarding
- Shot Lists
- Blocking Scenes
- Directing Talent
ACMA Media Fellowship & Short Film Production (Offered to Four Selected Take One Program Graduates)
- Learn and experience
- Stipend and Resources Provided to Produce Short Film
- Distribution Determination
- Marketing Model for the Project
- Talent Casting, Location Scouting/Permitting
- Exhibition
TAKE ONE Pathway Breakdown

We highly encourage any aspiring filmmakers, regardless of their skill and experience level, to apply for the Take One Program. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about ACMA’s TAKE ONE Program and other Internship Opportunities: CLICK HERE to sign up for our newsletter.
Take One Instructors
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Take One Mentorship Team
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Sina Hajhassan Career Coach As Entertainment/Media Chair, then President of the Undergraduate Communication Society, Sina got to live his passion of leading a team and helping his peers get clarity in careers within the communications industry through our organization’s offerings. He also coached students and friends on professionalism, using LinkedIn, resume writing and job interviewing. Sina served as a Senior LinkedIn Champion and Director of Triton LinkedIn Group, a program that was only offered at eight college campuses in the nation. Working with his team, the Career Center at UC San Diego and actual LinkedIn employees, Sina got to further develop his knowledge and skills in career coaching. Read MoreSon Nguyen Senior Recruiter @ LinkedIn Son is currently the Senior Lead Campus Business Recruiter at LinkedIn. He is responsible for hiring and coaching entry-level talent for 300+ business and technical roles in the SF Bay Area, Chicago, New York, and Dublin. Prior to joining the talent acquisition team at LinkedIn, he worked in recruiting for Target Headquarters as well as college admissions at Notre Dame, Columbia, and Michigan. He was born and raised in Bellingham, WA to Vietnamese refugees. Son is the first in his family to attend college and holds a BBA of management consulting from the University of Notre Dame along with an MS of strategic communications from Columbia University. He is passionate about his Fighting Irish, Seattle sports, and coffee. Read MoreElliott H. Jung Trial Attorney Elliott H. Jung grew up in Los Angeles where he watched his immigrant parents trying to survive in a completely different culture. He found his life’s calling when he attended law school at Southwestern Law School in downtown Los Angeles, and is currently a partner with Hepburn, Hernandez, & Jung. He was first accepted to work at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Appellate Unit and was then chosen to work for the Honorable Mark E. Windham handling a variety of criminal matters that were assigned to him by the Judge. He has since then worked with the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Central District of California and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. He was invited to teach as an adjunct professor at California Western Law School teaching the school’s main trial skills program and guided law students into becoming an effective advocate for their clients. Elliott also coached law students to compete in local and national trial competitions against other prestigious law schools. Read MoreShaina Ghuraya Filmmaker/Producer Shaina is currently a Writer and Netflix Animation, and a graduate of the University of Southern California's Master of Fine Arts program in Film and Television production. She jokes that she is a triple threat (disabled, Punjabi, and a woman), and is a fierce activist for people with disabilities. Shaina has developed her style as a director - bold, unrelenting, and quirky - focused on making comedies that promote diversity and inclusion. Shaina is also one of the founders of the production company Rebuilt Minds where the goal is to produce stories that embrace diversity and explore intersectionality. Read MoreKayleb Lee Filmmaker Kayleb Lee is an independent American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, CA. He’s a USMC Combat Veteran and graduated Summa Cum Laude from The Los Angeles Film School. He’s produced six award-winning short films, including three he directed and edited. Julie Lew Fox Searchlight Pictures Julie began her career filming live music concerts and working in the camera department on various film and television sets. She helped oversee production of the Emmy Award-winning interactive series ARTIFICIAL and the revival of the hit web series EMMA APPROVED, based on Jane Austen’s novel. Showrunner Bernie Su let Julie join the writer’s room of EMMA APPROVED, because although she had no prior writing experience, she possessed a lot of extraneous knowledge about Jane Austen. She’s been interested in making a living out of coming up with stories ever since. Julie recently graduated from USC’s Peter Stark Program. By day, she works at a production company, and by other parts of the day and night, writes and produces her own projects. Julie aspires for her work to spark conversations about positive social change, and to use her voice to challenge prejudice, fight discrimination, and uplift diverse stories. Read MoreMonte Simard Motion Designer A professional motion designer and cinematographer, I bring a versatile skillset and curiosity for problem-solving to every project I work on. Monye thrives about solving problems in high-pressure situations. I'm most comfortable using Cinema 4D, Octane, Substance Painter and Designer, 3D Coat, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Audition, and Ableton Live, but I also have experience with Maya, 3ds Max, ZBrush, V-Ray, Unity, Unreal Engine, Nuke, Fusion, Resolve, Final Cut, and Pro Tools. Read More |
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