At Shandin Hills Middle School, the art of filmmaking became a real-world lesson in community, teamwork, and a little bit of movie magic — all in one unforgettable afternoon.
As a filmmaking instructor with the CAPS ELX program, I always strive to teach my students that storytelling isn’t just about writing scripts and shouting “action.” It’s about adaptability, collaboration, and capturing real moments when they arise — even when the script changes. And that’s exactly what happened during one of our recent film classes.
Starting the Day: Dreaming Big
We started the day with an inspirational warm-up: I asked the students to write down ten wishes — anything they could dream of — to help them connect with their own hopes and identities. The energy in the room was electric. Kids were smiling, brainstorming, and starting to realize that knowing what you want is the first step toward making it real.
But like all good stories, there was a twist.
Searching for a New Opportunity
One of our lead actresses, a 7th-grade student, had to leave early. That left a gap in our planned shoot for the day. Instead of calling it a loss, I took two students and went looking for a new opportunity. Meanwhile, the rest of the class stayed behind, supervised by the wonderful Mrs. L — a fellow CAPS ELX team member who kept their creativity flowing. Shoutout to Mrs. L for being an incredible support!
We found the vice principal still on campus — a small victory — but none of the security guards we had hoped to include in the film were available. At that moment, just outside the front office window, we spotted something unexpected: a real police car parked right out front. It turned out there had been a minor traffic incident near the school.
A Priceless Opportunity: Filming with the Police Department
Now, for those who don’t know — renting authentic police cars and actors for film shoots can easily cost several thousand dollars per day (including permits and rental fees). Yet, here we were, face-to-face with an opportunity we could never have planned for.
Without hesitation, we approached the officer and asked him if he would be willing to be in our film. He smiled and said he had to speak with the principal first, but if he was still there afterward, he would do it — for the kids.
The excitement was contagious. We sprinted back to the classroom, grabbed our gear, and within minutes the entire class mobilized like a professional crew.
- A 7th grader handled audio.
- An 8th grader took charge behind the camera and directed the scene.
- The vice principal, the police officer, the police car, and Shandin Hills itself became part of our cinematic world.
A Real Filmmaking Lesson: Embracing the Unexpected
In a single afternoon, the students learned one of the most valuable lessons in filmmaking: plans change. Real filmmaking is about responding to the moment, staying open to new possibilities, and trusting that sometimes, the unexpected leads to something even better than you imagined.
We thought we were missing a security guard. Instead, we captured a moment of real collaboration between students, educators, and the San Bernardino Police Department — a true testament to the power of community.
Thank You to the San Bernardino Police Department
A heartfelt thank you to the San Bernardino Police Department for showing up for our students in such a meaningful way, demonstrating that the community is built on kindness, creativity, and teamwork.
At Shandin Hills Middle School, this wasn’t just filmmaking — it was a reminder that when we work together, we can create something magical.
As a filmmaking instructor with the CAPS ELX program, I always strive to teach my students that storytelling isn’t just about writing scripts and shouting “action.” It’s about adaptability, collaboration, and capturing real moments when they arise — even when the script changes. And that’s exactly what happened during one of our recent film classes.
