In an old auto shop classroom in Hollywood High School, Mawuena Akorli zips across the room with a tripod-mounted camera in one hand and a penciled directive in the other: more black goo. “And the secret to it is food dye and blue agave,” said Mawuena, a junior. “It’s very sweet and very yummy, but it’ll get the job done. You’ll look terrifying.” That’s how Mawuena remembers creating the “jewel” of her creative work as a filmmaker: A thrilling horror-comedy showcasing her character’s quest to hunt down ghosts in the darkest corners of Hollywood High’s campus. In the final episode, her character becomes possessed by a ghost, and with a mouthful of goo, Mawuena is gripped by the horror herself. “I loved it because I love writing, and that’s when I get to put my creative energy out,” Mawuena said. Mawuena is one of more than 300 students in Hollywood High’s New Media Academy, a career-based arts program that prepares students for careers in visual media. Through hands-on projects, students learn video production or animation in Los Angeles, where the entertainment industry still dominates the local economy. “We work with industry partners to create internships and provide students opportunities to get jobs,” said Alice Nezu, program coordinator. “We’ve seen students, particularly ones who may have had a challenging time in the classroom, make a lot of progress over their years in the program and respond to all the community that we’re able to offer.” Students at New Media Academy practice…
