Acclaimed independent filmmaker JAYDEE® has had her work presented in national film festivals but  is really proud that her latest effort - as an educator – allows her to give back to students in her home borough.  The Queens native with over 20 years of experience in of film and television production is currently sharing her knowledge as the instructor of the Video Club after school program at VOYAGES Preparatory High School in Elmhurst, NY.
 
The school- a collaboration with Queens Community House (QCH) & New Visions for Public Schools with the NYC Department of Education - opened in September 2008, for over-age and under-credited students at the Elmhurst Educational Complex.  The after school program is funded by NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) Neighborhood Development Area grant, for instruction embedded in the visual & expressive arts. In the 08-09 school year, it included dance & music production and for the current academic year, expanded to include drama and video production.
 
The Video Club, JAYDEE ® explains “trains students in such areas as shooting, lighting, and editing with the goal of producing a final project or short film at the end of the semester.” JAYDEE ® whose films have included the comedy “Closure” (Best USA Narrative Short-2007 Women's International Film Festival), producing the romantic short film “One More Try,” and most recently producing and directing the documentary “Flight 587 Honor” added "I describe to the students what capacities they could potentially work out in the field and how much they could earn.”
 
Student Kelly Guaman, 17 from Sunnyside, who wants to be a student filmmaker, feels the program is going very well and has learned "that with low budgets you could make a great movie.”  After the program wraps up for the spring semester, it will continue in the fall. Currently open only to VOYAGES Prep students, the “club” could potentially expand to the students in the other schools at the Elmhurst Educational Complex in the fall.  For further information about Video Club contact Sylvia Sanchez at VOYAGES Prep This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  To contact JAYDEE®   / Another JAYDEE Production, email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .