Today is the last day of school and it's graduation time. As an assistant here, it's only my fourth month, but it felt like it went by so fast. This first class I got to work with was at times a headache, but really was a pleasure to work with. The Blink Film Festival would probably be the highlight of the last 4 months. It was great seeing Wes and Koba's group almost tear each other apart, but then coming together in the end and putting 'Brothers' together, Marco and Albert's group clowning around with every scene, while trying to get to work at Petsmart on time, Jhasper and Lani's group being the first group to film, and even Oz and Philip doing their thing even though they didn't know each other. Then there's Vernon's group who came together to make the winner of Best Film, 'The Puppet'. Vernon complaining that the requirements were 'ridiculous' and then him using a sock puppet.

All in all, whoever won isn't all that important to me. In filmmaking, especially in high school, when everyone is still trying to figure out what a camera is, it's all about the journey and the Blink 48 Hour film shootout speaks to that notion. In 48 hours these high school students didn't just have films to their names, but also a new understanding of what can be done in such short a time with people you may or may not know.

Next year we'll have more and better equipment, but I don't think I'll forget this first class. There's always something about that 'first' that's different from the rest. Pioneers would be a touch overdoing it, but it was a great class for what it's worth.

Next year this class is going to kick so much butt, you can count on that.