Kids 'N Film - The Next Generation!

Empowering kids through self-esteem and confidence building in front of and behind the camera on independent films!

Hi, I'm Jacalyn Evone, I am an independent filmmaker, producer, director, cinematographer, and editor. A graduate of the Academy of Arts University in Motion Picture and Television, my past includes two feature-length documentaries, a host of narrative and documentary short films, over 300 local cable television program shows, and a feature-length narrative.

On past projects, my greatest pleasure has been working with young actors, several of which had their very first film experience begin with me.


My journey today is to continue to work to encourage youth to develop storytelling skills and production techniques both in front of the camera as acting talents along with behind the scene training in workshops that lead to kid-driven completed productions.

Hollywood is quite transient, this year we saw a wave of films and actors from across the cultural spectrum recognized for their work, however, it took several years of complaints and individual boycotts to see honest, intelligent portrayals of people of color, their cultures, and lifestyles. However if Hollywood is true to form, we will again see periods of time and a lapse of winning films featuring varied lifestyles and people of color under-represented once again. I want to do my part to change that by helping more young people develop skills in front of and behind the lens of a camera.
It is time for filmmakers to stop waiting for Hollywood to recognize that the world is a rainbow. I want to work with local youth to develop their on-camera visual characterization skills and production experiences. At the same time emphasizing the importance of embracing their own lifestyles and cultures and the importance of making films in their own way.

How will this benefit local youth?

I offer an ongoing learning experience where youth are given the opportunity to participant in weekend and summer workshops where they learn to perform on camera while learning about what happens behind the scenes towards the completion of actual independent film productions.

On camera work can help with confidence building and improved social skills. It provides youth an opportunity to express themselves and understand their own voices. We live in a visual world today and it is important for young people to learn how to present themselves in front of a camera, where they can discover their strengths and work on their weaknesses.


Through workshops, our kids will gain an understanding of what filmmaking involves and observe industry professionals and professional equipment. Learning the tools of the trade, sound capture, setup, clapboards, a chance to view the scenes through the lens of the camera and see what the camera operator and director sees. They will discover what happens during actual productions, exposing them to the various career opportunities in the film industry. They will get to have fun developing characters in scenes and practicing in front of the camera as they develop characters.


They will have a detailed look at the cinematic production process, with a focus on both narrative storytelling and documentary based stories. With narratives, they will engage in the acting and production of creative visual entertainment stories. Documentary films also play an important role in educating our youth, exposing them to new ideas, new places, and the stories and experiences of others.

All Kids 'N Film projects are youth driven including the main on-screen characters.  Our stories will tackle social issues and concerns, leaving the viewers with a thoughtful, and most often, positive message.


Through telling stories on film, young filmmakers and actors can engage themselves in a way that helps them to better understand the world around them and some of the social issues taking place today. Nothing I feel is equal to looking at the world through the eyes of a child.

While I recognize the importance of programs such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities, under threat at the moment for potential funding cuts. work must continue to keep these programs in place. However, as an independent filmmaker, funding for projects such as independent films is often limited or unavailable to us via these needed platforms. Which is why I come to you to seek your help towards funding a workshop to production program like this for our youth.

All art forms are critical to the learning process of our youth and this is one way to continue to support a unique opportunity that will not only provide a meaningful experience to local youth but will help them begin their on-screen acting careers or filmmaking journey as new visual creatives. Your support is welcomed and greatly needed.

What will your funds be used for?

Funds are needed to secure permits, licenses, insurance costs, workshop and shoot locations.

Along with our production team, we will pay for a certified "Studio Teacher," to be on site during any production work when required.  This is the person that helps keep an eye on the kids while on set, making sure they are protected at all times. We want to make sure that our child actors and behind the scene activities have all the legal and safety requirements in place so they can have the most enjoyable experience while on set during the production stages.

Your generous donations will also allow me to bring in child acting coaches and a professional team that can assist with furthering the education and learning during our workshops for our young participants.

Funds will additionally be used to add to the equipment already in-house so that more kids can have a greater hands-on experience.

Post-production is where the magic happens and the film is assembled into an extraordinary final production. Staying on top of software applications and tools for editing, sound and color correction is important.

After the workshops, kids will have a chance to participate in independent film productions. Once the films are completed, they will be submitted to film festivals. Funds raised will also go to film festival submissions fees and screening costs. It is not only exciting for kids to participate in the filmmaking process, but to be able to experience the big screen experience by seeing themselves and their names in bold credit before large audiences will have a lasting effect.

And last but not least, Food, we have to make sure our youth receive good, but healthy free nourishing meals during the day workshops and once they move to the production process, that same good nourishing food will be provided while on set.

Our Projects Continue to Evolve

While I and my team are continually writing and creating new activities, we want kids to have input in developing story ideas. We want to gear our workshops around that which most interest the youth participants while making sure they receive the training that benefits them the most.