Apprentice editor Rhian Advincula shares her journey from Elk Grove student to working on the Warner Bros.’ upcoming Green Lantern series. She talks about the power of networking, the mentors and organizations—like the Handy Foundation—that opened doors, and how she discovered her passion for editing. Rhian also explains the creative and technical balance required in post-production and what it takes to shape a story frame by frame. Her story offers an inspiring look at perseverance, the importance of community, and finding your place in the film industry.

Franklin High School senior and Wildcat TV co-producer, Pia Mañez shares how she juggles journalism, student leadership, sports team managing, and community reporting. Pia talks about her passion for elevating student voices through Sacramento School Beat, covering stories ranging from local animal shelters to girls’ sports. She also reflects on the challenges of producing a daily school newscast and what she’s learned about organization, collaboration, and using media to make a difference. Her journey highlights the power of student-driven storytelling—and the impact young journalists can make in their communities.

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn!, Trevor Harding, media teacher at Sunrise Elementary in the Elk Grove Unified School District, shares how a small classroom grant sparked his passion for media education and transformed his approach to teaching. He describes how his student-run news program, Spartan TV, engages elementary school learners in every aspect of production—from anchoring to camera operation—using a five-level system that rewards creativity and growth. Trevor also reflects on the joy of seeing his students’ work showcased in the SEVA Contest, produced by SECC, and the life skills they gain through collaboration, storytelling, and community engagement.

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn!, Molly Dugan, journalism professor at Sacramento State University, shares her journey from the Sacramento Bee newsroom to the college classroom, where she now inspires the next generation of storytellers and journalists. She discusses her signature courses like “War, Peace, and the Media,” exploring how journalists navigate truth, power, and conflict in a rapidly changing information landscape. Dugan also reflects on teaching media literacy in an era of misinformation and the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and humility in both consuming and creating media.

In this episode of Lights, Camera, Learn!, guest Elyjah Wilbur, Communications Specialist for the San Juan Unified School District, shares his journey from working with digital media giants like Smosh and BuzzFeed to producing impactful storytelling in public education. He discusses how his early experiences taught him the importance of relatability and building connections with storytelling and how those principles now guide his work creating accessible, inclusive content for diverse school communities. Elyjah also reflects on finding fulfillment through collaboration, mentorship, and storytelling that highlights the real people and programs shaping education in Sacramento.

Reporter Denzen Cortez joins host Aaron Heinrich to share how a third-grade newscast, a love of storytelling, and lessons from sports led him to the KCRA newsroom in Sacramento, CA. From interning with David Muir to reporting in his hometown of Sacramento, Denzen talks about curiosity, discipline, and what it really takes to make it in journalism today.

Ever wonder what a communication professional does in a large, metropolitan school district? In episode 5 of Lights, Camera, Learn! we’re talking with Xanthi Soriano, the Executive Director of Communication for the Sacramento County Office of Education, to answer that question. We’ll learn what she does, why this position is necessary, and how an initial career in Corporate America prepared her for working with school administrators, teachers, parents and students.

Dawn Williams is an experienced media educator with over ten years teaching high school media production skills, while also steadily building up a school newscast that now airs daily. Some of her students have gone on to work as reporters, post-production editors on movies and series, and creatives at professional sports teams. Hear how Dawn made the move from working behind the scenes in local TV to building a successful high school program that continues to make a positive impact on campus and with her students.