Sometimes, all you need is belief—and a little bit of hustle.
In our very first year as a high school film and media production program, our students walked into the @mdcareerpathways film festival with no industry connections, no flashy gear, and very little experience. What they did walk in with? Heart, hunger, and a story to tell.
And guess what? They walked out with the Best Overall Film Award of the entire evening.
As both the instructor of this class and the CEO of OnWatch TV, I couldn’t be more proud. This isn’t just a win for our students—it’s a reminder that with vision, mentorship, and unwavering purpose, we can accomplish anyt
The Journey Wasn’t Easy
When the program launched, they had no cameras. No lights. No editing stations. Just raw passion and a classroom full of students who were eager to learn.
Truthfully, some advised me not to enter my students into the festival at all. I was told we might embarrass ourselves. That the students weren’t ready. That they couldn’t compete with established schools who had everything we didn’t.
But that’s never been how we move.
We leaned into the principles we teach—stay steadfast in your mission, don’t be swayed by naysayers, and maintain a vision rooted in faith, not fear.
With support from the nonprofit SCORE and our team at OnWatch TV, we equipped our students with the tools and mentorship they needed to turn their ideas into something powerful. Not only did they produce a competitive film—they produced a winning one.
Interns with Purpose
The story doesn’t stop there. While watching these students rise to the challenge, I brought them onto the OnWatch TV and SCORE film team as interns. Now they’re gaining real-world experience producing live events, filming community stories, and preparing for film school scholarships.
You can meet the team on the About Us page at onwatchtv.net—because these young filmmakers are already creating change, and we’re just getting started.
To every student who doubts themselves: start anyway.
To every educator or leader: pour into them anyway.
To every community: support them anyway.
Because when belief meets opportunity, amazing things happen.
Stay tuned. We’ve only just begun.
#OnWatchTV #FutureFilmmakers #BestOverallFilm #StudentVoicesMatter #CTEExcellence #FilmWithPurpose #HighSchoolToHollywood #SCOREImpact #StreamingForChange #MentorTheNextGeneration #AsAManThinketh