Oakwood University News January 21, 2015 Oakwood Student Helps Film Documentary by Jasmine Bartholomew, student writer During the holidays when most students were spending time with their families, I was busy preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime. From December 26, 2014, to January 5, 2015, 11 other students from local universities and I were in California to film a documentary entitled Huntsville2Hollywood. Huntsville2Hollywood is a movie that allowed students majoring in journalism, mass communication, and film to go behind the scenes of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. The trip was sponsored by the Media Arts Institute of Alabama, founded by Leon Burnette. Burnette and the Media Arts Institute partnered with Joetta DiBella to coach, mentor, and prepare us for this experience. Being able to sit at the energetic feet of DiBella was an honor in, and of itself, because she is an Emmy award-winning producer who has worked with 16 Tournament of Roses parades. Her passion for this project and her connections to the Rose Bowl allowed us to receive press passes, Rose Parade stand tickets, and access to behind-the-scenes preparations, including the Tournament House, building of the floats, the Rose Queen, and so much more. Our access to the parade was just one of the many highlights of this trip. We also visited Rodeo Drive, Equestfest, the Staples Center, the Watts Towers, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Beverly Hilton - which is the home of the Golden Globes awards broadcast. We spoke with the 2015 Queen of the Parade, Madison Triplett; interviewed David Thomas of Take 6 and his wife Marla; and Oakwood alumnus and producer Erik Griggs. One of the biggest highlights of the trip was unexpectedly receiving complimentary end-zone tickets to the Rose Bowl game as well as speaking for an hour with the CEO for the Tournament of Roses, Bill Flinn, who extended an invitation for us to return next year. This trip strengthened my faith in God and taught me that if you follow God's will, He will line up opportunities for you in the things you are passionate about. No matter where you are from, or what you have been through, there is no reason to stop dreaming and turning those dreams into reality. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.