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NBC NIGHTLY NEWS NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams has honored Create Now! Founder and President Jill Gurr. She was included as part of their new series "Making a Difference." In order to bring hope to the 10 million viewers who watch their show, NBC Nightly News is periodically featuring a segment on "people changing the world from the ground up."
Jill's segment was broadcast on Monday, November 21st. NBC Nightly News is the # 1 news show and this was obviously an incredible opportunity to promote Create Now! National exposure has enabled us to continue to help the hundreds of thousands of troubled youth in our community. Click here to watch this two minute segment. (Alternate formats: Windows Media 56k, 100k, Real Media 56k, 100k, 300k) TOP HOLLYWOOD REPORTER (This is an abridged version. To view the complete article, visit the Hollywood Reporter website. At Create Now!'s Wilshire Boulevard offices in Los Angeles, founder and president Jill Gurr has taken a different approach, creating a clearinghouse of sorts by placing mentor volunteers in situations that match their skills and interests. "We basically help them devise a program," Gurr says. "For instance, I had a woman contact me last week who had a very specific desire to work with African-American teenage boys who are interested in photography. So now I'm putting the word out to facilities in her neighborhood on the Westside to see if any of them might have a youth that fits that need." Children targeted by Create Now! often are needy and include those who reside in institutions, group homes and even detention camps. In and out of jail since he was 11, Inglewood, Calif., native Darontay McClendon is one of the organization's proudest success stories. After several one-on-one mentoring sessions with McClendon, who was 16 and living in a detention camp when the two met, Gurr began to offer him opportunities to help the organization. While distributing brochures at Create Now!'s booth during the 2000 Showbiz Expo, McClendon was introduced to the producers of "Gang Tapes," a straight-to-DVD title from Lions Gate Entertainment. He was hired as a technical consultant and ultimately landed a major role in the film, which earned him a supporting actor nomination for the 2003 DVD Premiere Awards. McClendon is now working on a screenplay and soon plans to open a clothing store and tattoo parlor in South Los Angeles. "It didn't take a lot of time to help him," Gurr says. "It was just being there when he needed guidance and offering him opportunities -- and it trickles down because now his children, the neighborhood and his friends and family all are seeing the effects of his change." The process has not yet ended for McClendon -- but he's doing the mentoring these days. "My shop is right there in my old neighborhood," he says. "I pretty much know everybody -- all the kids (and) the older people -- and I try to be a mentor to everyone. ... Sometimes, people just need somebody to tell them that they can do something." TOP BACK STAGE WEST It sounds a bit like a Hollywood film. When screenwriter Jill Gurr began volunteering at a boys' detention camp, thrilling transformations began to happen. For the first time, illiterate kids began learning to read and write. Some began talking about going back to school, working toward college. One gang leader decided to have his gang tattoos removed from his neck and hands. Listening to their weekly improvisations on tape, and then seeing their words in script format, gave these boys a few priceless things, said Gurr: self-esteem, and "the confidence that something they said had value." In the end the boys' hours of hard work paid off: Their screenplay was optioned. Gurr tried the experiment again at another facility, and had the same result: another optioned screenplay. She realized she had hit on something. So, in 1996, she founded Create Now!, a kind of clearinghouse that matches volunteers with a facility in their area. She's had a number of high-profile volunteers over the years, reinforcing her belief that giving back to the community can be a hugely rewarding endeavor for everyone involved. When "Blair Witch Project" filmmakers showed up at a detention facility to hold a two-hour workshop, the reaction was dramatic. Said Gurr, "After the workshop, I passed out evaluation forms, and at least three of the kids said they planned on going to college to become screenwriters. Even if they don't, for that moment they weren't thinking of themselves as rapists or thieves or murderers or whatever it was that they were in for. They were thinking of themselves as writers or actors, and seeing themselves in a new light. And that's very inspirational to the mentors as well, to know that they made a real difference in somebody's life." Gurr has seen that not only do volunteers inspire the young people with whom they work, they often walk away deeply inspired themselves. "I've found that most of the mentors are so thrilled with the ability to communicate with these kids," said Gurr, "especially in an industry that thrives on youth. They are getting to learn the unique language and the culture of the streets, and that's really invaluable for a writer or an actor, or anybody in the industry who is trying to create that. We're giving them a unique opportunity to bond with these kids in a safe environment. They're getting a window on the world and seeing how these kids live. So many of the kids have had horrific lives, and that's also fuel for character study and for other areas of the entertainment industry. It can really fuel an actor's or writer's creative instincts by having that window." Aside from all the creative inspiration volunteering may provide, the act of offering something of ourselves to others is of course a rich reward in itself. Create Now! is a clearinghouse that matches volunteers with various institutions in Los Angeles. By using drama, writing, painting, music, dance, and video production, this organization helps institutionalized at-risk youth who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned to develop self-esteem, confidence, and teamwork. It also serves the homeless and youth in the juvenile justice system. Actors are interviewed and matched with a local facility in their area. They are then interviewed by the institution itself. Volunteers should be prepared to offer one hour, once a week, for four to six weeks. Actors can create their own curriculum and must provide advance notice if they need to miss a session. Contact Create Now!, 2007 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 919, L.A., CA 90057. (213) 484-8500. TOP "DAILY VARIETY" Hollywood-based nonprofit org Create Now! will be taking a spot at the ShowBiz Expo for the first time since its inception in the mid-90s. Founded in 1996, the group utilizes the creative arts to educate institutionalized at-risk youths, -- between 5-18 -- who have either been abused, neglected or abandoned. The group's mission is to help develop stability and direction in the lives of the children they reach through bodies of writing, music, dance, etc. What began as an experimental project for founder Jill Gurr -- who at the time worked as a script supervisor -- became her life's work after receiving a dose of inspiration from sharing her love for screenwriting with troubled teenage boys at the Optimist Youth Home in Eagle Rock, Calif. "I initiated a series of role-playing and dialogue between the boys, together we scripted it, I went home to fill in the blanks and in the end we had an optioned screenplay, " says Gurr. "I realized how beneficial it was when suddenly, after breaking the news to these guys, they had dreams of school and college," she adds. Placing an emphasis on the film and TV industry, Create Now! offers mentoring projects through workshops. Past mentors include original "South Park" staff writter Andrew Borakove and actress Debra Wilson of ("Mad TV"). "Create Now! is an immense self-esteem booster. Kids are looking at something they can be a part of, something that is tangible to them," explains Wilson, who lends herself as a motivational speaker. "They are able to take all the negativity in their lives and metamorphosize it into a positive project." "The kids involved in Create Now! are looking for role models, not authority figures," says Borakove. "They know we are not there to tell them how to behave, we are there as friends." With the help of their staff, one recent writing endeavor for teens at a Van Nuys workshop at Mid-Valley Youth Center drew the attendance of producers, writers and thespians from "That 70's Show" for the performance. Create Now! called show producers after the class named the show their favorite. Other accomplishments have included video projects and talent shows. This week, industry members will get their chance to meet and greet a sampling of these kids and mentors at a booth, donated by Daily Variety and Reed Elsevier Exhibition Companies. Kids will be passing out brochures and sharing their experiences with attendees. "Hopefully the booth will be a good way for people to get to know us. We are independent and require funding from outside sources. We are hoping that by gaining exposure during the ShowBiz Expo, more individuals will feel compelled to contribute," says Gurr. TOP MALIBU SURF SIDE NEWS Create Now!, a program that is designed to build self-esteem and encourage talent in juvenile offenders held a talent contest on Saturday at Camp Kilpatrick. The program involved 220 at-risk teenage boys who reside at Camp Miller as well as Camp Kilpatrick. Appearing at Create Now! on Saturday at Camp Kilpatrick were rap artists M.C. Blvd., Mosey Wosey, Mr. Azteca and Reynaldo Berrios. Many of these youngsters are housed in the camps due to abuse and neglect or abandonment from the juvenile justice system. Create Now! operates on the belief that through one-on-one mentoring and workshops in screenwriting, dramatic and poetry writing, and song lyrics and video production, they will start to learn to express themselves in a creative manner. TOP LOS ANGELES TIMES These are the kids with grandmothers in gangs. They are the children of parents craving crack. Theirs' are the homes where hookers turn tricks in the motel room next door. But behind the mess, they find the words to write the rap and paint the poems, that tell the stories of hardened lives turned to stone by 8 years-old. "I remember the time - - Michael, 13, of Culver City By age 11, Michael knew the going rate for a gram of crack. At 12 he lived among drug dealers, prostitutes and gang members, while his drug-addicted parents spiraled out of control. At 14, he was ordered by the court to Camp Fred Miller in Malibu for juvenile offenders. A year later, holding headphones to his ears, he records inspiring rap music at a studio donated by Will Smith in South-Central, laying down lyrics about staying straight, going to Hollywood High School and working at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum.
Create Now! Founder & President Jill Gurr sends professionals in the entertainment industry, like original "South Park" writer Andrew Borakove and rapper M.C. Blvd., to juvenile institutionalized homes and camps to sell the concept that writing is a positive release for jaded at-risk kids. Create Now! mentor April Claytor listens intently as a student reads about her escape from a mental hospital and her dream to get married and create a rock band. At 15, Marissa writes about dealing with anger and family problems while living at Aviva Residential Treatment Center for abused and at-risk girls, a mansion-like home hidden in the hills of Hollywood. Tattooed on her left arm are three dots forming a triangle, representing her former gang "Mi Vida Loca." "It helps me to express my feelings in a positive way. I've learned how to deal with my anger," said Marissa about the writing program through Create Now! Pamela scrawls her life on sheets of notebook paper and reads about being strapped down almost every day at her third mental hospital by age 16. "I convinced the staff to leave the door open," she reads to the other girls at a Create Now! writing class held at Aviva. "How I did it is not appropriate for this story. Remember, I didn't care about myself." They write to repent past mistakes and listen to the grief of other girls who have walked in similarly tattered shoes before coming to Aviva. "Nothing is right or wrong. The message is to know some of the experiences we've gone through," said Pamela, about the purpose of preserving the girls' writings in a book compiled with the help of screenwriter April Claytor. "I grew up in a troubled home and often writing was an outlet for me," said Claytor, who donates one night per week at Aviva, and has worked for Whitney Houston and HBO. "It's about having other options. Kids think they only have so many roads." For many kids, writing as a release is one of the few things they do have. Someone like Claytor helps them expand their talent, skills and gives them confidence. "For some of these kids, their dad pimps them out for drugs and they slang (deal drugs) for food. This is the reality that the kids have to live in. And not by choice," said Jain Irvine, deputy probation officer and counselor at Camp Miller. "If anyone of us came from the same place, we'd be exactly where they are." But where they are and where they're going depend on how and if they're helped, who is willing to teach them, and who is willing to listen. "I tell people stuff and they don't listen," said Keelan. I wrote my first song at 10 or 11. It went like, 'my uncles beat me all around,' about how I grew up." But all 250 people were listening intently to every detail of his message as Keelan and Michael rapped on stage about their goals and their lives at a talent show organized by Create Now! "No more hopping the gates leaving class. I want to have me something in life," they rapped. And for these kids, they've learned they'll always have one thing -- their words.
CALIFORNIA LAWYER
In late 1998, when I was 16, I went to jail for assault. I did 15 months at a boot camp. That was where I met Jill Gurr and got involved with Create Now! Jill arranged for some of my friends from my neighborhood and me to go to a studio and record. We recorded a song about what goes on in our neighborhood - good things, bad things, what have you. A producer heard the song, and he was loving it. Now I'm working with him on a compilation album of young musicians who have been involved with Create Now! I've been rapping since I was ten years old, but that song was my first time recording. Now I'm already working on an album. Before I was introduced to Create Now! I had no idea what I wanted to do. I always knew I wanted to rap, but that was more like a dream - you know, like wanting to be an astronaut. A lot of people know what they want to do but not how they're going to get there. What Jill does, she kind of makes goals realistic. I was helping out at the Create Now! booth at the ShowBiz Expo when I met a director and a producer who were working on a film called "Gang Tapes." It was going to be a realistic portrayal of life in South Central. They were trying to keep it real and stay away from the negative, stereotyped images being put out there by a lot of Hollywood types. They wanted to come in with some real stuff from real people. I started as a production assistant. I'd never been on a movie set. I was just like flying around the set - bam, bam, bam - doing whatever I had to do, and the producers said they could tell I was working hard and got along with everyone on the set. I could tell that the director was trying to soak up a lot of information about life in that part of Los Angeles. I said, "I can help you with a lot of the stuff you're talking about. Why don't you pay me as a Consultant?" So, they started paying me as a Consultant, and then they bumped me up to Technical Advisor and I started looking at the script. I was reading it and said "I want one of these parts." They said, "OK, OK, Darontay, you can audition." About 200 people tried out for the part, a lot of people I'd seen in other movies. I guess they said I blew them away, because I got the part. When we were finished filming, I said, "I know you guys are going to do a soundtrack, so why don't you help me out by putting some of my material on it?" I met with the Sound Director, and he heard some of my songs and said, "We're going to mix it in tonight." If everyone who came out of jail were introduced to Create Now! only the people who didn't want to do anything would be unsuccessful. They are going to show you what to do to get what you want. I am not going to say that Create Now! or any kind of program or being incarcerated in general - changed me, because nobody can change you but yourself. If you don't want to do anything, you won't do anything. But Create Now! helps show you how to get it done. |
"We've got a lot to live for ... I want to be a business man than a thug slinging rocks (crack)," raps Michael and Keelan, 17, another boy from Camp Miller. Part of the driving force behind getting institutionalized at-risk kids to put their feelings to paper through rap, poetry, short stories and screenplays, is attributed to the Hollywood-based writing program Create Now!
DARONTAY McCLENDON, 19, ACTOR AND RECORDING ARTIST