ABOUT WAKING HOURS

The production of WAKING HOURS brought together youth, educators, and new media professionals from ethnically, socially, and economically diverse neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles to depict a day in the interconnected lives of twenty teenagers via the World Wide Web.

(That should be easy enough, right?)

The teens of Waking Hours were selected through auditions from sites at three public high schools and three community-based organizations. In addition, a teacher or youth worker from each site joined the staff for the summer and assumed responsibility for guiding the project from pre-production through shoot day.

Brought together in June of 1998 in a sweltering classroom at Crenshaw High School, the twenty teens and their six mentor-teachers set out to develop and produce the show in an intensive six-week session. Every weekday (and, eventually, weekends), the group worked and learned for four and a half hours, tackling issues ranging from how to talk about abortion to how to know if your mike is on. Technical and creative tools were introduced within an ensemble setting designed to encourage cast members to think critically about themselves as individuals, as members of distinct communities--communities rarely given an equal voice--and, importantly, as builders of a greater community that moves beyond traditional borders. Within the narrative frame of the eighteen-hour day, the cast built a show that reflects their thoughts, passions and daily experiences. The questions, and not just the answers you read, are theirs.

The content of the site is not only a product of the youth who composed it--it is also a tribute to their fervent commitment to speak their minds, understand themselves and each other, and see this project to completion.

In addition, a great many talented people contributed their time and talents to make WAKING HOURS a full-scale reality. In most cases, volunteers found time (or made time) after hours and on weekends to lend a hand. Special thanks to:

Sponsors:
WorkForce LA
US Department of Education
iXL Holdings, Inc.

Creator and Executive Producer:
Douglas Gayeton

Additional Executive Producers and Special Advisors to Waking Hours:
Glenn Kaino, Board President, Los Angeles Center for Photographic Studies
Tania Martinez-Lemke, Executive Director, Los Angeles Center for Photographic Studies
Kevin Wall, Vice-Chairman, iXL Holdings, Inc.
Deborah Brooks, President, WorkForce LA
Beth Broday, iXL Holdings, Inc.
Teaching and Youth Leadership:
Philip Kuretski, Co-director of Instruction and Liason to LAUSD
Janis Adams, Palisades High School
John Cho, Korean Youth and Community Center
John Kwan, Venice High School
Sandy Lee, LA Gay and Lesbian Center
Pramin Phatiphong, Bresee Youth Center
Elisheva Gross

Lead Programmers:
Dave Vanderkloot
Elliot Mebane

Graphic Design:
Lainie Siegel
Glenn Kaino
Steve Salinas
Elliot Mebane

Audio Engineering:
Jeremy Loeb
Lindsay Tomasic

Videographer:
Michael Medaglia

Mentors and Guest Speakers:
Douglas Ross
Claire McCabem, Disney Channel
Sarah Becker, Disney Channel
Eric Lebrec, Lebrec&Lebrec
Kelly Alexander, Bear Stearns
Jeff Hurlow
Dave Vanderkloot, Universal Studios
Lanie Siegel, iXL
Marty McKinney, iXL
Steve Salinas, iXL
Shannon Buss, iXL
Trip Davis, iXL
Kevin Wall, iXL
Marco Mire, iXL
Diego Gorlato, iXL
Additional Story Editing:
Ashley Vandercar
Elisheva Gross