JDS Creative Academy Fills An Artistic And Productive Gap

JDS Creative Academy nonprofit cofounder Diane Strand (center) helps job training program participants Tyler Perone (left) and Jordan Wood on the camera in the academy’s green screen room in Temecula. Shane Gibson photo

by Diane A. Rhodes

Diane Strand founded and launched the nonprofit JDS Creative Academy in Temecula in 2014 with her husband and business partner Scott. Its mission is to inspire, educate and enhance achievement in video production and workforce development by providing job skills and hands-on training in the visual, performing and digital arts.

“There was such a need for the arts in the community,” she said. “We were teaching acting classes and getting calls to teach more classes like script writing, video production, backstage production, music, art and musical theater for those that have never done a play before.”

Strand said she knew there weren’t enough hours in the day to do it all and that neither she nor Scott had the skills to teach all that was needed so they called upon some industry professionals to help out.

“One day I called a meeting with a stage manager and set designer, a musician and a script writer with Scott and I representing video, acting and producing,” she recalled. “We all sat around my kitchen table and JDS Creative Academy was formed.”

JDS established

The Strands had established JDS Video & Media Productions Inc. in 2003. In 2010, they started a Drama Club program which began in the Temecula Unified School District. The response was so great they decided to create a program for all ages to learn the technique and craft of acting, which evolved into the JDS Actors Studio.

“When we started the actors’ studio, it was because we developed an after school drama club at Ysabel Barnett Elementary School in 2009 in TVUSD and expected 10-15 kids to turn out. Instead, 55 kids turned out and we immediately got calls from three other schools to come there as well,” Strand said. “Within four years, we launched the nonprofit. The need was evident.”

JDS Creative Academy offers video production training programs that serve adults, not only K-12 students. The nonprofit also works with adults with developmental disabilities providing hands-on training with the level-up opportunities to do paid internships that can turn into direct hires.

Apprenticeship program

“We also have an apprenticeship program for higher learning adults looking to find a pathway into building good resume credits before moving into the LA/Hollywood market,” Strand said. “Our photography class for adults and teens covers some video. I believe that the digital arts touch everything and every industry and someone may have a drive for other things in high school but still need the skills we teach in our classes to make them stronger in their Career Technical Education program in the K-12 space.”

Although many local high schools have theater departments, JDS’ Musical Theater program is a class where everyone gets a part they can handle and are not just part of an ensemble.

“There are those that would never get cast in their high school’s play or have the courage to even audition,” Strand said. “We also get a lot of middle schoolers who work with us so they are ready to step into their high school years confident and make it into advanced drama at the high school level.”

One of the organization’s more popular fundraisers is the Haunted Studio hosted by the #JDSFamily. The event begins with classes where students collaborate, design, build and help implement a full-scale haunted house.

“Participants learn storytelling, concept development, logistics, timeline and feasibility, special effects, sets and makeup, costuming, prop making, character development, acting, community fundraising, collaboration skills, technical skills and leadership skills,” Strand said. “We have all ages participating from young, young youths to senior citizens.”

Offered since Halloween 2016, Strand encourages all ages to visit the annual event. They offer a code word so younger audiences can enjoy the Haunted Studio without the scares others may enjoy.

The fundraiser also includes a bake sale to assist with raising scholarship funds for students with financial limitations or at-risk youth who want to learn more about the visual, performing and digital arts.

DigiFest founded

Always looking for ways to meet the needs of her students and

JDS Creative Academy lead program instructor Alex Suarez (left) helps job training program participant Brian Hoang with a project. Shane Gibson photo Cast members prepare for a past Haunted Studio event. Classes for this year begin Sept. 28.

public demand, Strand founded the DigiFest Temecula Event in 2017 and created and launched the web series program Spectrum of Innovation in 2018 through JDS Creative Academy. The nonprofit partners with high school CTE programs for its annual DigiFest event and offers help with curriculum to keep students up to date with industry standards and to provide job shadowing. They also work with charter schools and home-schooled students to provide the Visual and Performing Arts Standards required by the California Department of Education. Scott Strand was asked to head up the VAPA programs in 2011 when it became part of the California education code.

Although a wide variety of classes keep the studio busy, the facility is available for hourly rentals to be used for workshops, events, meetings and more within its 7,000 square feet of flex space.

The facility includes a 40-ft. green screen, creative makerspace, production/multipurpose room, make-up/dressing rooms and a Black Box theater space with control room and stage that can seat 100 people comfortably, a mini kitchen and four bathrooms. If any additional expertise and equipment is needed, JDS is an award-winning, full-service video production multimedia solutions company.

The Strands’ three children, Joseph Daniel, Jordan David and Jasmine Diane have grown up with their parents’ programs and have contributed to many aspects of it, most notably serving as namesakes with their initials all being JDS.

“My oldest loves the backstage technical things and he did all the lights and sound for the productions; he is still helping when he is able,” Strand said. “My middle son is an actor and has performed in the shows since he was 10 and in his senior year, not only did he perform but he also assisted, directed and mentored some of the special needs interns. He returns from college to help when he’s able. My daughter, 14, is my youngest and she has been acting since she was nine months old. She performs in all the shows and volunteers for community service.” Strand brings a strong background in the entertainment industry to JDS with prior career credits from A-list shows such as General Hospital, Courtesy photo Friends and Veronica’s Closet. She assisted with building the high-definition control room at the Staples Center, worked for HBO pay-per-view producing Eric Clapton and Barbra Streisand concerts and pre-show events for Oscar De La Hoya fights. She worked for the Disney Channel for three years as a writer/producer and helped launch Playhouse Disney. She also worked at Universal Creative for two years which is tied to the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, creating behind-the-scenes videos of the movies they represented and the making of their rides.

She said her 15-plus years working in television is where she learned what the industry expects, how it works on the inside and how to break into the field. Scott Strand is a professional actor and director in film, television, theater and commercials.

The JDS goal

The goal of JDS Creative Academy is to give youths and adults opportunities to socialize, gain confidence and learn job-ready skills. Strand said, “The arts provide so much, from learning to work in collaboration with a team to hands-on training in a specific skill or craft. Plus, it provides creative enrichment, leadership skills and builds self-confidence. We also help to provide opportunities for a career pathway.”

For more information, http://JDSCreativeAcademy.org, 951-296-6715, info@jdsca. org or follow on social media.

JDS Crea�ve Academy’s mission is to advance educa�on with hands on training in visual, performing, and digital arts. For youth, teens, and adults from mainstream to special needs.

951-296-6715 JDSCrea�veAcademy.org