The REEL Academy was founded in 2009 by Renji Philip in conjunction with the non-profit 501c3 organization, The Pasadena Arts Council, who serves as the fiscal sponsor for the project, enabling all donations to the project to be tax-deductible.
As an immigrant, Asha Blake has risen to the success of 6 Emmy awards for her outstanding television anchoring accomplishments on local , regional and national news programs including KTLA (Los Angeles), KNBC (Denver) and World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. She is passionate about her charitable causes that also include UNICEF, Make A Wish, Race For A Cure and Meals on Wheels.
Having lived and worked in Los Angeles in the entertainment industry for the last 17 years, Renji was inspired to start a project that could provide opportunity to people without any. He believes that providing opportunity to people with passion and a strong work ethic can lead to greatness, no matter what background they come from. In addition to The REEL Academy, he is passionate about his other charitable organizations that include The Union Rescue Mission, Project Angel Food, Smile Train and The Clinton Foundation.
“Education is a debt due from the present to future generations.”
-George Peabody
Our Program combines a 6-week educational program for Young Adults In Transition with the actual production of a feature film. The students experience how a story is told; first written, then produced for the screen as a feature film. They have the opportunity to interact with the actual department heads on the set of the film and learn how they got their start in the industry and what it took to make a career out of it.
Students for our groups are selected from various community programs that promote education, non-violence and societal responsibility.
The REEL Academy is a mission-driven charity reliant upon donations, grants and sponsorship for it’s success.
John grew up in the South Bronx during it's worse years of the 60-70's. He dropped out of high school at age fifteen and finally made his way back and earned his BA. He was involved in Bronx oral history projects and was interviewed by Studs Terkel in "The Great Divide". He made his way to Los Angeles in the 90's and wrote and performed a piece entitled "Goodbye My Friend" about a girlfriend Cookie who died of AIDS. He worked as a counselor with runaway kids for Covenant House in Hollywood. Today he is a film producer and line producer who has produced over fifteen feature films.
