Space Cadets: The Next Generation
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, Drama
Space Cadets: The Next Generation uplifts families adapting to raising a child on the spectrum. Both an endearing comedy and a life-affirming drama, the story is a nuanced portrait of neurodivergent parents navigating unique yet relatable hurdles, driven to be their best by the love of their son.
Space Cadets: The Next Generation
Los Angeles, California | Series
Comedy, Drama
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $11,525 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
60 supporters | followers
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Space Cadets: The Next Generation uplifts families adapting to raising a child on the spectrum. Both an endearing comedy and a life-affirming drama, the story is a nuanced portrait of neurodivergent parents navigating unique yet relatable hurdles, driven to be their best by the love of their son.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
On its terrestrial surface, Space Cadets: The Next Generation is about ADHD, autism, and the distinct, often debilitating struggles of the neurodivergent. But, at its core, the story is about much more than any individual condition. It’s about the love we feel for our children.
As parents, we want our children to experience happiness, and, when they do, we want them to continue to feel such joy and allow us to join them in their laughter.
And when they experience pain, we want nothing more than to take that pain away and bear their suffering as if it were our own, holding their hands in their times of need and wishing their pain instead be placed upon us. We would do anything to trade places with them and shoulder the burden of their struggle.
Upon reading the story's pilot episode “Funnel” for the first time, our brilliant Director of Photography Jon Walsh eloquently replied: “To see them walk with such burdens is awe-inspiring but also soul-wrecking. I would take my son’s condition (Type-1 Diabetes) on myself in a heartbeat if I could. It is the best gift we have been given in the most horrible package ever. It has not made him stronger but revealed his inner strength. It has not made me a better person or father but revealed these qualities that already existed. This is the path we walk and I am so proud of my warrior as I am sure you are of yours as well. My son’s fight is my fight! I am sure you know this, but love is more powerful than any health condition or disease, always.”
This is what Space Cadets: The Next Generation is about.
It is about bringing people together who share a sense of purpose, motivated by good, driven by the empathy that makes us human. Collectively, our team is comprised of members who have worked as special education teachers, charter school educators, behavioral therapists for children with special needs, firefighters, confined spaces rescue specialists, community and global charity organizers, and documentarians for civil servants.
In addition to helping others compassionately in our community, we have found time to excel at our shared passion of filmmaking. Our team has written, directed, produced, and filmed stories that have won Emmy awards, screened in theaters across the country, streamed on services such as Netflix and Starz, displayed the talents of platinum recording artists, documented the lives of government officials, and advertised for clients in over 60 countries across the world.
Despite our accolades, we still feel our unique stories have been shunned by Hollywood, and this is what brings us to Seed & Spark.
The Synopsis
Craig Flippy is a 6th grade teacher who has quietly wrestled with undiagnosed ADHD since childhood—long before he even knew what to call the whirlwind inside his mind. As a boy, he was labeled as “spacey,” “lazy,” or “too sensitive,” but he managed to navigate adolescence through a combination of wit, improvisation, and willpower.
Now in adulthood, Craig recognizes that those same coping strategies are wearing thin. He often finds himself losing track of conversations, forgetting appointments, and misplacing important documents. Craig's passion for teaching and genuine care for his students often shine through, but they’re frequently overshadowed by his poor time management and frequent bouts of distraction.
Outside of work, Craig has seen his relationships suffer from his chronic disorganization and lack of follow through. Though he’s never sought a formal diagnosis, Craig now finds himself having to take responsibility—both at work and at home—not just for his own well-being, but so he can better support the special needs of his son.
Yolanda is Craig’s wife and the exuberant, fiercely devoted mother of Emerson. Diagnosed with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD at 15, she has long embraced her neurodivergence as a kind of superpower—especially her ability to “hyperfocus,” which she describes as the gift to “stare at the stars and be a million places at once.”
In her early twenties, Yolanda pinballed through self-help groups, adrenaline-filled jobs, and an eclectic mix of college majors—from Art to Anthropology—searching for meaning, momentum, and a place to land. She eventually found purpose in helping others with minds like hers, and she now works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Yolanda continues to chase her passions with the same joyful intensity that has always defined her. In addition to crafting, she likes to draw, read, write, sew, paint, cook, tap, type, bike, run, walk, garden, photograph, skydive, dance, build, hike, ride horses, travel, and shop.
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When Craig met Yolanda, it was love at first distraction. Within weeks of their initial meeting, Craig left his long-term girlfriend Maryanne and eloped with Yolanda.
Nearly a decade after exchanging vows, Craig and Yolanda brought Emerson into the world, naming him after one of their ADHD heroes: Ralph Waldo. At the age of 2, Emerson began to show developmental delays, so Craig and Yolanda sought help in the forms of speech, behavioral, and occupational therapies.
"Funnel” is an episode that opens and closes on funnels, which are repurposed by each character to express their love the best ways they can.
The opening scene emphasizes two long neck funnels and their position atop Emerson’s mountainous creation, signifying Emerson’s attempt to share his love by inviting his parents into his world.
The final scene of the episode features Craig and Yolanda using the funnels as conduits, letting Emerson know they will always love him and meet him in his world – no matter the galaxy or solar system.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Crew
Costs $2,500
Jon is a Super DP, but even magicians need wands. Our characters float to the red planet in their dreams, so why not shoot on Red Cinema 6k?
Production Sound
Costs $1,000
Professional sound costs coins. We need to make sure all mics are set to “11”.
Food & Craft Services
Costs $1,500
While I considered feeding the cast & crew an astronautical diet of Tang and thermostabilized foods, I reconsidered. This money is for that.
Production Insurance
Costs $1,000
Sometimes I drop things in my old age. Often those things are expensive. I also stumble on cracks and hurt my own back. We need insurance.
Cast & Crew
Costs $3,000
To make this show as beautiful as it can be, we need amazing actors and crew who share a passion for film and a dedication to their crafts.
Wardrobe & Set Design
Costs $1,000
The wardrobe and sets will need to be stellar to help create the world of our characters.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Edwin McDonald IV ~ Writer ~ Showrunner ~ Producer
Edwin McDonald IV has worked as a script reader for both a literary agency (Preferred Artists) and a producer (Daniel Paulson). He’s also written, directed, and produced films that have won Emmy Awards and scholarships from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. An avid musician, Edwin is especially proud of the videos he has created for a collection of independent bands, including platinum recording artists Silversun Pickups.
Edwin earned his MFA in Screenwriting in 2006 from Chapman University, where his thesis script Space Cadets won the Cecil Award for the school’s Best Screenplay. Edwin then signed an exclusive shopping agreement with Producer Tova Laiter (The Scarlet Letter, Varsity Blues). In 2011, Space Cadets placed as a Finalist in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and BlueCat Screenwriting Competition. The script then advanced in the Nicholl Fellowship (Top 20%, 2011 & 2013), Austin Screenwriting Contest (Second Round, 2013), and Scriptapalooza Competition (Quarterfinalist, 2013).
In 2024, Edwin wrote a semi-autobiographical sequel to Space Cadets as a TV pilot titled Space Cadets: The Next Generation. In just a few months, Space Cadets: The Next Generation has tallied 13 Finalist awards (2 Top Ten Finalist, 5 Semifinalist, & 6 Quarterfinalist) and made The Red List for TV Comedy Half-hour (#8), TV Half-hour (#11), and Comedy (#17), placing it in the Top 1% of 359,320 scripts on Coverfly.
Tyrone Huff ~ Director
A former special education instructor of 8 years, Tyrone Huff began his journey into directing in East Side San Jose, where as a special ed student, he transformed written narratives into compelling visual stories through self-made productions with friends. His path led him to pioneer Fresno State's Cinematic Studies program and gain accolades at Chapman's Dodge College. He enjoys directing comedy and drama, focusing on emotionally engaging and entertaining narratives. His recent directorial debut in the thriller genre, A Southern Haunting, has seen limited theatrical release and is now on a major cable network/streaming service.
Michael Anderson ~ Producer
Michael Anderson is an award-winning producer and director whose work spans the jungles of the Congo to the skyline of Times Square. Currently serving as Head of Global Production at Beautiful Destinations, Michael has led 100+ shoots across 60+ countries in the past two years alone—doubling and then quadrupling production output while overseeing large-scale campaigns for clients like Turkish Airlines, Accor Hotels, Brand USA, and national tourism boards from Japan to Panama. Known for marrying cinematic craft with scalable operations, Michael has collaborated with Fortune 500 brands (P&G, Verizon, Samsung), international nonprofits (United Nations, Red Cross), and high-profile talent including Ariana Grande, Joel McHale, Natalie Portman, Lil Wayne, and the Dalai Lama. His past roles include Executive Producer of Amazon Music Live—a groundbreaking concert series streaming after Thursday Night Football—and Senior Executive Producer at Cutaway Creative, where he built world-class content for iHeart Radio, Netflix, Walmart, and more.
Beyond branded content, Michael is a driving force in independent film. He produced Manson Family Vacation (Netflix), He’s Way More Famous Than You (Ben Stiller, Jesse Eisenberg), Somewhere Slow (Robert Forster), and G.B.F. (Tribeca Film Festival). His directing credits include A Southern Haunting (Starz), Rescue Dogs (Showtime) and Followed. His nonfiction portfolio includes Beyond Limits (Michael Clarke Duncan), This Might Hurt, Nothing But Nets (UN & Mandy Moore), and The Living Peace Series (Dalai Lama, Richard Branson).
Michael holds an MFA in Film & Television Producing from Chapman University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Small Business from Bethel University. A former Minnesota firefighter and confined spaces rescue specialist, Michael brings grit, heart, and global fluency to every story he tells.
Jon Walsh ~ Director of Photography
Jon Walsh is a passionate and experienced Director of Photography with over a decade of work in cinematic storytelling and lighting design. He has produced award-winning content for public agencies and is known for his technical precision and emotionally resonate visual style. As a father of a son with Type 1 Diabetes, Jon brings a deep personal sensitivity to Space Cadets: The Next Generation, using his lived experience to craft a visual language rooted in empathy, nuance, and human connection.
Eric Abrams ~ Co-Producer
Eric Abrams is a creative force behind hundreds of hours of talent-driven comedy programming for the better part of 20 years. Creating, developing, showrunning, directing; as a freelancer, a club and festival booker, a development exec, the head of an independent studio… Abrams has worn many hats while demonstrating his passion, leadership and commitment to quality in a variety of roles across the comedy world. Early on, Abrams discovered a love for — and subsequently began to focus on — unscripted formats. And over the years of experience and partnerships in the talent world, he has honed an innate knack for developing with and managing on-camera creatives who have something to say.
Samantha McDonald ~ Script Consultant, BCBA
Samantha McDonald is a dedicated Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience in the field of applied behavior analysis. As a parent of a child with special needs, she brings both professional expertise and personal empathy to her work. Samantha specializes in creating individualized, evidence-based interventions that help families thrive and empower parents and caregivers with the tools they need for success.
Matt McDonald ~ Creative Consultant, Public Relations
Matt is a dynamic and mission-driven executive leader who brings over a decade of multifaceted experience across nonprofit leadership, healthcare innovation, community development, tech startups, and music industry performance. Currently serving as Director of Business Services at Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Matt lead strategic initiatives that empower individuals through employment and education, with a strong emphasis on economic inclusion and community revitalization. Matt was also the Founder and CEO of World Health Partnerships, a global health nonprofit committed to improving access to medical care in underserved communities. Through this work, Matt spearheaded surgical missions, built vital healthcare infrastructure, and mobilized over $1 million in medical donations, directly impacting thousands of lives.
Quoc Quan ~ Script Supervisor
Quoc Quan graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a BFA in Film. His dreams and goals led him to sunny California where he worked as a freelance photographer, videographer, and editor. During his free time, he volunteered with a Vietnamese Youth mentorship program called Project MotiVATe. It was there he found his love for working with the community. Quoc Quan currently has a Masters’ degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology. Working as a behavior therapist in Southern California has been a great joy and privilege to Quoc Quan. He hopes to one day combine his creative skillset with the experience he’s acquired working in the field to create an artistic outlet for the community.
Kevin Strick ~ Editor
Kevin Strick is a seasoned film & video editor with over two decades of professional experience spanning documentaries, branded content, digital marketing, live events, action sports, and music videos. Since launching his career in 2002, Kevin has brought a dynamic visual style and narrative-driven approach to projects acrossmultiple platforms and industries.
From pitch to publish, B2B or broadcast, Kevin has worked on a wide spectrum of creative campaigns for top-tier agencies such as Vitro, The Buddy Group, and Halogen Cinema. His editing credits include work for major brands like Newsweek, The Olympic Channel, Skullcandy, Fox Racing, ClickUp, PTTOW, Roadtrip Nation, and F45 Training. His career also extends to the worlds of skateboarding and music, producing numerous webcasts and segments for 411 Video Magazine and videos for the LA-based rock band The Cabin Fever.
A passionate and lifelong storyteller with a penchant for organization, Kevin brings a strong aesthetic sensibility to every frame—rooted in his love of skateboarding, comic books, music, Star Wars, and, of course, the color green. Up the irons!
Matt Clary ~ 1st AC/Gaffer
Matt is a cinematographer with a strong foundation in visual storytelling, having studied Film and Television at Boston University. His work spans narrative filmmaking, music videos, and commercial advertising, with a creative focus on mood, movement, and meaningful composition.
Matt brings a versatile skill set across camera and lighting departments, with hands-on experience as a Director of Photography (DP), 1st AC (Focus Puller), 2nd AC (Clapper/Loader), Gaffer, and Key Grip. Whether leading a shoot or supporting a larger team, Matt aims to elevate every project through a collaborative, detail-oriented approach and a deep understanding of both technical precision and cinematic language.
Matt is passionate about creating impactful imagery that supports story and tone—and always excited to connect with like-minded creatives.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
On its terrestrial surface, Space Cadets: The Next Generation is about ADHD, autism, and the distinct, often debilitating struggles of the neurodivergent. But, at its core, the story is about much more than any individual condition. It’s about the love we feel for our children.
As parents, we want our children to experience happiness, and, when they do, we want them to continue to feel such joy and allow us to join them in their laughter.
And when they experience pain, we want nothing more than to take that pain away and bear their suffering as if it were our own, holding their hands in their times of need and wishing their pain instead be placed upon us. We would do anything to trade places with them and shoulder the burden of their struggle.
Upon reading the story's pilot episode “Funnel” for the first time, our brilliant Director of Photography Jon Walsh eloquently replied: “To see them walk with such burdens is awe-inspiring but also soul-wrecking. I would take my son’s condition (Type-1 Diabetes) on myself in a heartbeat if I could. It is the best gift we have been given in the most horrible package ever. It has not made him stronger but revealed his inner strength. It has not made me a better person or father but revealed these qualities that already existed. This is the path we walk and I am so proud of my warrior as I am sure you are of yours as well. My son’s fight is my fight! I am sure you know this, but love is more powerful than any health condition or disease, always.”
This is what Space Cadets: The Next Generation is about.
It is about bringing people together who share a sense of purpose, motivated by good, driven by the empathy that makes us human. Collectively, our team is comprised of members who have worked as special education teachers, charter school educators, behavioral therapists for children with special needs, firefighters, confined spaces rescue specialists, community and global charity organizers, and documentarians for civil servants.
In addition to helping others compassionately in our community, we have found time to excel at our shared passion of filmmaking. Our team has written, directed, produced, and filmed stories that have won Emmy awards, screened in theaters across the country, streamed on services such as Netflix and Starz, displayed the talents of platinum recording artists, documented the lives of government officials, and advertised for clients in over 60 countries across the world.
Despite our accolades, we still feel our unique stories have been shunned by Hollywood, and this is what brings us to Seed & Spark.
The Synopsis
Craig Flippy is a 6th grade teacher who has quietly wrestled with undiagnosed ADHD since childhood—long before he even knew what to call the whirlwind inside his mind. As a boy, he was labeled as “spacey,” “lazy,” or “too sensitive,” but he managed to navigate adolescence through a combination of wit, improvisation, and willpower.
Now in adulthood, Craig recognizes that those same coping strategies are wearing thin. He often finds himself losing track of conversations, forgetting appointments, and misplacing important documents. Craig's passion for teaching and genuine care for his students often shine through, but they’re frequently overshadowed by his poor time management and frequent bouts of distraction.
Outside of work, Craig has seen his relationships suffer from his chronic disorganization and lack of follow through. Though he’s never sought a formal diagnosis, Craig now finds himself having to take responsibility—both at work and at home—not just for his own well-being, but so he can better support the special needs of his son.
Yolanda is Craig’s wife and the exuberant, fiercely devoted mother of Emerson. Diagnosed with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD at 15, she has long embraced her neurodivergence as a kind of superpower—especially her ability to “hyperfocus,” which she describes as the gift to “stare at the stars and be a million places at once.”
In her early twenties, Yolanda pinballed through self-help groups, adrenaline-filled jobs, and an eclectic mix of college majors—from Art to Anthropology—searching for meaning, momentum, and a place to land. She eventually found purpose in helping others with minds like hers, and she now works as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Yolanda continues to chase her passions with the same joyful intensity that has always defined her. In addition to crafting, she likes to draw, read, write, sew, paint, cook, tap, type, bike, run, walk, garden, photograph, skydive, dance, build, hike, ride horses, travel, and shop.
When Craig met Yolanda, it was love at first distraction. Within weeks of their initial meeting, Craig left his long-term girlfriend Maryanne and eloped with Yolanda.
Nearly a decade after exchanging vows, Craig and Yolanda brought Emerson into the world, naming him after one of their ADHD heroes: Ralph Waldo. At the age of 2, Emerson began to show developmental delays, so Craig and Yolanda sought help in the forms of speech, behavioral, and occupational therapies.
"Funnel” is an episode that opens and closes on funnels, which are repurposed by each character to express their love the best ways they can.
The opening scene emphasizes two long neck funnels and their position atop Emerson’s mountainous creation, signifying Emerson’s attempt to share his love by inviting his parents into his world.
The final scene of the episode features Craig and Yolanda using the funnels as conduits, letting Emerson know they will always love him and meet him in his world – no matter the galaxy or solar system.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Camera Crew
Costs $2,500
Jon is a Super DP, but even magicians need wands. Our characters float to the red planet in their dreams, so why not shoot on Red Cinema 6k?
Production Sound
Costs $1,000
Professional sound costs coins. We need to make sure all mics are set to “11”.
Food & Craft Services
Costs $1,500
While I considered feeding the cast & crew an astronautical diet of Tang and thermostabilized foods, I reconsidered. This money is for that.
Production Insurance
Costs $1,000
Sometimes I drop things in my old age. Often those things are expensive. I also stumble on cracks and hurt my own back. We need insurance.
Cast & Crew
Costs $3,000
To make this show as beautiful as it can be, we need amazing actors and crew who share a passion for film and a dedication to their crafts.
Wardrobe & Set Design
Costs $1,000
The wardrobe and sets will need to be stellar to help create the world of our characters.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Edwin McDonald IV ~ Writer ~ Showrunner ~ Producer
Edwin McDonald IV has worked as a script reader for both a literary agency (Preferred Artists) and a producer (Daniel Paulson). He’s also written, directed, and produced films that have won Emmy Awards and scholarships from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. An avid musician, Edwin is especially proud of the videos he has created for a collection of independent bands, including platinum recording artists Silversun Pickups.
Edwin earned his MFA in Screenwriting in 2006 from Chapman University, where his thesis script Space Cadets won the Cecil Award for the school’s Best Screenplay. Edwin then signed an exclusive shopping agreement with Producer Tova Laiter (The Scarlet Letter, Varsity Blues). In 2011, Space Cadets placed as a Finalist in the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and BlueCat Screenwriting Competition. The script then advanced in the Nicholl Fellowship (Top 20%, 2011 & 2013), Austin Screenwriting Contest (Second Round, 2013), and Scriptapalooza Competition (Quarterfinalist, 2013).
In 2024, Edwin wrote a semi-autobiographical sequel to Space Cadets as a TV pilot titled Space Cadets: The Next Generation. In just a few months, Space Cadets: The Next Generation has tallied 13 Finalist awards (2 Top Ten Finalist, 5 Semifinalist, & 6 Quarterfinalist) and made The Red List for TV Comedy Half-hour (#8), TV Half-hour (#11), and Comedy (#17), placing it in the Top 1% of 359,320 scripts on Coverfly.
Tyrone Huff ~ Director
A former special education instructor of 8 years, Tyrone Huff began his journey into directing in East Side San Jose, where as a special ed student, he transformed written narratives into compelling visual stories through self-made productions with friends. His path led him to pioneer Fresno State's Cinematic Studies program and gain accolades at Chapman's Dodge College. He enjoys directing comedy and drama, focusing on emotionally engaging and entertaining narratives. His recent directorial debut in the thriller genre, A Southern Haunting, has seen limited theatrical release and is now on a major cable network/streaming service.
Michael Anderson ~ Producer
Michael Anderson is an award-winning producer and director whose work spans the jungles of the Congo to the skyline of Times Square. Currently serving as Head of Global Production at Beautiful Destinations, Michael has led 100+ shoots across 60+ countries in the past two years alone—doubling and then quadrupling production output while overseeing large-scale campaigns for clients like Turkish Airlines, Accor Hotels, Brand USA, and national tourism boards from Japan to Panama. Known for marrying cinematic craft with scalable operations, Michael has collaborated with Fortune 500 brands (P&G, Verizon, Samsung), international nonprofits (United Nations, Red Cross), and high-profile talent including Ariana Grande, Joel McHale, Natalie Portman, Lil Wayne, and the Dalai Lama. His past roles include Executive Producer of Amazon Music Live—a groundbreaking concert series streaming after Thursday Night Football—and Senior Executive Producer at Cutaway Creative, where he built world-class content for iHeart Radio, Netflix, Walmart, and more.
Beyond branded content, Michael is a driving force in independent film. He produced Manson Family Vacation (Netflix), He’s Way More Famous Than You (Ben Stiller, Jesse Eisenberg), Somewhere Slow (Robert Forster), and G.B.F. (Tribeca Film Festival). His directing credits include A Southern Haunting (Starz), Rescue Dogs (Showtime) and Followed. His nonfiction portfolio includes Beyond Limits (Michael Clarke Duncan), This Might Hurt, Nothing But Nets (UN & Mandy Moore), and The Living Peace Series (Dalai Lama, Richard Branson).
Michael holds an MFA in Film & Television Producing from Chapman University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Small Business from Bethel University. A former Minnesota firefighter and confined spaces rescue specialist, Michael brings grit, heart, and global fluency to every story he tells.
Jon Walsh ~ Director of Photography
Jon Walsh is a passionate and experienced Director of Photography with over a decade of work in cinematic storytelling and lighting design. He has produced award-winning content for public agencies and is known for his technical precision and emotionally resonate visual style. As a father of a son with Type 1 Diabetes, Jon brings a deep personal sensitivity to Space Cadets: The Next Generation, using his lived experience to craft a visual language rooted in empathy, nuance, and human connection.
Eric Abrams ~ Co-Producer
Eric Abrams is a creative force behind hundreds of hours of talent-driven comedy programming for the better part of 20 years. Creating, developing, showrunning, directing; as a freelancer, a club and festival booker, a development exec, the head of an independent studio… Abrams has worn many hats while demonstrating his passion, leadership and commitment to quality in a variety of roles across the comedy world. Early on, Abrams discovered a love for — and subsequently began to focus on — unscripted formats. And over the years of experience and partnerships in the talent world, he has honed an innate knack for developing with and managing on-camera creatives who have something to say.
Samantha McDonald ~ Script Consultant, BCBA
Samantha McDonald is a dedicated Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience in the field of applied behavior analysis. As a parent of a child with special needs, she brings both professional expertise and personal empathy to her work. Samantha specializes in creating individualized, evidence-based interventions that help families thrive and empower parents and caregivers with the tools they need for success.
Matt McDonald ~ Creative Consultant, Public Relations
Matt is a dynamic and mission-driven executive leader who brings over a decade of multifaceted experience across nonprofit leadership, healthcare innovation, community development, tech startups, and music industry performance. Currently serving as Director of Business Services at Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Matt lead strategic initiatives that empower individuals through employment and education, with a strong emphasis on economic inclusion and community revitalization. Matt was also the Founder and CEO of World Health Partnerships, a global health nonprofit committed to improving access to medical care in underserved communities. Through this work, Matt spearheaded surgical missions, built vital healthcare infrastructure, and mobilized over $1 million in medical donations, directly impacting thousands of lives.
Quoc Quan ~ Script Supervisor
Quoc Quan graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a BFA in Film. His dreams and goals led him to sunny California where he worked as a freelance photographer, videographer, and editor. During his free time, he volunteered with a Vietnamese Youth mentorship program called Project MotiVATe. It was there he found his love for working with the community. Quoc Quan currently has a Masters’ degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology. Working as a behavior therapist in Southern California has been a great joy and privilege to Quoc Quan. He hopes to one day combine his creative skillset with the experience he’s acquired working in the field to create an artistic outlet for the community.
Kevin Strick ~ Editor
Kevin Strick is a seasoned film & video editor with over two decades of professional experience spanning documentaries, branded content, digital marketing, live events, action sports, and music videos. Since launching his career in 2002, Kevin has brought a dynamic visual style and narrative-driven approach to projects acrossmultiple platforms and industries.
From pitch to publish, B2B or broadcast, Kevin has worked on a wide spectrum of creative campaigns for top-tier agencies such as Vitro, The Buddy Group, and Halogen Cinema. His editing credits include work for major brands like Newsweek, The Olympic Channel, Skullcandy, Fox Racing, ClickUp, PTTOW, Roadtrip Nation, and F45 Training. His career also extends to the worlds of skateboarding and music, producing numerous webcasts and segments for 411 Video Magazine and videos for the LA-based rock band The Cabin Fever.
A passionate and lifelong storyteller with a penchant for organization, Kevin brings a strong aesthetic sensibility to every frame—rooted in his love of skateboarding, comic books, music, Star Wars, and, of course, the color green. Up the irons!
Matt Clary ~ 1st AC/Gaffer
Matt is a cinematographer with a strong foundation in visual storytelling, having studied Film and Television at Boston University. His work spans narrative filmmaking, music videos, and commercial advertising, with a creative focus on mood, movement, and meaningful composition.
Matt brings a versatile skill set across camera and lighting departments, with hands-on experience as a Director of Photography (DP), 1st AC (Focus Puller), 2nd AC (Clapper/Loader), Gaffer, and Key Grip. Whether leading a shoot or supporting a larger team, Matt aims to elevate every project through a collaborative, detail-oriented approach and a deep understanding of both technical precision and cinematic language.
Matt is passionate about creating impactful imagery that supports story and tone—and always excited to connect with like-minded creatives.