On October 15, the LUMIX EDU team visited Compton High School in Southern California to host a filmmaking workshop for students in the school’s media and television program, which is led by educator Juan Reynoso. The LUMIX session was led by Andrew Roberts, LUMIX Ambassador for Education and department chair at Mater Dei High School's Film and TV program, and LUMIX Business Manager Neil Matsumoto.
The goal was simple: give students a hands-on look at how professional filmmakers work and show that storytelling doesn’t always require expensive gear. Matsumoto started with a short introduction about the LUMIX EDU program and how it helps schools teach filmmaking with the same tools used by professionals. He shared his own experience as a filmmaker and explained why learning both the technical and creative sides of production matters.
Students then got a close look at several LUMIX cameras, including the LUMIX S9, GH7, and S5IIX. Roberts explained how each one fits different shooting needs but shares the same approach: small, simple, and capable of producing high-quality video, especially for social media. He demonstrated autofocus and image stabilization, showing how these features make handheld shooting easier.
Matsumoto and Roberts also introduced Open Gate recording, which lets creators capture one high-resolution image that can be reframed for multiple formats, like YouTube (16:9) and TikTok (9:16). With frame markers, students could see both versions at once, so they didn’t have to reshoot for different platforms.
After the camera overview, the LUMIX duo brought one student up for a short demonstration. Using the classroom monitor, they showed how features like autofocus, stabilization, and frame markers worked in real time. They recorded a short clip while the rest of the class watched the results on screen, seeing how smooth the footage looked even when the camera was handheld.
They ended with a short editing demo, importing one of the student clips and showing how to trim, reframe, and export for both widescreen and vertical formats. The takeaway was clear: “shoot once, deliver everywhere.”
The event was orchestrated and included support from Slamdance, the Los Angeles-based film festival known for championing independent filmmakers. Slamdance President and Co-founder Peter Baxter said later that the collaboration fit naturally with their mission. “As an artist-led group based in Los Angeles, one of our goals is to strengthen the film and media ecosystem from the ground up,” he said. “Working with schools like Compton High is a way to support the next generation of emerging media talent.”
Baxter said he appreciated how the workshop gave students real, transferable skills. “The LUMIX demonstration provided practical experience while also inspiring students to think about visual storytelling in their own way,” he said.
By the end of the day, students had seen the full process, from picking up a camera to editing a finished clip. The workshop gave them a clear, simple look at how modern filmmakers work and how tools like LUMIX can help them tell their own stories.
If you’d like more information about what LUMIX EDU can do for your school, visit and sign up here.
