At Dominguez High School in Compton, California, a film program is helping reshape the futures of students who may have never imagined themselves holding a camera, much less creating documentaries that matter. Under the guidance of Keyvon Adams, the Digital Media Production teacher and founder of the Compton Apprentices of Multimedia Production (CAMP), students are learning how to tell stories with cameras—and in the process, gaining skills and confidence to shape their own futures.
“We call the program CAMP, which stands for Compton Apprentices of Multimedia Production,” Adams explained. “My class specifically is Digital Media Production. We film a lot of different things—commercials, music videos, short form films, short documentaries, even some TikToks.”
Dominguez High School students shoot b-roll for a documentary exploring family history and identity through the lens of Compton’s oldest tree.
Adams’ course is part of Compton Unified’s Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, which offers students hands-on training in fields ranging from Digital Media and Audio Production to Video Game Design and Culinary Arts. These classes are designed not only to build technical skills, but also to improve graduation and attendance rates by giving students work-based learning experiences through apprenticeships and field trips. For many, CTE is the first step toward envisioning a career they hadn’t thought possible.
Now in his fourth year at Dominguez, Adams inherited a program that lacked both structure and equipment. “The class was not ideal,” he recalled. “We had to rearrange the chairs and desks to make it feel more like a film class. We had no equipment. We watched DVDs and did a little film theory at first.” Projects began on iPhones, with students editing on free mobile apps like CapCut. But things changed dramatically when Apple donated a set of MacBooks with Final Cut Pro, enabling Adams to teach film editing. “That’s when they started creating real projects,” he said.
Under the guidance of Keyvon Adams (left), students learn storytelling through cameras and editing, gaining skills to shape their futures.
One of those projects, currently in production, is a student documentary tentatively titled Compton Roots. The idea came about during a collaboration with another teacher who was interested in the oldest tree in Los Angeles. “We thought, what if we connected that to students and their families—how long they’ve been in Compton, whether they’ve been here longer than the tree?” explained Adams. “Some are first-generation immigrants, others have roots going back generations.”
As the idea grew, the documentary became a deeper look at identity, migration, and community—strengthened by a partnership with Bloom Ranch, which is helping bring new life to Dominguez High School’s garden. “It all made sense—students planting roots, literally and figuratively. I think we can make something special out of it.”
LUMIX S5IIX full-frame camera with Kondor Blue cage set up for a student interview shoot.
What makes the CAMP program so impactful is not just the technical training students receive but also the personal transformation. “I expected kids who didn’t know how to use cameras, how to rack focus, or what an f-stop was,” revealed Adams. “That wasn’t surprising. What was surprising was how many of them don’t watch TV or movies. They’ve never seen The Godfather or Back to the Future. To them, those [films] are ancient.”
Teaching students to appreciate cinema has become just as important as teaching them how to operate a camera. But Adams believes that learning filmmaking opens doors far beyond the classroom. “Learning how cameras work has helped them understand how systems work—cause and effect,” he explained. “Turn this knob, and this happens. Focus here, adjust there. A lot of them have only used Chromebooks. With the cameras and editing software, they’re learning how to solve problems step-by-step instead of expecting things to just work magically.”
Lumix Ambassador and Mater Dei Film & Media Director Andrew Roberts instructs students on the exposure triangle during a hands‑on workshop.
This past year, the CAMP and Dominguez High School program took another step forward thanks to a new partnership with LUMIX EDU. Adams first encountered LUMIX cameras while his students were interning at the Slamdance Film Festival. “There was a LUMIX booth set up. The cameras were beautiful. I asked if they worked with schools, and they said yes. They came out to Dominguez last semester to show the kids how to use the gear.”
What followed was a collaboration on the Compton Roots project, giving students access to professional filmmaking tools for the first time. The project is being shot using a combination of LUMIX S5IIX full-frame cameras and LUMIX GH7 Micro Four Thirds cameras. Each camera is outfitted with Kondor Blue cages, including the Pro-Blade SSD Handle with built-in SSD slot for recording high-quality 4K footage directly to a SanDisk PRO-BLADE SSD Mag. LUMIX ambassador and Mater Dei Film and TV Program Chair Andrew Roberts and Kondor Blue’s National Sales Director Charles Zablan were onsite mentoring Dominguez High students on filmmaking techniques.
My biggest goal isn’t necessarily for them to go to film school. That would be great, but I mainly want them to understand how the world works—how to be professional, responsible, and accountable. Are they becoming better employees? Can they follow directions, meet deadlines, work in teams, adapt?
Dominguez High School's Keyvon Adams
“Seeing that ‘lightbulb’ moment when a student just gets it, be it a technical question, artistic choice, or when they realize that they can create their own stories; this is what the most rewarding thing for me is,” revealed Roberts on the impact of mentoring . “When a high school student can create a film and have it rival other indie films they’ve seen, nothing can describe the pride they feel in that moment.”
“At the heart of image-making lies an artist searching for a way to share ideas and stories," explained Zablan. "The students at Dominguez Hills High School embody this spirit of creativity. Thanks to Panasonic and Dominguez Hills, these young creators are being equipped with the tools and knowledge to turn vision into craft. Kondor Blue is honored to play even a small role in shaping their journey—opening their eyes to the world of cinema and storytelling, and helping them discover the power of their own voice through film.”
For Adams, it’s not just about giving students access to cameras—it’s about helping them become professionals. “My biggest goal isn’t necessarily for them to go to film school. That would be great, but I mainly want them to understand how the world works—how to be professional, responsible, and accountable,” he says. “Are they becoming better employees? Can they follow directions, meet deadlines, work in teams, adapt?”
Kondor Blue’s National Sales Director Charles Zablan showcases gear designed to help students capture cinematic content.
He’s quick to credit the support of the LUMIX team in making this work possible. “LUMIX has been a huge help. They’ve been great at connecting my students to resources, and I hope this partnership continues. My students need support and guidance, and I know a lot, but I don’t know everything. LUMIX and their partners have filled in those gaps, and we’ve already created something special.”
With the right tools and support, Dominguez High students are becoming confident storytellers.
