Classroom to boardroom

MUSIC BIZ. Jamal Ballard (front right) and Jonathan Traylor (back right) capture local rapper Skirt Digla (left) on video at the DASH Center’s Hip Hop in the Park Aug. 3. Ballard and Traylor are part of a new Tacoma program that aims to get teens to “Say No to Guns and Drugs and Yes to the Arts.”

In an office on the second floor of Felony Entertainment’s South Fawcett location, a production team is hard at work pulling together Tacoma’s next hip-hop music video.

The video production team has all the usual aspects. There’s an executive director, a director, talent managers, camera crews and lighting technicians. The one thing that is a little unusual is the fact that they are all under 17.

The group of music-video-making teenagers is a part of the pilot program for the summer-long experience the students have dubbed “Say No to Guns and Gangs and Yes to the Arts.”

They were tasked to work with a seasoned hip-hop artist, local rapper Skirt Digla, and create a music video that would convey the artist’s intent, as well as carry the record label’s best interest.

Midway through the summer session, it’s going good, so far. They’ve got the creative vision mapped out, filmed the first series of on-location shots, and are on schedule for wrapping on time.

“They just shocked me, to tell you the truth… they were way ahead of schedule,” Digla said, who admitted he was a little skeptical when approached with the idea of working with a teen team lacking any real-world experience.

But before they even met with Digla, the students had been well versed with the workings of the professional world through the program’s “Real-Life Curriculum.”

That covers everything from positive messaging, effective communication, interview etiquette and professional presentation to how to navigate through social programs, legal rights and the judicial system.

“This is information that I didn’t receive as a kid,” said Felony Entertainment CEO Jesse Miller, commonly referred to as Miss Jessy. She is also the creator of the program that is supported through the Russell Family Foundation. Miller credits her rough upbringing as her inspiration to create the summer program that gets kids engaged, and thinking positively about their futures. “I grew up in Tacoma… I don’t want these kid to go through what I went through.”

Miller noted that the dual experience of the program – the hands on learning in video production along with the invaluable life skills components – is what makes the program a little different than other options for high school kids during their off-season. She hopes the program will be duplicated in other areas around the country.

“I know how much music means to kids. You got to get them with what they love – and I’m throwing in what they need.”

And the students are responding to all aspects of the curriculum. Aside from the nearly perfect attendance to the three-day-per week schedule, the kids are really getting into their jobs on the production team, as well as looking ahead to their possibilities for the future.

“This [program] is doing more than helping us learn about music videos… what we are learning here actually [affects us],” said Chrishenda Dawkins, executive director for the music video, and a 16-year-old Foss High School student.

“Say No To Guns and Gangs and Yes to the Arts” will be shooting the next portion of the video for Digla’s new song “Hyphy Boogie” at Felony Entertainment’s 10th Anniversary barbecue Aug. 8 at People’s Park. They welcome people of all ages to come and boogie down for a chance to be in the video, which is expected to debut in early September.

The barbecue will go from

5-9 p.m., and is located at 1100 S. 9th St

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