Alumni

Many Media Arts students from Los Angeles Valley College go on to have prolific careers in the entertainment industry. Most frequently, students who earn the Certificate in Motion Picture Production Technician quickly find employment with their versatile skills. A few of our success stories are mentioned below. If you are a Valley College alum in Broadcasting, Cinema Arts or Media Arts, please let us know about your story be contacting Department Chair Professor Joe Daccurso at 818-947-2354 or e-mail him at daccursja@lavc.edu.

(L-R) Richard Holdredge, Gail Nastasia, Betty Ballew, Sean Astin, Joseph A. Daccurso, and Eric Swelstad

Sean Astin, graduate from our Cinema Arts program, has been a featured actor in the motion picture "Rudy," playing the title role. Most recently he has played Sam Gangee in the Peter Jackson production of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Mr. Astin is also responsible for having Verizon, Inc. donate $30,000 to the Valley College GAIN/CalWORKs program to promote family reading through the National Literacy Association's lastest campaign.

Other LAVC Alumni incude:

Former Cinema major Steve Silver was awarded the Fall 2007 Emmy for Director of Cinematography work on the popular TV series “Two and a Half Men”.

Robert Kerian has chosen to focus on still photography. His latest work can be seen in Road & Track Magazine.

Aaron Yamasoto's first feature film, "Golden Samurai," received the best feature film award at the Hawaiin Film Festival in 2002.

• Edgar Acala, KABC-TV Cameraman
• Eric Anderson, Film Editor
• Sean Astin, Actor
• Ed Begley Jr, Actor and Environmentalist
• Michael Blake, Emmy-winning Make-Up Artist
• Richard Blythe, KRLA Radio Operations
• Debra Hehmann, Premier Radio Network
• Troy Miller, Film/TV Director
• Robert Ramirez, Animation Writer/Director
• Lisa “Kool Aid” Seltzer, Power 106 Radio

Media Arts Department
Los Angeles Valley College
5800 Fulton Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401
[818] 947-2600 x5503