Since 2005 John has run the IFP Summer Mentorship program, taking students through the script-to-screen process of producing a short film that they write, direct and edit themselves. This unique program has been a huge success, garnering numerous awards, including national and regional Student Emmys, a cover story in the Chicago Tribune, and, most importantly, new skills, confidence, and dreams of the future for the participants in the program.  Here are 5 of the films created with the kids from Chicago Vocational Career Academy.  Just wrapped - our 2009 film, Carjacked, starring Jon Hill, Jeezy McNeezy, and Curtis Jackson.

A boy, a girl, a crappy car and two nerds on the come-up.

Four high school students, four secrets.

Andy is having a bad day.

Two friends stuck between doing what's right and living for the moment.

Mac tries to stay focused on his education while his two friends encourage him to stay loyal to the game.