TEENS GO BEHIND THE CAMERA TO INFLUENCE THEIR PEERS.

Byline: TRACY ZABORAC Community Columnist

Seven film students at Viewpoint School in Calabasas have given up some of their free time to try to influence the decisions today's teens make.

Aaron Case of Westlake Village, Adam Hendricks of Hidden Hills, Jeff Hood of Camarillo, Asi Lang of Tarzana, Chris McKenna of Thousand Oaks, Heather Montgomery of Thousand Oaks and Carl Slomowitz of Westlake Village worked several Saturdays during the fall semester at the K-12 school filming public service announcements.

The announcements cover tough and sensitive topics that, unfortunately, affect many young people.

The television spots deal with issues such as drug abuse, drinking and driving, teen alcohol abuse, gun control, smoking, child abuse and staying in school.

The students created and produced the public service announcements.

Their hard work paid off. Falcon Cable will air the spots when they are completed.

Catherine Dunn, instructor of the Film 3 class, is helping the students edit their announcements.

Headmaster Robert J. Dworkoski is impressed with the success of the young filmmakers.

``I am so proud of our students. Their talents and the dedication of their teachers make opportunities like this possible,'' Dworkoski said.

Asi agrees. ``The film program at Viewpoint is absolutely phenomenal,'' said Asi, whose PSA is on teen drinking and driving. ``I love filmmaking and here I have the tools to do what I love.''

Viewpoint offers a college preparatory curriculum.

The education division of the Music Center of Los Angeles County has announced the nominees for the 1998-99 Bravo Awards honoring educators and schools for innovation and creativity in arts education.

Nominees from the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas include:

Randall Gilpin, Canyon High School, Canyon Country

Nancy Whitson and Cathe Jacobs, Buckley School, Sherman Oaks

Kristi Coleil, Newbury Park High School, Newbury Park

Matthew McKagan, Lindero Canyon Middle School, Agoura Hills

Amy Friedlander, Medea Creek Middle School, Agoura Hills

Marilyn Bjork, Los Altos Middle School, Camarillo

Jarrell Fuller, Rio del Valle Junior High School, Oxnard

Linda Ngarupe, Bedford Open School, Camarillo

Nancy Carsten and Georgan Schmitz, Carden Conejo School, Westlake Village

The winners will be announced and the nominees and finalists will be honored at a gala reception Feb. 22 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The winning school will receive $2,500 and each of the three winning teachers will get $1,000 and a Bravo Award sculpture.

Organizations that help feed the hungry generally face a dry spell after the holidays are over, and that's why the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation and the United Way of Greater Los Angeles are partners in ``Fighting Hunger 365 Days a Year.''

The two charities presented $175,000 in donations Friday to organizations that help those faced with hunger due to poverty, illness, emergencies and homelessness.

The grants were provided to 30 organizations, including a few in the San Fernando Valley.

The San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council, Jewish Community Centers/Sova and Lutheran Social Services benefited from the charitable campaign.

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PHOTO Teacher Catherine Dunn, bottom left, and students, clockwise, Jeff Hood, Heather Montgomery, Asi Lang, Carl Slomowitz, Chris McKenna and Adam Hendricks created public service announcements in a film class at Viewpoint School.

Phil McCarten/Daily News