Hertzberg’s Heroes: Vol. II, Issue IV— Exceptional Minds
Welcome to Hertzberg’s Heroes! Every month, Team Hertzberg will highlight an individual or organization that exemplifies heroism through their dedication to making life better for the San Fernando Valley. Have a Hero to suggest? Submit your idea to Senator.Hertzberg@sen.ca.gov!
Talented artists like the students at Exceptional Minds are working to make their dreams come true as future animators. Do you remember what cartoons you watched growing up? Some of us watched them on Saturday mornings in front of a television, or read cartoon strips from a newspaper. Since then, technology has evolved to provide seemingly unlimited access to animated entertainment, including award-winning animated films that are available on smart phones or tablets, or video games that look almost like reality. This is all thanks to the wonderful imagination of animators.
Exceptional Minds is based in Sherman Oaks, and offers a unique program for students with autism who want to launch their careers as artists and animation creators by providing both instructional training and preparation for work at major studios in the entertainment industry.
For nearly 10 years, Exceptional Minds has opened its doors to mentor students with autism. As a nonprofit organization, its dedication and personalized attention to its students is remarkable. The instructors not only provide a full animation curriculum, they are also the only autism organization that incorporates education with integrated behavioral training that will serve these students when they are on the job.
While students at Exceptional Minds have the opportunity to pursue careers at major studios, they also have the chance to work on major motion pictures at Exceptional Minds’ own professional studio. Launched in 2014, students and graduates work in the visual effects, animation, rigging animation for gaming, or continue on-the-job training as apprentices. The studio is an approved vendor for Disney, Fox, HBO, Marvel Studios, Netflix, Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros. The Studio’s credits include Special Olympics, Sesame Street, and blockbuster films such as Black Panther and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Another one of the goals of Exceptional Minds is to promote inclusivity. They recently collaborated with the organization Color of Autism to continue to expand their outreach to young people with autism, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. Exceptional Minds also finds ways to help students pay for their education through scholarships and donations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Exceptional Minds has been able to keep classes fully remote, and have consistently provided resources for students to continue their classes and graduate. Recently, an Exceptional Minds graduate, who is now a Production Coordinator at Nickelodeon, visited her alma mater through a webinar to answer a Q&A about what it has been like to work in the entertainment industry.
If you or someone you know would like to become a part of this important and caring program, you can find out more information on the Exceptional Minds website.
