Emil Pinnock

Background

Award-winning filmmaker and educator based in Pasadena, CA.
Founder of Unleashing Giants, an organization running film education programs for over a decade.
Key programs include Genius in the Hood (mining talent in underserved communities like Compton, Harlem) and Lights, Camera, Future (8-week filmmaking program in Pasadena).
Extensive experience working with diverse student populations across public and private schools (e.g., Harvard-Westlake, Chicago public schools).
Deep ties to the Pasadena/Altadena community and Unified School District.
Personally involved in alternative education; his three children (ages 14, 13, 11 as of May 2025) have never attended traditional school and are excelling (son is an actor on Abbott Elementary, daughter is a published author).
Holds a Global Ambassadors Award from a major television festival (name not specified).

Eaton Fires severely impacted Pasadena/Altadena, destroying/damaging schools and displacing thousands of students.
Unleashing Giants' programs are on hold due to school closures and funding shifts towards rebuilding.
Pasadena Unified School District (previous major sponsor of his film festival) has pulled funding.
Sees a significant opportunity to introduce new educational models (like Alpha Schools) into the disrupted Pasadena/Altadena education landscape.

Initial idea (via Chris Locke): Alpha Schools sponsors the Pasadena student film festival as an entry point and activation event.
Evolved Vision (with Gary Sheng): Pivot from festival sponsorship to co-creating a specialized, hyper-elite film middle/high school in Pasadena/Altadena, born "from the ashes" of the fires.
Leverage Emil's existing network, programs (Unleashing Giants), and board (includes creators of Game of Thrones, Rian Johnson).
Potential for a unique media-centric model:
- School functions as an in-house production company/distribution agency.
- Students apprentice under top film professionals.
- Curriculum integrates Alpha's 2-hour learning with hands-on film production.
- Storytelling focuses initially on the school's own creation and narrative.
- Potential for an "Activation TV" model (near real-time docuseries) via partnerships (e.g., Netflix).
- Possible traveling model where film students document other Alpha specialty schools (e.g., golf, basketball).
- Potential for innovative NIL-like deals where the school shares in student project success.
Goal: Create the world's best film school, producing award-winning talent and content.

Malcolm Spellman: Partner, involved in Unleashing Giants, TV/Film writer/producer (Captain America, Falcon and Winter Soldier, Snowfall spinoff).
Jimmy Criss: Partner.

2025-05-03: Call with Gary Sheng. Discussed the Pasadena situation, the film festival funding gap, the opportunity presented by the Eaton Fires, and brainstormed the ambitious film school concept incorporating media production, celebrity partnerships, and innovative educational models aligned with Alpha Schools' vision and The Alpha Bet's strategy.

Shared vision for innovative, specialized education.
Emil's deep community ties in Pasadena/Altadena, a target location for Alpha expansion.
Emil's extensive network in the entertainment industry.
Alignment on leveraging media and storytelling for educational impact.
Emil's experience with non-traditional education models.

Transcript ID	Date	Summary
2025-05-03_gary_sheng_emil_pinnock	2025-05-03	Discussion about film school collaboration opportunity post-Eaton Fires and potential partnership with Alpha Schools