If you ask Diane and Scott Stand, partners and founders of JDS Studios, what 2021 has looked like, their answer would be “eventful.” The two never gave in to the limitations of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Through its many outlets: JDS Creative Academy, JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc., Spirit of Innovation, JDS Actors Studio, and DigiFest Temecula JDS Studios never skipped a beat.
JDS Creative Academy proudly facilitates their Title-17 video production job-training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program requires the practice of technical and soft skills to prepare them for the social and workload demands of a real job or internship. When the world had to adjust to a remote environment back in 2020, the #JDSFamily was no exception to stopping the spread and went completely remote. The participants and staff rose to the challenge and implemented ambitious efforts to keep the program up and running successfully via Zoom. Writing staff still wrote, post-production staff still edited content, and teaching staff continued to engage participants with hands-on instruction, and their radio broadcast stayed on the air 7 days a week 3 times a day on 1025 The Vine.
The #JDSFamily worked hard to keep everything going through the shut downs; the staff rejoiced when they returned to the studio in February with COVID-safety regulations in place, creating content, team building, and breaking down barriers. Not only were the JDSCA staff welcomed back into the studio, the participants were able to follow in April, and the doors opened up to the community in June, with JDSCA’s acclaimed summer camp program and performance.
Spirit of Innovation, JDS Creative Academy broadcasted and live streamed magazine-style local news television program for Riverside County, was on their game, never missing an episode in 2021. The #JDSFamily continued to go out on location for production, collect interviews via zoom, and edit quality content delivering the need-to-know and good-to-know news for the community. As things changed, longtime host Gabriella Venturo departed from the show and the #JDSFamily welcomed Mia Digenan as the new host of Spirit of Innovation.
JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc. had one of its best years yet with Co-founder and CEO Diane Strand constantly in the spotlight and showing how women in business do it! Diane became a published author in 2021; a two-time interviewee for Authority Magazine and Thrive Global; and she has been a guest on podcasts Shut Up and Grind! with Robert B. Foster, Remarkable Radio, and Monday Morning Coffee with Dr. Stevie Dawn. She was also the keynote speaker for the 2021 Digital Media Education Conference. JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc.continued to serve their longtime clients such as Abbott and Temecula Valley Unified School District. JDS, Inc. also created many virtual tours in 2021; one of their favorites was the History of Vail Ranch commissioned by the Temecula Valley Historical Society. Thanks to the resilience of the #JDSFamily production team, JDS Video & Media Productions, Inc. never missed a chance to serve their clients.
JDS Actors Studio was able to thrive as well in 2021! The actors adjusted to Zoom acting classes but were happy to be back in person in May of 2021. The Actors Studio presented its first industry showcase in August since March of 2020. Actors performed for Hollywood agents and managers and over 80 percent of the actors received offers of representation.
DigiFest Temecula was virtual but was able to return from the reinvented DigiDay of 2020 to its original three-day format in 2021, which was as strong as ever for its fifth year, welcoming top speakers and presenters into the studio to deliver their golden nuggets of wisdom. DigiFest 2021 also would not have been what it was without all the digital artists that submitted their work, vying for the coveted Digi Awards. With all the success of the past, #DigiFest22 is expected to be their biggest event to date, taking place on April 22, 23, and 24, 2022. Competition submissions are being accepted until March 25 at DigiFestTemecula.org.
As the #JDSFamily looks back on the year they’ve had, they feel so much gratitude to the community for their continued support, their flexibility, and understanding as we’ve asked everyone to please keep their masks on. JDSCA loves the #JDSFamily and thanks them for making a year of many changes and challenges as memorable and as successful as it was.
JDS Studios is looking ahead to 2022. JDS Actors Studio is back with the Teen Class, ages 12-17 January 4th 5pm; Adult Acting January 6th 7pm; Little Toddlers, ages 4 – 6 January 10th 4pm, followed by Youth Acting ages 7 – 11 5pm. JDS Creative Academy classes open with Fashion and Backstage Production 4:30 pm on January 26th and Scriptwriting at 5 pm on January 31st. Musical Theatre Auditions for West Side Story will be held Thursday January 27th at 5pm.
For more information go to JDSCreativeAcademy.org. Enrollment opportunities are available now and inquiries can be made by calling (951) 296-6715.
The best of what JDS Studios has to offer is yet to come in 2022!