About The COOL Cooperative
Welcome to The COOL Cooperative! We are a youth focused film education program dedicated to empowering Louisiana students from 6th grade through high school graduation. We provide a safe, stable, and engaging environment where students can find their voice and learn to express themselves through the art of filmmaking.
Letter from the founder
The accidental death of my eldest son,
David Whitney Stallard II, just four weeks after
returning from an orphanage rebuilding mission in
Haiti and pledging his life to “helping children less fortunate than him”,
was the impetus for the founding of the COOL Cooperative.
My serendipitous introduction to the fascinating world of filmmaking in
2013 was when budding filmmaker Kirby Voss invited me to produce his feature film.
Filmmaking is a team sport whose success requires both creativity
and physicality, and, in my experience, the end result is not just a product
but “a family”.
The COOL Cooperative provides the opportunity for area youth
to master the art of storytelling while also receiving hands on
training in every aspect of filmmaking, proffering a unique skill set
not available elsewhere for middle and high schoolers.
In the coming years, with the grant from LED, I proudly anticipate
the expansion of COOL state wide in Louisiana.
As founder, I have an infinite amount of gratitude for everyone
who has contributed to COOL over the last 10 years to make this program successful. It has taken the passion and commitment of many teachers, staff, mentors, volunteers, board members, and students to make this dream a reality.
The COOL Cooperative offers a progressive program designed to meet students where they are and guide them toward a rewarding career. We offer hands-on film education to middle school students, and as they grow and progress through the program, they likewise gain responsibilities and experience.
Middle School: Foundation and Fun
Students in 6th through 8th grade begin in a supportive environment offering:
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Hands on film education
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Snacks
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Safe, supervised space
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Fun and engaging activities
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Collaboration with peers
High School: Skills and Success
As students progress, they become "COOL Creators" and take on greater responsibilities while receiving specialized support:
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Ages 16+ receive hourly compensation to learn with us
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Technical, behind-the-scenes film industry skills training
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Networking opportunities and professional connections
By the time they graduate, our COOL Creators are equipped with the confidence, skills, and network needed to step directly into well-paying jobs in the film industry.
