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A Brainstorm and a Spectrum in Southern California: the official grand opening of Brainstorm Productions
On Friday, April 21, the Global Autism Month 2023 downwind wind-down blew a storm and a Spectrum into a tiny Southern California township. The ‘storm’ was (and is) the neurodiverse-artist-fueled Brainstorm Productions, sister animation studio of The Center for Learning Unlimited (CLU). The ‘Spectrum’ was (and is) synonymous with Charter Communications, media conglomerate and bestower of an $8,000 digital arts employment training grant upon Brainstorm. The hamlet’s mayor — George Chen of Torrance, CA — summarized the celebratory occasion in-person and with an emphasis on the unique pool of creatives. ‘You have talent!’ he proclaimed to a crowd overflowing with local luminaries, friends, families and cartoon fans.
The one-hour program included a physically gigantic check presentation, a literal ribbon cutting ceremony, and remarks from Brainstorm staff artists/CLU alums Ramon Gonzalez and Brian Menjivar (alongside sign language interpreter Ajeet Singh). Also on hand for testimonials were Brainstorm collaborators Linda Malik, author and filmmaker behind festival darling WILLOW’S TALE, and Jane Kusch…
