Teacher Hopes To Create New Sacramento Entertainment Jobs

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- A local teacher is hoping a new web series will help jump start innovation in the Sacramento entertainment industry and lead to new jobs for local creative artists.

Rick Gott, a high school drama teacher, has produced several episodes over the summer of an episodic series called "Dark Pool," with each episode running about 5 minutes and ending with a cliffhanger.

Friends from the industry donate their time and work alongside graduates and current students, teaching everything from camera operation and lighting to audio and editing.

"There is a mentorship. My seasoned friends teaching my younger friends how to make films," Gott said.

Gott said the idea came after the tragic suicide of a former student, a "genius" who couldn't find any opportunities after school and lost hope. The teacher believes Sacramento has enough talent to support a wide range of entertainment projects and could become a hub for creative projects.

"You could ultimately have a channel of locally produced programs and people working," he said.

The first episodes are being posted on YouTube and Gott says he plans to shoot more episodes over the holidays.