Supporting the Next Generation of Creative Talent

San Francisco has always been a place where people come to make things. They start companies, build movements, write songs, make films, and find collaborators who help turn ideas into something real.

At 48 Hills, a San Francisco youth film camp, that creative spirit takes the form of a feature film made by 100 Bay Area teenagers. Over 10 weeks, students write, direct, shoot, edit, and design the sets, costume and HMU (Hair&Makeup) for the entire production, with guidance from experienced filmmakers, actors, and other working artists.

The students handle real production challenges, too. For one scene, they had to figure out how to source a baby goat, including the necessary rental, permitting, and animal-handling requirements. They are not simply learning about filmmaking from the outside. They are making decisions, solving problems, and seeing their ideas take shape.

That is why Dust was proud to support 48 Hills. The camp was founded by Joe Talbot, and its faculty includes Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmakers. This year, students acted alongside and directed a number of famous actors, like Lukita Maxwell from this year’s hit movie Backrooms, and Heather Matarazzo from The Princess Diaries.

The camp is about more than filmmaking. It gives students the resources, mentorship, peers, and responsibility to create something together. From what we saw firsthand, the crew treats participants as adults. Each student has a role and the agency to carry it out. As filming progresses, they adjust their plans, work through problems, and keep the production moving.

That experience gives young people the chance to build connections, develop practical skills, and see creative careers as more accessible.

The results are tangible. Although 48 Hills is only in its second year, students went on to make 13 more films together after leaving the program.

We would have never heard about the program if not for Jessica Jin. Jessica led the effort to support 48 Hills and documented the fundraising campaign in her video, Will These Tech Companies Donate to My $100K Fundraising Campaign?

She set out to raise $50,000 for the program, with Clay offering to match the amount. Dust joined Clay and the other sponsors near the end of the campaign, helping 48 Hills reach its fundraising goal.

We were especially glad to be part of the effort because it reflects a belief we share: technology should help people do more of what makes them human. That includes building, experimenting, collaborating, and creating art.

Art is not separate from civic life. It is one of the ways communities understand themselves. Films, music, stories, and visual art help people see experiences they might otherwise miss. Creative programs also build skills that matter well beyond the final production, including communication, judgment, teamwork, persistence, and the ability to work through uncertainty.

That is what made supporting 48 Hills meaningful to Dust. The program gives young people access to mentors, creative tools, and a community of peers. More importantly, it gives them the chance to see themselves as people who can shape the culture around them.

San Francisco has always made room for people with ambitious ideas. Supporting 48 Hills is one small way to help ensure that the next generation has the same opportunity.

We are grateful to Jessica for making the ask, to Clay for backing the campaign, and to everyone who helped make the program possible.

Watch Jessica’s video, Will These Tech Companies Donate to My $100K Fundraising Campaign?, to see how the campaign came together. Learn more about 48 Hills and its work at 48hills.camp.