Faces of Home Education
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Alyssa Buecker is an extraordinary teenager. She’s a very talented up-and-coming movie director, with a cast of unique actors.

They don’t want a paycheck or a fancy dressing room; lettuce will be more than enough! Alyssa has 14 guinea pigs, including Butterscotch Twinkie, Chocolate Cheesecake, and Winky. She has made many movies starring her furry friends, like her most current work, "Carrot Wars". "Carrot Wars" is a spoof on "Star Wars", which along with three other films, has been commissioned by the HBO Family Channel!

How did she get her start?

Alyssa always had a gift with animals, since they were comfortable and happy whenever she was with them. This home-schooler’s future as a director blossomed when she combined her love of directing and animals. She took a movie making class at age 11, and learned about working a camera, editing, and how to make a great movie. Her parents were supportive, and to this day act as "stage hands" for her films. She entered her first film in the Cannes film festival, and took home first prize! Ever since, people have praised her funny and well done guinea pig films. Children and parents alike will enjoy the adventures Alyssa carefully constructs.

Alyssa is the producer, editor, director, and writer for all her films! She uses a digital Sony camcorder and does all of her editing on the Avid Media Composer at the University of Kansas. Alyssa’s films have gotten rave reviews, and her favorite one to date ("Carrot Wars") has brought her even more national acclaim. She’s been in dozens of publications like People magazine, Girl’s Life, and numerous local newspapers in her hometown, Lawrence, Kansas.

Joanne:
In this exclusive interview, Alyssa tells us more about her career, future aspirations, and what it’s like to work with her adorable guinea pigs!

How did you get involved with filmmaking and your unique cast of characters?

Alyssa:
I started by taking a movie making class when I was 11. I only had one guinea pig then (Hazel), and I used her in my first movie, which I made for the class. It was called "Hazel the Guinea Pig's Package".

I entered it in the Cannes film festival, and it won first place. When I was 12, I made another movie, "The Christmas Caper", and it had about ten guinea pigs in it. It won first place and Best of Division in the Cannes film festival. Then the next year I made another film called "Guinea Pigs From Mars", and it also won first place at the Cannes. Then I made a short for Nickelodeon called, "Figure it Out: Guinea Pig Style". After that I worked for six months on my most involved guinea pig movie, "Carrot Wars", a spoof on "Star Wars." HBO commissioned "Carrot Wars" and also bought rights to my first three guinea pig movies, to show on the HBO Family Channel. I recently formed my own production company, Milbo Productions, and have been selling copies of the "Carrot Wars" video to customers all over the World from my web page.

Joanne:
What is your favorite guinea pig film, and why?

Alyssa:
I think my favorite would be Carrot Wars, since I put so much work into it, but I also really enjoyed making the Nickelodeon one, because it was so much fun to make and so silly.

Joanne:
When and why did you start homeschooling?

Alyssa:
I started homeschooling when I was in kindergarten, after two years ofattending preschool. My mom wanted to homeschool me so I would be able to have the time to do all the creative things that I always loved to do. (I used to do all kinds of art projects, and won a lot of art contests.)

Joanne:
How long have you been homeschooling?
What is your favorite part about learning at home?

Alyssa:
I have been homeschooling my whole life. (I am now 16 and would be in 10th grade, if I were in school.) I love having the time and freedom to pursue my  own interests, and that includes making guinea pig movies! I also enjoy  being able to be with my pets all day long.

Joanne:
Where do you want to take your budding career in the future?

Alyssa:
I think I want to keep making guinea pig movies for now---they're fun and people seem to like them. I've tried other things, like live action with humans, and animation, too.

My favorite part about making movies is the editing. (I use a digital Sony VX2000 camcorder and edit on an Avid Media Composer at the University of Kansas.) My 14 guinea pig "actors" really don't take direction very well---most of the work on the films is done in the editing suite!

PetCorner Support Group

Homeschool Teen on the National Scene
How I became a part of "Seventeen" Magazine
by Joanne Spataro, creator of FreshAir TeenZine
& Member of the Teen Advisory Board of Seventeen Magazine
I was so excited when the mail came. I started flipping frantically through the newest issue of Seventeen magazine. I found the wonderful spread on the new Teen Advisory Board members. I was one of them, with my picture on the glossy pages. I was chosen for this prestigious position from hundreds of other applicants. My months of hard work and persistence had paid off! Do you have a dream to share? Do you think you can make a difference? Find out more on how I did it and how you can too!!

Shakespeare Youth Theatre
by Beth Bruno & Lois Lake Church
The Shakespearean Youth Theatre, a group of 14 homeschooled young people, ages 12 to 17, from many parts of Connecticut, has performed annually since 1997 at the Puppet House Theater in Stony Creek (Branford), CT. Each January the troupe chooses a play and begins rehearsing. The entire troupe is dedicated to performing quality productions of Shakespeare and learning about the play, the playwright and theater. To this end, the cast is highly involved in every aspect of the production, from selecting and editing the play, to publicity, sets and costumes. Find out more about the troupe and how you might be able to form your own company where you live.

Faces of Home Education