Fifth Sun Pictures

02/10/2026

🎭 You’re invited to experience Akhnaten — live at LA Opera.

Fifth Sun Pictures is sharing FREE tickets to this stunning production by LA Opera, made possible through sponsorship from Los Angeles County (District 2).

✨ A powerful night of music, history, and visual storytelling
🎟 Estimated value: ~$100
📍 DTLA | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
🗓 March 11 | 7:30 PM

Tickets are limited and priority goes to local educators, students (16+), alumni, and community partners in South LA and nearby unincorporated areas.

👉 Register via the QR code before spots fill up.

DTLA District2

10/22/2025

We recently attended the 88 Cities Summit hosted by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation — a day full of insight and collaboration about how to grow a resilient, equitable economy across LA County.

From clean energy to workforce development and small business innovation, the summit reminded us that lasting change happens when we all work together.

At Fifth Sun Pictures, we’re proud to be doing our part through our Small Business Marketing Program and CTE Employer Partnership with LAUSD, both launched this summer to support local entrepreneurs and students.

Read our latest blog to learn more about what we discovered and how we’re helping shape the future of economic development in Los Angeles:

Published Tuesday, October 21, 2025 By Marco Vargas, CEO of Fifth Sun PicturesAt the 88 Cities Summit, leaders from across Los Angeles County gathered to address one of our region’s most urgent challenges: how to power and grow a thriving economy while ensuring equity and opportunity for all commu...

08/19/2025

The majority of our school partners started school on August 11, 2025! This is very exciting considering our growing work with LAUSD CTE-Linked Learning and the Los Angeles Unified School District Strategic Enrollment & Program Planning Office.

Historically the weeks leading up to the first day of school are busy, especially for Pablo who leads are e-commerce department known as FreshandPreppy.com.

This back-to-school was extra special as we also concluded our new and improved summer internship program—where high school students from school partners throughout Los Angeles sent their best and brightest to work alongside our team.

With that, ring the school bell because class is in session and team Fifth Sun Pictures is online to support our network of partners all year-round.

06/10/2025

On behalf of Nava College Preparatory Academy (NCPA), the Fifth Sun Pictures team congratulates the Class of 2025 for successfully completing the A-G requirements and earning their high school diploma.

Fifth Sun Pictures, as a marketing and consulting company, has a long history supporting NCPA. Our leadership are proud alumni of NCPA (Class of 2018 and 2020) and we thank our former teachers, school administration, and academic programs for preparing us for the real world.

As we expand our e-commerce department, known as Fresh & Preppy, we are excited to continue supporting NCPA with evidence-based school enrollment and marketing strategies. Let this live stream document a special day for all current and future NCPA alumni.

Together we can uplift each other and our community. Class of 2025, remember to always be a Nava Knight!

05/30/2025

3 years ago, Fifth Sun Pictures partnered with Dr. Cynthia Gonzalez, then Director of Pilot Schools Support at LAUSD. As a former pilot school principal and innovative leader, Dr. Gonzalez tirelessly championed autonomy for 39 pilot schools—empowering them in curriculum, budget, staffing, and calendars for greater equity and student success.

As proud alumni of Nava College Prep, my colleagues Pablo Gonzalez, Cristian Solorzano, and I are honored to support our community schools. Under Dr. Gonzalez’s leadership, pilot schools achieved:
🎓 93.3% graduation (vs. 86.7% at non-pilot)
📚 69.2% A-G completion (vs. 55.2%)
📖 49.5% met/exceeded ELA standards
📊 29.2% met/exceeded Math standards
💼 60%+ CTE completion at top pilot schools (district avg: 21%)

Since 2022, we’ve proudly partnered with LAUSD’s Pilot Schools—sponsoring conferences and supporting marketing strategies to highlight school strengths, engage families, and build strong community ties.

As Dr. Gonzalez transitions to UCLA to lead the Principal Leadership Institute, we’re excited to continue our work with LAUSD Pilot Schools and expand collaborations with CTE Linked Learning, Affiliated Charters, and SEPPO for lasting student and family impact.

Here’s to building on a legacy of educational justice, collaboration, and community impact. 💫

04/23/2025

Your school might be doing great things — but if families don’t know, it won’t matter.

With abundant school choice options, families often rely on what they see online (or what they’ve heard) to make enrollment decisions. That means even schools doing great work can struggle with enrollment if their reputation is outdated, misunderstood, or simply unknown.

Join us on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, for a panel-style webinar with three enrollment experts:

• Moderator Charli Renckly-DeWhitt (Marketing & Enrollment Consultant, SchoolMint)

• Panelist Matt Coats (Chief Evangelist, SchoolMint)

• Panelist Marco Vargas (CEO and Partnerships Manager, Fifth Sun Pictures)

This practical conversation will focus on how schools can use digital outreach tactics (video and social media) to communicate their school’s unique story, build a positive reputation, and drive higher enrollment — even in the face of limited resources and uncertain funding.

In only 45 minutes, you’ll learn:

• Why identifying and telling your school’s story matters

• How to communicate your story in a way that connects with families

• Where schools are missing the mark with video storytelling

• How to get your story out into your community

• Tips for making effective school videos even with limited expertise and no budget

Whether you’re trying to improve your school’s reputation, launching a new program, or simply trying to make your school stand out, this session will help you rethink how your school is showing up online. In

09/04/2024

Join us on YouTube for the “Hype & Vibes” video premiere by Santee Education Complex at 12pm on Friday, September 6, 2024! 🥳

Get a glimpse of your future as a Santee Falcon 🦅☝️💯

08/12/2024

Check out my blog post https://wix.to/TnvXj9p

2024 SXSW conference covered a wide range of topics in the entertainment, fashion, and business industries. ​Read some key insights here.

05/10/2024

Event Date: May 8, 2024

Today was a wonderful full circle moment to attend the “Project Based Learning Presentation” project at Miguel Contreras Business & Tourism (BT).

In February, Fifth Sun Pictures helped kickoff this BT initiative with a keynote attended by 50 English Language Learners. (See keynote highlights in Spanish: 15 years old students start a business with $500 through a business pitch program in high school. Link: https://youtu.be/11nICOY6a3g)

A few months later we were invited back as judges where students showcased not one, but multiple deliverables. Deliverables included a business website, blueprint, PowerPoint presentation, and a promotional video of their product or service. Most inspiring of all, at the end of the presentations, students shared how they gained confidence with public speaking in English, collaborating in teams, and completing a wide range of business activities.

One student, Francy Gonzalez, shared her story with our CEO, Marco Vargas. In recent years, her family migrated from Guatemala in pursuit of a better life. Transitioning to the United States has been challenging, but her mind is set on becoming a business owner one day. This is why her team pitched a business where they sell coffee and tea imported from Guatemala. Their products would be available for purchase via coffee shops and retail storefronts.

Behind-the-scenes, we have been working to enhance and replicate initiatives like at BT by completing a 9-month LAUSD UDIPP approval process to implement Wix, a digital software with educational and school marketing & culture cases uses. Our research at Fifth Sun Pictures indicates that we can leverage our partnership with Wix and implement an innovative CMS software to empower students like Francy Gonzalez to develop foundational career skills and increase work readiness with projects-based learning that incorporates website production, digital portfolios, e-commerce, digital marketing, and even tinkering with the latest capabilities of artificial intelligence.

As of April 14, 2024 Fifth Sun Pictures has competed UDIPP approval for Wix software. A new chapter is beginning and together we can help schools like Business & Tourism develop future business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs.

If you’re new to Fifth Sun Pictures, our company mission aims to help organizations connect with their communities digitally. Stay tuned for more information coming Summer 2024.

04/26/2024

As an industry partner of LAUSD, Fifth Sun Pictures is deepening its commitment to infusing career technical education programs with high-quality curriculum and expertise. Our focus since 2019 has been improving student attendance, enrollment, and campus culture through digital transformation projects that establish the online presence of organizations. Best known as the Fifth Sun 3 Marketing Framework, we proudly support 40+ schools with launching new websites, executing film productions, and most recently managing online merch stores.

This year we attended our first Linked Learning Alliance conference to better understand how our marketing solutions can integrate career technical education for students in the classroom. For example, exposing students to professional careers in communications and website design through workshops as we redesign their website. Or like with our partners Los Angeles High School of the Arts and Pueblo de Los Angeles, helping school staff pioneer industry relevant film production programs.

Below are two key takeaways from the conference this year:

California’s Bold Vision for Education & the Economy: “We need the education system to work for us and have a vision for students to earn 12 credits towards college before they graduate. 12 by 12. 12 college credits before the end of 12th grade.” - Linda Darling-Hammond, President of California State Board of Education.
There’s a lack of diversity in the technology sector and it’s not a surprise. Teaching students how to build social capital is one solution that can diversify the technology sector. Consider that career opportunities can be accessed even with weak ties (bridging social capital method) and in concentrated networks. - Dr. Mary Madda, Education for Social Impact at Google

A special thanks to Susan Canjura, Director of Linked Learning at LAUSD, for supporting our work at Fifth Sun Pictures.

All in all, we feel better equipped to contribute towards LAUSD’s strategic plan which aims to prepare young people for the real world.

02/26/2024

We’re thrilled to celebrate Cristian’s recent work as a facilitator for the LAHSA and Fifth Sun Pictures’ Website and Marketing after-school program.

Fifth Sun Pictures led the LAHSA website redesign project earlier this year, as part of this project we wanted to bring students into the creative process while simultaneously equipping them with industry-standard design thinking strategies.

Over the past four weeks, we’ve had the privilege of hosting these talented young minds and witnessing their eagerness and potential firsthand. We’re thankful to the future designers and marketers who were able to commit their afternoons to spend time with us learning about design thinking, persona maps, marketing schedules, distribution frameworks and so much more.

We can’t wait to see the amazing things they achieve in the years to come!

02/09/2024

2023: A Year of Action, Inspiration, and Growth
January flew by in a whirlwind of film productions and community collaborations, marking the close of a truly electrifying first month in 2024. But before we dive headfirst into February, let’s rewind to December’s transformative company retreat at the 2023 Operation Hope Global Forums in Atlanta, Georgia.

That retreat wasn’t just about strategic planning (although we did plenty of that, aligning service offerings, internal dynamics, and long-term vision with meticulous care). It was about immersing ourselves in a unique headspace, one ignited by the passion and purpose radiating from Operation Hope.

The energy at the Forum was palpable. Hundreds of genuine individuals, all driven by two powerful questions: “How can I leverage my resources to create meaningful change in my community?” and “How can I become a force for good, building a stronger, more supportive community?”

Witnessing this dedication was game-changing for Fifth Sun. It reignited our own commitment to being present, engaged, and impactful within our community. We’re more motivated than ever to scale our “Fifth Sun 3” marketing methodology and forge deeper partnerships.

The knowledge gained was invaluable, but the perspective shift on community was the true bonus. Operation Hope, thank you for inspiring the early chapters of our entrepreneurial journey. Your unwavering dedication to empowering communities continues to resonate within us, fueling our mission to make a positive difference