Local Teens Shoot National TV Series in Town

As the last rays of late afternoon sun set on Hap Magee Ranch Park, three Danville teens, Chandler Gumbs, Gabrielle Javier, and Dashel Rovner, were busy reshooting a scene for an episode of their recently premiered, nationally airing TV series, "9th Period."

The plot follows three fictional bright teens and diligent students, who also have a knack for working as a team to solve "innocent crimes that teach a lesson."

Learning is weaved into each plot as the trio comprised of "Meg," the lead detective, played by Javier, "Connor," the scientist of the group, played by Rovner, and "Peyton," the multi-sport athlete, played by Gumbs, work to solve crimes around their town.

Gumbs, who attends Diablo Vista Middle School, pegged long-time friend Gabrielle Javier, a student at Stone Valley Middle School, as the perfect fit for the role of "Meg." Gumbs' father, Executive Producer, Desmond Gumbs, developed the idea for the series. Dashel Rovner, a freshman at San Ramon Valley High, joined the cast later, and is also a friend through the Danville T-Birds football league.

Writer and director, Ben Shelton, an award winning Los Angeles based filmmaker, describes the series as "innocent and wholesome," and designed to appeal to kids, aged 8 to 15.

Danville and Alamo are "beautiful" locations, Shelton said, and he has found the community to be really welcoming and respectful of their needs during production. According to Shelton, the communities work so well because they could be "anywhere, U.S.A."

As active local students, the young actors, all of whom are newcomers to acting on screen, have had to balance their studies and social lives and be patient as the series has come to life during the past two years.

Javier feels "kids and their parents should watch the show together," and will find it "educational." She has found the experience to be "really cool…and a lot of fun," and thinks she would like to be an actress in the future.

As fun-loving kids are inclined to do, they playfully punctuated the last shot of the day by pulling a good-natured prank on Shelton. That dynamic, born of real friendship, is a key reason to tune into "9th Period."

For more information, visit the "9th Period" Facebook page and watch Sundays at 3:00 p.m. on KOFY channel 13.