Panorama City school makes documentary on former First Lady Rosalynn Carter

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City is celebrating something pretty remarkable.

Students past and present have spent years working on a documentary about the life and accomplishments of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

It all started when St. Genevieve's principal was 24 and he wrote a letter to Mrs. Carter. A friendship began.

Then, in 2003, when St. Genevieve became a "national school of character," the Carters embraced it all. And for the past 15 years, the school and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have visited each other.

The relationship runs deep. So when the idea of producing a documentary was presented, the students took the task very seriously.

"They've conducted the interviews, put together all of the footage, contacted people for the interviews, done all the editing, chosen the music," said Principal Dan Horn. "It's all student-driven."

Sean See from the class of 2012 returned to help put years of other students' work all together. He received some valuable advice from a St. Genevieve mentor.

"He breaks it down for me. He's like, 'Basically, Sean, what you're doing is, you're getting everybody else's grocery shopping and you just showed up and you're the chef,'" said alumni Sean See. "And you don't know what kind of ingredients you got but you have to make this film."

"It was a challenge but it was also very rewarding because with this experience, I also got to grow as a creative and as a filmmaker," said fellow alum Dominick Argana.

"We produce great students," said drama and dance instructor Dani Brown. "Great people who are going out, changing the world through art, honoring a president, first lady. It's awesome."

Jaden See and Isaiah Coronado met Mrs. Carter in Plains, Georgia, for their work on the documentary.

"She's done so much for the world," said See, a sophomore. "She's made acts like helping those in need, the sick. She's traveled the world to cure diseases."

"She welcomed us with a warm heart and just knowing that she comes here, just knowing that we love her and we love her family," said Coronado, also a sophomore.

"A lot of people don't know a lot about Rosalynn Carter," said Horn. "And she's an unsung hero and we at St. Genevieve are about to sing her song!"

The Carters are flying in to see the movie at the Rose Bowl on Feb. 2. If you'd like to join them, tickets are $25 and you can find more information here on the school's website.