California School of the Arts
INTEGRATED ARTS STUDENT FRANCES FARNAM ATTENDS SEMA FOR CONVERTING PORSCHE 914 INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Frances Farnam (IA, ‘26) recently returned to CSArts-SGV from Las Vegas, where she was invited to attend the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. SEMA, the largest automotive association of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and more, hosts a show to connect its members and give them the opportunity to network, showcase, and buy and sell their specialty parts and accessories. Frances was personally invited to the show by the SEMA President and CEO, Mike Spagnola, himself. The only thing more impressive than this is the reason for her invite.
At only 11-years old, Frances purchased a Porsche 914 with the hopes of restoring and converting the car into an electric vehicle with her father. Since then, she has documented the process of converting the car on her YouTube channel and website. This sustainable project landed her an invitation to the Sierra Madre Earth Day Festival, where the car was put on display.
Spagnola happened to walk past this festival, where he spotted Frances and her vehicle. Frances recounted the encounter as a stroke of luck.
“He introduced himself to me as ‘just a car guy in town’ and we started talking . . . He left for a bit and came back a few hours later, and was like, ‘I’m actually the CEO of SEMA, and I was wondering if you want your car to be there,’” she said.
At SEMA, Frances was able to network with others in the industry, trying to manage both her schoolwork and presenting her car. Thankfully, Frances said she is not the type of person to give up on her goals. When she gets overwhelmed with her multiple responsibilities, she makes a list in her head of her top priorities and pushes through.
Being in high school and converting a car is no easy feat, as Frances tends to put the most work into both financing the project and keeping herself motivated. To combat these issues, Frances turns to her sponsors.
SEMA was the perfect place to network with others in the industry and increase her sponsorships. While there, she met an individual who manages an electric charging company who asked if he could give her electric chargers.
“I met so many cool people there, and also reconnected with people who I’ve known along the way that helped me,” she said.
Frances has a few local sponsors that she works with as well, including 914 Rubber and Sierra Madre Collection. In return for store credits or parts, Frances helps these companies with their film projects, similar to her own YouTube channel.
Frances credits her arts education at CSArts-SGV for helping her create content for her page. Integrated Arts is the only conservatory on campus that offers classes in film production, which she has used for her YouTube videos and Instagram reels.
Frances said for each hour of filming she does at least two more hours of editing. In addition to this, she said her arts education has helped her be more comfortable in the spotlight.
“I realized that when I first started [filming], I would look directly at the camera’s monitor. I wouldn’t look at the camera or engage in it,” Frances said. “As I progressed through middle school and entered high school, I saw myself really looking into the camera and showing my personality a little bit more.”
Through all her work, Frances said she hopes that she will have the car restored and fully electric by Spring of 2024. While she has goals of driving herself to school and surfing, her main goal is much more near to her heart.
“I want to inspire other kids, my age or younger, that they don’t have to be an adult to make change in the world.” She also credits her father as her partner in this project, stating that it has been a father/daughter journey through the entire process.
INTEGRATED ARTS STUDENT FRANCES FARNAM ATTENDS SEMA FOR CONVERTING PORSCHE 914 INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Frances Farnam (IA, ‘26) recently returned to CSArts-SGV from Las Vegas, where she was invited to attend the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. SEMA, the largest automotive association of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and more, hosts a show to connect its members and give them the opportunity to network, showcase, and buy and sell their specialty parts and accessories. Frances was personally invited to the show by the SEMA President and CEO, Mike Spagnola, himself. The only thing more impressive than this is the reason for her invite.
At only 11-years old, Frances purchased a Porsche 914 with the hopes of restoring and converting the car into an electric vehicle with her father. Since then, she has documented the process of converting the car on her YouTube channel and website. This sustainable project landed her an invitation to the Sierra Madre Earth Day Festival, where the car was put on display.
Spagnola happened to walk past this festival, where he spotted Frances and her vehicle. Frances recounted the encounter as a stroke of luck.
“He introduced himself to me as ‘just a car guy in town’ and we started talking . . . He left for a bit and came back a few hours later, and was like, ‘I’m actually the CEO of SEMA, and I was wondering if you want your car to be there,’” she said.
At SEMA, Frances was able to network with others in the industry, trying to manage both her schoolwork and presenting her car. Thankfully, Frances said she is not the type of person to give up on her goals. When she gets overwhelmed with her multiple responsibilities, she makes a list in her head of her top priorities and pushes through.
Being in high school and converting a car is no easy feat, as Frances tends to put the most work into both financing the project and keeping herself motivated. To combat these issues, Frances turns to her sponsors.
SEMA was the perfect place to network with others in the industry and increase her sponsorships. While there, she met an individual who manages an electric charging company who asked if he could give her electric chargers.
“I met so many cool people there, and also reconnected with people who I’ve known along the way that helped me,” she said.
Frances has a few local sponsors that she works with as well, including 914 Rubber and Sierra Madre Collection. In return for store credits or parts, Frances helps these companies with their film projects, similar to her own YouTube channel.
Frances credits her arts education at CSArts-SGV for helping her create content for her page. Integrated Arts is the only conservatory on campus that offers classes in film production, which she has used for her YouTube videos and Instagram reels.
Frances said for each hour of filming she does at least two more hours of editing. In addition to this, she said her arts education has helped her be more comfortable in the spotlight.
“I realized that when I first started [filming], I would look directly at the camera’s monitor. I wouldn’t look at the camera or engage in it,” Frances said. “As I progressed through middle school and entered high school, I saw myself really looking into the camera and showing my personality a little bit more.”
Through all her work, Frances said she hopes that she will have the car restored and fully electric by Spring of 2024. While she has goals of driving herself to school and surfing, her main goal is much more near to her heart.
“I want to inspire other kids, my age or younger, that they don’t have to be an adult to make change in the world.” She also credits her father as her partner in this project, stating that it has been a father/daughter journey through the entire process.