Alumni Profiles
Ace Norton ’00
“It was hands-on and creative, and it gave you room to mess up and figure out what made you tick.”
Raised in Venice, filmmaker and director Ace Norton has always lived at the intersection of creativity and individuality. That spirit was nurtured early on at Crossroads, where he spent kindergarten through 12th grade immersed in an environment that encouraged exploration, risk-taking and self-expression. Today, he runs his own production company, Commondeer, and directs music videos, commercials and fashion content. Ace said the roots of his career go back to those formative school years.
“Crossroads was a place where you worked hard, but it never felt like a factory,” said Ace. “It was hands-on and creative, and it gave you room to mess up and figure out what made you tick.” Ace appreciates that the School’s progressive approach prioritized curiosity and critical thinking over rote memorization. He enjoyed the freedom to pursue multiple interests—from painting and writing to science and soccer—all while being supported by dedicated teachers who truly cared.
For one memorable project, Ace made a stop-motion animation film in his eighth grade Latin class using toys and action figures. It was screened for the entire Middle School, and the response—laughter, engagement, encouragement—was transformative. “That was a lightbulb moment,” he said. “I realized I could make something and people would watch it. It felt amazing.” That experience planted the seed for his future work in film.
Ace credits Crossroads’ ethos of individuality with shaping his values and confidence, both personally and professionally. “They encouraged us to think differently, to create for the joy of it and to be OK with being weird,” he reflected. “Crossroads didn’t just teach us—it gave us permission to be ourselves."
Venice is still Ace’s home. When he’s not behind the camera, he’s out surfing, a lifelong hobby. He remains close with a group of friends from his Crossroads days. “We went through something uniquely special together,” Ace said, “and that kind of energy doesn’t fade.”
For one memorable project, Ace made a stop-motion animation film in his eighth grade Latin class using toys and action figures. It was screened for the entire Middle School, and the response—laughter, engagement, encouragement—was transformative. “That was a lightbulb moment,” he said. “I realized I could make something and people would watch it. It felt amazing.” That experience planted the seed for his future work in film.
Ace credits Crossroads’ ethos of individuality with shaping his values and confidence, both personally and professionally. “They encouraged us to think differently, to create for the joy of it and to be OK with being weird,” he reflected. “Crossroads didn’t just teach us—it gave us permission to be ourselves."
Venice is still Ace’s home. When he’s not behind the camera, he’s out surfing, a lifelong hobby. He remains close with a group of friends from his Crossroads days. “We went through something uniquely special together,” Ace said, “and that kind of energy doesn’t fade.”
