We all love good movies, and Video Production takes you into the exciting world of how to produce your own small movie! Intro to Video Production is an introductory course taught by Vincent Nelson at Summit Tahoma, where students can learn and explore the basics of producing and analyzing films. Many of the projects in this class involve putting students in groups where they can have roles, take turns filming and produce a video around their given topic. Throughout their projects, students learn how to use cameras, edit footage and write shot-lists.
When asked about how students can use their skills from Video Production, Mr. Nelson said: “Honestly, the skills can be used in anything. In advertising, marketing, and just if you have to do a presentation, you can use it especially if you know how to edit.”
Tahoma freshman Matthew Monroy is a student in the morning class of Intro to Video Production, and he enjoys the class very much. Monroy expressed his enjoyment for the class by saying what he learned during the year: “Collaborating with others, editing, like trying to maintain control of people … really like life lessons. ”
The class is about learning, but students also get to have fun while they learn. Tahoma freshman Iona Robinson explained her favorite part of the class, and why she enjoyed it: “When we went to go see ‘Captain Marvel’ as a field trip, it was really fun because we also got to analyze the movie, and it gave us like a lot to think about.”
All in all, Video Production is a class that pushes students’ creativity and willingness to learn, letting students have fun and choose their own storylines. It also teaches students the valuable skill of being able to shoot high-quality video films, which can benefit them in careers that involve photography, or promotional films for many fields such as advertising, marketing and more.
See below for a video about the Video Production course:
The Expeditions course Video Production is a class were you learn about filmmaking. In this class, students make short films every Expeditions round; students are able to pick their topic for most of the films they make, but the teacher assigns work groups.
Vincent Nelson, the Video Production teacher, is in his third year teaching at Summit Rainier. Every experience he gets to teach at this school, he enjoys it more and more. Mr. Nelson is very excited to continue teaching at Summit, and he looks forward to his future in filmmaking.
Rainier freshman Landon Garcia said he has learned a lot about filming; one technique he has learned and mastered was the rule of thirds. He has enjoyed filming and learning new film techniques with his friends.
Rainier sophomore Hannah Kuo is in her first year learning about film; ever since her group made their first film, she fell in love with filming and learning new techniques. Kuo is thinking of continuing to develop her love for film and is considering taking the advanced version of Video Production next year. She really enjoys the way Mr. Nelson teaches the class.
See below for a video of the Video Production course:
The Video Production course at Summit Shasta allows students to get a better understanding of how to construct a video.
By going over certain tasks to enhance their knowledge of film, students get the opportunity to complete projects such as music videos, documentaries, mockumentaries and fight scenes.
The Video Production course also gives students the ability to express their own ideas in their films. Shasta freshman Samuel Zhang said, “I feel like Video Production is a safe place to express people’s creativity through making videos and movies about different topics.”
Following this idea, Zhang concluded that the environment he works in promotes creativity, allowing every film in Video Production to be unique. He also said the class culture helps people work together respectfully.
Vincent Nelson, the teacher for the Video Production course at Summit Shasta, specifically teaches students in this course how to use cameras, how to edit videos and how to use necessary equipment such as microphones.
Mr. Nelson believes that in this course students get the experience of working as a team to produce a quality outcome. He said, “I think Video Production is important for a few reasons: it teaches you how to work with a team, which you’ll need no matter what the job is.”
Mr. Nelson concluded that teamwork is very important because it promotes good friendships and helps bring creativity to people in the workplace.
See below for a video about the Video Production course:
Here at Summit Public Schools: Shasta, the Intermediate Visual Arts and the Intro to Visual Arts teacher is Meridith Burchiel, and the Intro to Video Production teacher is Vincent Nelson. In these classes, students work on making videos, scripts, drawings, paintings and being creative.
Summit Public Schools has six different art and design Expeditions this year, and students are required to take at least one in their four years at a Summit school. Many students who take art and design classes find themselves enjoying the projects, the teachers and the ability to express themselves.
During this round, students in the Intro to Video Production class are making public service announcements related to sexual health. In Intermediate Visual Arts, students are creating their own logo and learning how to print them onto tote bags. In Intro to Visual Arts, students are making portable murals and learning about street art.
Some students have experience before taking their art classes and take these Expeditions to improve their skills, like Shasta sophomore Alexa Huaman.
Huaman said, “I’ve been interested in art ever since I was really little.”
Some students take these classes with no prior experience, but they learn how anyone can produce something inspiring. Kathryn Currier-Herzallah is a Shasta junior and an Intermediate Visual Arts student who gained a greater understanding of what she was capable of after taking an art Expedition.
“Art has always been something I’ve been interested in, but I didn’t always feel like like I was super good at it,” Currier-Herzallah said.
Learning and creating art also impacts the everyday lives of students, sometimes in a big way. Students have become more confident in their art skills and in themselves.
Shasta sophomore Travis Hamilton, in the Intermediate Visual Arts class, said creating and learning about art has “made my life more fun.”
The art teachers also want students to take away important lessons about art and more.
Mr. Nelson said, “So, at the end of the day, what I want them to take away is the tools that they need to get a job in the real world, and hopefully have fun too.”
Ms. Burchiel also had something to say about what students learn in her class: “I want students to take away from my class knowing that they can make anything if they want to make it, and I want them to take away the feeling of having found something that really speaks to them.”
Students’ attitudes can also change when they are creating something unique. They can become more calm, focused and happy.
Aiden Regodon is a Shasta freshman taking Intro to Video Production. He said taking this class “makes me feel like I’m the best photographer in my family” and “it just inspires me to keep going in doing that Expedition.”
These classes change students, and the teachers really make an impact; after taking these classes, some students have also considered a career in the arts.
Huaman said, “In middle school, I considered being a graphic designer, like making video games and 3D models and stuff like that. In high school, I was thinking about doing animation.”
Ethan Pang, a Shasta sophomore in Intermediate Visual Arts, said, “I think that I could see myself being like a graphic designer or an illustrator.”
See below for a look at the art Expeditions at Shasta:
It seems now that #MeToo has been the topic of conversation for many months now, especially in the entertainment industry. It has been showcased in several award shows, influencing things like speeches and wardrobe. High-profile men in the industry continue to face fallout from the movement toward accountability and transparency.
More and more actors have been coming out and speaking their truth as well as promoting inspirational speeches from those who have shared their stories. One of these cases was when Oprah Winfrey preached at the Golden Globes, stating that speaking your truth is one of the most powerful tools you have.
#MeToo was created by Tarana Burke in 1997; 20 years later it has risen into an immensely powerful movement all over the nation, creating conversations and evoking uncomfortable subjects that need to be uncovered and fully assessed.
According to a New York Times article, “The Woman Who Created #MeToo Long Before Hashtags” by Sandra E. Garcia, when Tarana Burke initially created the Me Too movement, her intention was to create a nonprofit organization to help those who have been affected by sexual harassment and assault.
The entertainment industry has been solely responsible for the attention that #MeToo has gotten within these past few months, starting with Alyssa Milano, who is believed to have brought attention to the movement.
The attention arose with a single tweet which stated, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” She provided an explanation for the tweet, “Suggested by a friend: ‘If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me Too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.”
On Jan. 7, the distinguished Golden Globes took place in the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Known for its prestigious awards and celebrated celebrities, the Golden Globes was quick to promote #MeToo in many aspects.
Those in attendance dressed in all black to show their respect and support for the movement. The wardrobe was not the only thing to showcase the support, having inspirational speeches from actors also take part in advocating #MeToo.
Oprah Winfrey’s powerful speech moved the audience. She brought up topics such as #MeToo, racism and hope for a new future. Her speech easily became one of the most iconic moments of the night.
Actors standing behind the movement are not only hoping to provide relief for those in the entertainment industry, but also for those whose stories might not get told. Using their power in social media and fame in the industry, they are hoping to inspire young girls and spread an important message to all teenage and adult women.
We talked to two people outside of the film industry to help answer if those promoting #MeToo are helping them understand it better and to explore how it’s personally affecting their life. They both provided insight into their perspective as women outside of the entertainment industry.
Gretchen Oorthuys, resource specialist and sophomore mentor
Gretchen Oorthuys, a resource specialist at Summit Prep, helped us understand her stance on #MeToo.
“I think it started a lot of conversations with different people in my life, not just about their personal experiences, but about how awareness of power imbalances between the genders impacts their daily lives.”
Eliza Insley, a sophomore at Summit Prep, elaborated on the #MeToo movement and what her perspective on the subject is.
” I think the Me Too movement has affected me personally because I know people who have experienced sexual violence, sexual harassment and sexual assault, and watching them experience the shame and the guilt and the pain that goes along with not feeling like they can express and share what happened to them was rough. I think this movement that is gaining so much support for the victims of this abuse is really powerful because it’s life changing how these people have kept it in so long and now they feel like they’re in a safe enough environment to share this. ”
Hearing such shocking stories these past few months has resulted in a new growing awareness of the problem. What people would like to know now is the solution, a positive ending to these dreadful stories.
A few developing ideas are now being discussed with the hopes of preventing more women from experiencing trauma. According to an article by The Washington Post, “Women share their #MeToo experiences on Metro — and offer solutions,”an idea from women who have been harassed or assaulted on the Metro was to share stories to the public via social media.
Margaret Wroblewski created a project called #IWasOnTheMetroWhen, sharing unsettling stories of women who have been harassed or assaulted on the Metro. She was hoping these stories could provide relief and awareness to those either affected or not affected by this movement.
Her intention is to promote self-empowerment and encourage women to seek assistance from passengers on the bus or to speak up for others in such situations. Beyond Wroblewski’s project, there have been many others who have also followed the tactic of using social media to speak their truth.
#MeToo has been a wake up call to the nation, educating those who are oblivious to this unvoiced problem. Though all the stories have upset many people, it brought something deeper amongst all men and women who have been a part of #MeToo.
Finally speaking the truth has been described as a relief and a weight lifted off the shoulders of those assaulted. It brought them peace and unity. Oprah Winfrey’s speech at the Golden Globes summarized our future perfectly. A new day is certainly on the horizon.
In the Video Production class at Everest Public High School, Estrella Esparza-Johnson teaches her students how to take videos and photos correctly. She also makes sure the students work in groups and individually on the projects; however, Ms. Estrella grades all students individually so one student won’t do all the work. Also, when they are filming they use their phones instead of cameras. For Celebration of Learning, the class set up stations to screen their films.
Video Production TA and Everest senior Lynette Huerta explained, “In Video Production, the project the students worked on taught them how to take videos and photos at the perfect angle you need to do it in.”
In the Video Production Expeditions course, students have the opportunity to explore the process of producing a film. Through projects, such as creating a mockumentary and a silent film, students get to explore different roles and different perspectives on the behind the scenes magic. Students are able to act as a director, a camera operator, a scriptwriter or an actor.
When asked what takeaway he had from this class, Rainier freshman Andrew Pescatore said, “Well, I learn how movies are made … with, like, different shots.” He followed his answer with fundamentals he learned about what goes into a film, such as different shots, good lighting and the rule of thirds.
Video Production shows the community how they film a scene at their Celebration of Learning showcase.
For the Celebration of Learning project, instructor Vincent Nelson decided to include family and friends as part of a short skit, taking place in a student council election. Members of the community acted as the audience for the shoot. Instead of just watching videos made from previous projects, this allowed them to see how students would’ve made the video.
