October, 2007

 

, 2007

By  Kristine Zak, Mt. Clemens High School

 

In my first year at Mt. Clemens High School one of my good friends introduced me to  the digital production class offered there.  He told me about the class and I knew that it would be a fun experience and that I would learn a lot of skills I could later use in a career.  I immediately talked to my counselor and was put into the class.

 

This class was about getting important information and upcoming events to our students and staff.  Every day we had to write scripts and record announcements.  Once recorded, they were edited and played for everyone to hear. 

 

In most classes, you observe and watch for a few days before you stat working.  In the digital production class I was included from the first day.  I was taught how to write scripts, operate a teleprompter, and read from a screen while being recorded. 

 

After a week or two of being in the class, we went to a technology showcase in Grand Rapids.  I figured we would just be looking around like most other field trips. I was wrong.  During the experience, we talked to other schools about our program and also interviewed students and adults to collect personal oral histories.  I was the person interviewing most of them and was on camera.  I was so nervous at first about being on camera and talking to people who I didn’t even know.  After I received a few pointers I started having so much fun with it. (See the article on Interviewing Techniques in last months issue of SVN)

 

Before this class, I would have never thought that something like this could be so much fun.  Now I love being on camera and I’m so confident that I can talk to any person and feel completely comfortable.

 

I will never forget that experience because it helped me to be a more outgoing person.  The different types of technology used in the class has helped me to understand and appreciate production.

 

Now, whenever I listen to the radio or watch television, I think about the steps involved and how much work it actually is.  This class has taught me so much and I would recommend it to anyone.

 

From the MACUL Journal, Winter 06/07 Reprinted with permission

Increasing Confidence Through Production

Read what other students have to say in Student Fare:

Bath City Beat-Jackie Foisy

I Still Remember -Owen Jankes

How Technology Changed my Life-Gabriella Montalbano

Captivated by the Moving Image-Jeremy Cropf