There are many elements to filmmaking and editing that are mystifying to most. You may wonder “How was that scene edited?”, “Why did the director choose to use that shot composition?, “How was the sound edited?”, “How was the music added?”, etc. In our Video Production I class, students get a peak behind the curtain at how video production truly works.

Video Production I is a class taught by Mrs. Susan Spadaro, who has taught the class for 23 years. The class focuses on filming and editing videos, and can be taken by any grade level. In a typical class period, the students work in small groups to film or edit different projects, such as creating a commercial or a “How-to” video, as well as learning the editing and filming techniques required to complete the project. The class is designed to teach the students the basics of video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, a well-known video editing application, and filming with a camcorder, in order to plant the seeds for students who may be interested in pursuing filmmaking, editing, and video production in the future.

“My favorite part of teaching video production is seeing students from all grade levels work together throughout the entire process,” said Spadaro. “From writing scripts and creating storyboards to editing the final video, it’s rewarding to watch their collaboration come to life.”

The Video Production I students are currently working on the “How-to” video project where students film a step-by-step description of how to do a specific task. Senior Ted Kukic and Junior Maddy Bulger are creating a video teaching the viewer how to solder, while Seniors Corey Ryan and Kailin Tolson are producing an imaginative and more lighthearted video on how to time travel with a flux capacitor.

“The focus for our project was sort of a creative little idea I got, and it was more of a collaborative project between me and my partner,” said Ryan. “We decided that it would be a great way to display our creativity for our project, and we thought of a fun way to achieve that creativity by demonstrating a how-to on how to go back in time with a flux capacitor. What interests me the most in video production is the editing process. I’ve always thought that video editing was a very interesting way to display my creativity.”

“One of my favorite projects in video class is the one where students research a scene and then recreate it shot by shot,” said Spadaro. “We focus on matching the camera composition, tracking, and even attempt to replicate the acting of the main characters as closely as possible.”

“Taking a video production class in high school is important because it teaches students valuable skills like communication, creativity, and technology,” said Spadaro. “With video content everywhere, knowing how to make and edit videos helps students in many areas, whether for personal projects or future careers. The class also encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking as students work together to create their projects.”

Video Production 1 gives students a taste of what could become a hobby or even a career for them in the future, and students who would like to sign up to take the class in a future year of high school should sign up for it through Skyward or their guidance counselor when the time comes.