Video Students Get Hands-on Training And Experience

By Jeff White

Taking its place along side enterprising high school classes like computer repair and the Back Door Café, the video production program is rapidly turning out students capable of performing professional quality jobs at a fraction of the cost of other video companies. Kerry Hrabstock, a television veteran and the program’s instructor, bolsters her students’ considerable talents through a teaching style that emphasizes independent work.

“It’s pretty much a creative class more than anything else,” says Dan Henry, a student in Mrs Hrabstock’s video three class.  “She just outlines things she wants you to do at the beginning of the year, and then lets you go from there.”

“I don’t want these kids flipping burgers,” Mrs Hrabstock explains, acknowledging the ways in which the video program gives students a realization that their skills can be used in a hands-on fashion.

The video production curriculum involves three years of classes. Introductory classes get a broad sweep of the fundamental skills needed to shoot films and videos. Although the ultimate goal is to get students working independently, Mrs Hrabstock spends a large amount of time teaching basic techniques to her video one classes.

But from the second year of the class on, students are encouraged to fulfil their assignments in a creative, individual manner. Mrs Hrabstock might only stipulate that she wants a news story or a documentary; it is up to the students to figure out what type of news they want to shoot, what types of stories they want to tell.

Assessment in the program is based on video and performance critique, not only by Mrs Hrabstock, but by the entire class, which will often view one student’s video and offer constructive advice on how to make it better.

The pinnacle of the program is going out on the paid job, and Mrs Hrabstock has generated a highly efficient, qualified band of video and film makers, able to shoot “anything that needs a camera.”

The number of paid jobs that third year video students have received has swelled from past years. Students have shot weddings, anniversary parties, and other schools’ graduations. People have called the program to have video insurance tapes for their homes. And, as Mrs Hrabstock will tell you, students charge less money than other “professional” companies.

“A typical wedding would cost $800 [to shoot],” says Mrs Hrabstock. “We’ll do it for less than $500.”

“You get [our services] for less; not less of a job, just less cost,” she adds.

Students working on jobs outside of school do receive an hourly paycheck for their efforts, but the money received for video shoots gets channeled back into the program, to keep equipment up to date.

“I do not send students on paid jobs unless I know that they can shoot,” Mrs Hrabstock says.

Along with several large video cameras, students edit tapes on three digital editing computers that compete for space amid a substantial television set that comprises part of their classroom in the high school’s basement.

Besides paid jobs, students also shoot myriad events throughout the high school and the district. They record football games, working in conjunction with the tech club to air the Nighthawks games live on channel 17. They tape boys’ and girls’ soccer, chorus and band concerts, theatre productions, Pop Warner cheerleading, and functions for the humanities and English departments. What is notable in all these jobs, both paid and unpaid, is that students tape completely on their own time. Most editing and finishing touches occur during students’ free periods and after school.

“Some of the kids could be working professionals with their knowledge and talents,” confides High School Principal Bill Manfredonia. “The finished products are so professional.”

Besides the typical assignments of shooting sporting events and concerts, several video students, from first year through third, regularly shoot stories for Fox 61 Student News, a program run by Fox that focuses on local school news stories shot by students.

Newtown students have sent in stories on the Fairfield Hills Bikes, Boards and Blades day, therapeutic horse-riding, the Newtown Teen Center, book sales at the high school and Newtown’s art scene. Many of them have been aired on Fox 61, during minute-long spots that students can find by looking up their videos on Fox’s Web site. One video student last year won a $1,000 United Technology Scholarship, which honors student news.

“Other schools have the equipment, but they don’t have the classes,” says Mrs Hrabstock of the hands-on nature of her instruction. In every video class, students learn much more from doing than from seeing and hearing.

Freshman Austin McCord, who has been interested in home movies and video for some time now, is relishing the opportunities the program provides for shooting features and spot news. “I really like it. I think that it is a lot of fun for me because I have always been a fan of technology, and I think it is just a way for me to expand on what I’ve been doing, and video is a really interesting world,” he says.

In the classes, Austin explains, basic skills must be mastered first, like the rule of 180, where a person should be positioned in a frame and the bomb theory. After that, he says, it’s just up to the student.

Many students, such as Austin and Dan Henry, feel that they are making progress toward a future career. “It is definitely a good career opportunity, and something that is good to have under my belt,” Austin says.

There are currently four video classes per semester, but Mrs Hrabstock, who spent ten years at Channel 30 in Hartford, wants to eventually increase that number to five. This will not only meet increasing student demand for the subject, but it will give her students more opportunities to develop their skills, which promise to serve them well through high school and beyond.

“The class gives you the opportunity to have fun and learn,” says third year student Greg Williams. “It’s a great skill to have.”