Video Production Teaches Practical Skills

Jared Knobloch, News Editor

   During this 2019-2020 school year, the UC High Video Production Program will be going through a major rebrand beginning with the introduction of a new instructor.

    According to Video Production Teacher Brad Liber, the goals of the class include “…getting the studio culture built up, as well as getting the technical abilities of the studio up and running.”

   “I want to essentially establish a baseline foundation of what I want my students to be able to do in the future,” Liber added.

    According to Liber, there are numerous projects planned for students to complete this year. Right now, the students are grouped together in their own fictional bands, designing their image for the music industry. This starts with each group taking an album cover photo, using skill sets that they were taught during their first unit, which was on lighting. Students drew inspiration from their own musical taste by studying what their favorite musicians did for their own album cover artwork.

   Students get a sense of hands-on learning, while applying the skill sets they were taught. Liber explained, “On the horizon are numerous still photography and video projects that are going to expand the students’ technical abilities and creative instincts.”

   This course is different than many other classes because, according to Liber, it provides “…an immediate tradeoff for them [the students] having a real career, after high school.” 

   Many of those enrolled in Video Production this year are first-year students, but there are also a few advanced second-year students continuing the course. According to Senior Rigo Lopez, who had Mr. Brad Milhoan as a teacher last year, “The class is different from last year, because our new teacher shows us more in depth how to work with video and lighting, which is beneficial to learn.” 

   According to Lopez, learning to edit videos refines his skills in order for him to succeed in that field of work. “Now it’s starting to become more of a challenge, learning the more advanced stuff, but it’s good because it teaches the life skills that anyone can use,” he added.

    Lopez also mentioned that the year has started off slowly, but he is excited for what’s to come, “We got right into the editing last year, but the buildup for this year will be better for when we actually get started.”

   The first year students are also learning that even if they don’t want to fully immerse themselves into technical work, there are still skills that can be applied to a broad spectrum of other pathways. Senior Gunnar Gray explained, “We are learning how to edit videos, and then I can use that to create sports edits. I like the digital side of working, and I enjoy this type of stuff.”

   “For most students at UC, expanding their grasp of multimedia techniques will directly enhance their career opportunities,”  Liber concluded.