ACADEMICS - Ursuline Academy

TECHNOLOGY
TAKES OFF!
Tess White
Video Production News
Video Production I Students Create a
Documentary for a Cincinnati Organization
New Film Studio
The Promise of Things to Come…
Ursuline Unveils a New Film Studio
On Wednesday, March 18, 2009, the Technology Department
unveiled Ursuline’s new film studio to the Board of Trustees at
its March meeting. The new studio replaces the mobile studio
that the department has used the last two years and creates a
permanent location for Media Production students to film their
video projects. The film studio is located in the former office of
Athletic Director, Diane Redmond, who has relocated to the
new gym.
The new studio features a large green screen, painted green
screen floor, six studio lights, and a control center. Using
chroma key technology, Media Production students will be able
to make actors appear in any interior or exterior location without
leaving the studio. This green screen technology is the same
technology that is used to make Superman fly as well as enables
newscasters to give weather and traffic reports.
As the Technology Department continues to grow, future
classes will be developed in visual journalism, visual and special
effects, lighting for film and video, and reporting broadcast
news. Within the next two years, the department’s goal is to
establish a live video magazine that would be broadcast once
a month during long homeroom. Students taking television
production courses would be responsible for the television
network.
The Video Production I students have been studying the Documentary
film type this semester. After viewing and analyzing
numerous professional documentaries, the students began
writing a documentary for the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati.
The INTERalliance is a joint effort among area employers (e.g,
P&G, Ethicon, Fifth Third, Channel 9, etc.) and educational
institutions (universities and high schools.) Their mission is to
find the best and brightest young, local Information Technology
(IT) talent and give them a compelling reason to stay in
Cincinnati for both college and their careers.
For this project, the students are creating three different documentaries
to encourage new high schools, universities, and
corporations to take part in the INTERalliance.
Video Production II Students Help
ESL Children and Parents Get Acclimated
to the English Classroom
The Video Production II students studied the Informational and
Educational film types during the second semester. After viewing
and analyzing numerous professional films, the students
began working on a film project with the Shawnee Early Childhood
Center in the Lakota school district. For the project, the
students researched the struggles ESL students and families
experience while getting acclimated and immersed into the
United States school system.
For the project, the students wrote a script, designed a storyboard,
and pitched their ideas to Shawnee’s ESL Coordinator
and Principal. After receiving client approval, junior Allie
Rayome created a film for Shawnee students illustrating
24 VOICES SUMMER 2009