In today’s digital age, movies have evolved into powerful tools for modern communication, with the power to bring about changes in audiences’ beliefs in a mere two hours. Dublin High School’s film department has captured this principle as it has empowered many aspiring directors and actors to set out to change society. 

However, before they could arrive at a place where they were capable of bringing change through film, these actors and directors had to undergo training through Dublin High’s Video Production program. Video Production is an exciting class that provides an understanding of movie elements while allowing students to explore their ideas in the form of film and innovate through the medium. When describing Video Production, Ms. Karantzalis, the teacher of both VP I and VP II with over 13 years of experience teaching cinematography, says, “Video Production is a creative class where students learn all aspects of professional film and television production—such as scriptwriting, directing, and editing—and work to produce our awesome DHS programs like the Video Bulletin and short films for our annual Film Festival. Videos continue to be the world’s best source [of] information and entertainment and our very own DHS students are at the forefront of this impactful and dynamic industry.” 

Video Production at Dublin High School starts its extensive learning process in its first level, Video Production I. This class teaches students the basics of film, such as lighting to convey a theme, color grading, and storytelling. Students learn to analyze specific camera angles and how certain film elements can portray a character’s emotions and development. 

Video Production II is the next class in the pathway. This class provides a deeper understanding of Video Production by strengthening previous skills and directing attention to the editing portion of cinematography. Pramiti Majanapra, a senior in her second year of Video Production, says, “I love video production because it gives me a space to let my creativity shine by combining visuals, audio, and narrative. The whole production process takes a lot of continuous time and effort, but it’s all worth it to see the art that has been created as well as the skills learned throughout the journey.”

The last class in the Video Production pathway is Video Production III. Video Production III is taught by Mr. D’Ambrosio, who has been teaching this class for 10 years. Unlike its predecessors, Video Production III does not contain structured lessons, but rather allows students to create their own videos with constant critique from Mr. D’Ambrosio. Rishan Sathiyaa, a sophomore in Video Production III, says, “Video Production has a freeform structure, so I always felt like I had complete creative control over my projects. The class provides an extension of cinematography with its resources and teachers, and that is what inherently makes it great.”

At the end of the year, students, parents, and others come together to view the outcomes of students’ efforts in the DHS film department and watch the best student short films. Thanks to this opportunity, if you aren’t able to take the VP classes, you can always support your fellow classmates!