Lights, camera, Viking TV
The new elective Film & Video has brought a fresh set of skills to Samo students. Film and Video teacher Ruth Carter’s classes are dedicated to teaching students film & video production.
The Film & Video elective is currently working on a show, set to broadcast in the spring, enlightening students on the goings on at Samo. The show is called Viking TV and will feature various segments such as ‘Finish the Lyrics’, sports, Staff of the Month, Student of the Month, and more. As soon as they get the program going, Ms. Carter hopes students will contact them and ask to have interesting things going on around campus featured. Each episode will be about five to seven minutes long depending on the segments. Episodes will come out monthly and updates will be posted on YouTube,Instagram, and Facebook @vikingstv1.
“I have a lot of talented editors and voiceover actors. The kids have been working hard and have a great work ethic.” Carter said.
Everything for Viking TV will be done in-house. Students have a sound booth to mix the sound and edit everything together. They will also use a three-camera setup. Recently, the students have collaborated on projects to help them gain skills they will need when producing Viking TV. At the beginning of the year, they worked on shooting 30-second commercials for small businesses around Santa Monica such as Lo/Cal Coffee, Campos Tacos and a faux Samo water ad. Students were given full creative liberties and could choose between promoting a real product or fabricating a fake one. They have also been assembling a short segment on Día de Los Muertos, interviewing students on how they celebrate the holiday and showcasing some traditions.
“This, what we’re doing here is new. I’m creating something new that’s never been done here.” Carter said.
Laurel Cohn / The Samohi
Ms. Carter teaching students about what equipment they’re going to be working with for their next segment.
Carter is a new teacher at Samo and in the district. She previously taught at Oceanside High and then took some time off to work on a personal film project. As a result, she won the 2020 Sony Alpha Female Grant award for Afro-Mexicans. Ms. Carter hopes to use her skills to teach her students broadcast journalism and get them internships using her contacts in the industry. Ava Gonzalez (’28) is a student in the film and video class. She said she is excited to work with someone who is a professional in the industry and has thoroughly enjoyed her time in the class.
“I’m super excited to be in a brand new program and grow a new program. We have so much new equipment and funding which is really cool.” Gonzalez said.