Broadening Their Horizons
• Students learn TV production on set of 'Legacy.'

By Patti Rasmussen
Signal Staff Writer

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

F

rom filming to editing to before and behind the cameras, students from the William S. Hart Union High School District are getting first-hand lessons in broadcasting from a Regional Occupational Program called Broadcast Journalism and Editing.
    Under the direction of teacher Philip Scorza, students in the class learn the ins and outs of film — from acting and directing to editing and sound.
    The juniors and seniors took over Comcast Cable Communications Inc.'s SCVTV Channel 20 studio recently to work on a segment of "Legacy: Santa Clarita's Living History."
    Paul Drew, a 16-year old student from Canyon High School, manned the production booth in the studio and said he enjoyed the broadcasting class because it was "laid back." He worked alongside fellow Canyon student Francisco Franco, 16, and Jose Rodriguez, a senior at Valencia High School.
    Rodriguez signed up for the class to learn more about editing, a career he would like to pursue after high school.
    "A real job is something you love to do, and I want to be involved in editing movies," he said. "It's been a lot of fun."
    Canyon High student Renee Stuart worked the camera during the "Legacy" shoot. An avid fan of baseball, Stuart said she will be pursing a job in sports broadcasting after high school.
    "I've enjoyed baseball my entire life," she said. "I just want to be around it, and broadcasting would fit right in."
    Students in the broadcasting class meet Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Many times they go out into the field to tape a community event or visit the studio, editing their work or directing original pieces such as music videos.
    The students earn five credits toward graduation for the class.
    Cheri Marchaunt, director of Alternative Education for the Hart district, said she appreciates the partnership between the district and Comcast.
    "When I visited the class a couple of months ago, I was so impressed with how the (Comcast) employees took a couple of students under their wings and coached them," she said. "There was so much student participation, and I was delighted in the whole creative process."
    Scorza's students will be heading over to Melody Ranch on March 29 and 30 to videotape some of the participants in the city of Santa Clarita's Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. Their program, "Hart District TV," is shown on SCVTV Channel 20 on Mondays at 9:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

For the full Channel 20 lineup see the Escape section on Fridays.

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