East High Students Produce News Videos
Even though he aspires to someday become a blockbuster movie director like Michael Bay, Tristen O’Connor seems content editing video on a computer in a small studio.
Luckily, the 18-year-old has plenty of time to make his mark in Hollywood.
For the past four years, Tristen has been involved with EHTV, a class in which East High School students produce stories that are then shared on its own YouTube channel.
“I really have fun working on the videos,” the East High School senior said. “But I like doing the behind-the-scenes stuff instead of being on camera.”
“Tristen is definitely our go-to guy for anything technical,” said Cody Jaminet, an East business teacher who is in charge of the class. “That’s where he shines.”
If Tristen’s an editing pro, Brooke Evans excels at a little bit of everything.
“I edit video, write scripts and create storyboards for upcoming segments,” the 18-year-old said. “I’ll try my hand at anything for EHTV.”
Like Tristen, Brooke is an East High School senior. A three-year EHTV veteran, she’d like to parlay her video experience into becoming a YouTube personality.
However, her dream will have to wait until after she graduates from college.
“I hope to go to school in Oklahoma,” Brooke said on a cloudy December morning. “It’s probably warmer than it is here.”
Since the EHTV course began five years ago, Jaminet said the class has grown from 10-12 students to more than 35 students. In addition, kids can also get college credit for the class through a partnership with Western Iowa Tech Community College.
More important to Jaminet is the fact that his students are learning the communication skills needed to make it in a competitive workplace.
“I know most of the students won’t go into a broadcasting career,” he said. “Instead, they’re learning to communicate effectively as a part of a team.”