Modern Media

Media Production and Management is a performing arts elective new to the Upper School Course Catalog this year, co-taught by April Baker, Digital Media Manager in the Marketing and Communications Office, and Ryan Maloney, Technical Director of Theatre. Collaboration between these two departments has allowed students exposure to a wide range of mediums and expertise. The course prepares students to produce creative work within practical and specific guidelines, like those they might encounter working at an advertising agency or in a television studio.

Classwork this year has included:

• Starting their own student-produced podcast, Chattin’ at Latin

• Producing music videos and other short video projects

• Critiquing the best and worst of the Super Bowl LXII commercials

• Interviewing teachers and students for film and podcasts

• Creating and executing advertising campaigns with time and budget contraints

• Recording their own sound effects, and more!

Learning to write their open-ended interview questions and facilitate interviews requries students to think about the experiences of people different than their own and to push through the discomfort of talking to strangers, in addition to the technical skills of recording, editing, and publishing an interview.

I’ve gotten some really good hands-on camera experience in this class, using things like dollies, mics, drones, and fun lighting. We do all kinds of projects in class, so I’ve been able to get experience with marketing, filmmaking, abstract photography, and so much more.

– Claire Addison ’25

As a senior likely going into my college’s Communications school, I think it’s very useful to know how to produce audio content and visual media, so I have an idea of the process, equipment, people, time, and money that projects require. I honestly never thought I would be able to script, speak on, and edit the audio of my own podcast episode, but through this class, I was able to do that.

– Colman Freno ’23

Marketing and Advertising

One unit in the Media Course involved studying the difference between marketing and advertising and learning why it’s important to be an educated consumer. After studying target markets, buyer motives, competitors, branding, and more, students designed their own advertising campaigns. Campaigns included video commercials for both traditional television and social media, a short audio-only ad, and a print advertisement.

I’ve had a really fun time in media this year. We’ve learned a lot of skills like Photoshop and marketing that I believe will be very useful to me.

– Ronin

Media students practice long exposure photography, which requires planning, timing, and creativity.

I’ve had a very fun time in class learning new things. We’ve all tried new things in this class and found our own interests. My favorite thing in this class was flying drones.

– Na’il Diggs ’26

One of the best things I’ve learned is how to take photos. I have learned many techniques and can use them whenever, whether I’m using a professional camera or my phone.

– Maxwell Williams ’26

One of my favorite skills I’ve learned in this class is Photoshop. Even though I may not be the best at it, I enjoyed learning how to make a GIF as well as our smaller projects with multiple pictures. I also love the hands-on exposure with cameras, especially our light writing project and doing product photography. As a senior who has been interested in marketing, I have liked running the Chattin’ at Latin Instagram and getting insight into marketing.

– Anne Tate Tierney ’23

From the Screen

I feel like I’ve learned to do things I would never even imagined being able to do. To have worked with cameras and so much other equipment, my work has been able to go next level. One example of this is our podcast. It’s been awesome learning to use a sound board, while interviewing so many great people.

– Kate Warner ’26

Student projects included music videos, an episode of a reality dating show, commercials, interviews, and lots of bloopers. Students have worked with lighting, DSLR cameras, and professional quality software to plan, write, film, and edit their work.