In the Limelight

WHAT GOES ON IN MEDIA LAB

By Coral CwmCwlamare

On the second floor of the Blue building during fourth period, there’s a classroom where much is being done. A palatable excitement is in the air as some work with sound equipment and others experiment with different cameras. Media Lab is a unique class in many regards, instead of using traditional lectures to teach, leaves students to their own devices as they explore different projects. “I’ve worked on making my own clothing designs. We worked on making a short film in a day where we had an AI write a script for us. That was really fun,” senior Kody Brown said. “Each day is a different project [and] a lot of it is not necessarily us producing a video, but it’s us learning new equipment and seeing how we can apply it to future projects.” The wide variety of equipment that students in Media Lab can use is extensive. One group of students could use a 3D camera, similar to the ones used to make Google Maps, and with trial and error learn how it works. Others could be using what is more familiar, a camera similar to those used to record news shows. Each piece of equipment is used for different projects. “For me, one of my favorite things was the AI generated script because it was just hilarious,” sophomore Brock Neill said. “It was when we got to spend a whole period just going around filmTHERE’S PEOPLE HERE IN ALL DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS, ALL WORKING “ ing the video. It was really funny.” TOGETHER TO GET The ability to do different projects BETTER provides students with different experiences as well as learning how to use different types of media and equipment. While some focus on entirely new things, some focus on honing their skills. “My favorite part of this class is being able to do the stuff I’m good at already,” senior Ryan Feigenspan said. “Just learning how to [and] honing your skill using the software I already understand, but learning more tools in that set software.” Different students come to the class with unique goals and levels of experience. Some days they work on different projects, but other days they all work together and bring their own skill sets that they have learned to create something. “However much you put into this class, you will get that much,” Brown said. “There’s people here at all different skill levels, all working together to get better, and there isn’t really a class [where] I’ve learned more than this class.” The class is a team, one with a light atmosphere that feels welcoming and allows for ideas to be bounced around until a working one reveals itself.

Senior Kody Brown in the Production room where Media Lab often uses for recordings. (Left to right) Sophomore Brock Neill, senior Kody Brown, and junior Tanner Cartwright discuss what to do for their project.