The Growl captures DMS experiences

Anyone looking to catch up on happenings at Delano Middle School can do so in a fun, informative manner through The Growl video program.

 

Students build skills in script writing, interviewing, video photography, editing and more through the activity, which includes weekly meetings before school. About 25 students in grades five through eight participate, and the goal is to put out a new show every four to six weeks during the school year.

 

Each program, about 15 minutes in length, contains interviews with students and staff, clips from events, humorous features and more. The full show is tied together by a pair of anchors who manage the transitions while learning to find a comfort zone while speaking on camera.

 

“Last year our teacher introduced us to the Growl and Julia (Gibson) and I thought it would be fun, so we decided to try it out. It just seemed really interesting,” said seventh-grader Maya Bacon.

 

Richard Gonzalez, also a seventh-grader on the 25-member Growl team, was intrigued by the opportunity as well.

 

“I joined because I want my career to be in information technology,” he said. “This was the first thing that caught my interest after I transferred from Montrose, and it’s been fun to interact with people through this.”

 

An effective team needs both people who are comfortable in front of the camera, and those who enjoy editing the sequences behind the scenes. Ideally, the activity gives everyone a taste of both, however.

 

“We switch around. It’s fun to work with the technology and put together segments,” said Bacon.

 

Gonzalez said his favorite part is filming and editing, but said hours of work can sometimes go into short segments.

 

Outside of the studio, interactions with other students can be entertaining for Growl members.

 

“When you take the camera around people freak out,” said Bacon. “They either want to be on camera or they try to move out of the way. We’re like, ‘The camera isn’t even on.’”

 

“You just have to hide it,” said Gonzalez. “The fifth-graders get attracted to it and follow you around. There are times it’s kind of hard, but you have to work around that stuff.”

 

Prior to the year’s first show students receive training in how to write and ask questions, how to use the equipment such as cameras and microphones, and how to use video editing programs like Final Cut Pro.

 

“We use real editing equipment, things they might go out and use in the real world,” said Gwen Briesemeister, the gifted and talented coordinator for Delano Public Schools.

 

Briesemeister added that the students mostly come up with the ideas for the shows themselves. The most recent December edition included excerpts on the Veterans Day program, a feature on the one-act play, a tour of the new DCD room, a feature on Assistant Principal Steve Schauberger, a story on a visit to the Supreme Court, a fashion show highlighting items from the lost and found collection, and more.

 

Gibson and Bacon said their favorite segment this year has been the introduction of the new teachers, and Gonzalez said his favorite project of the year was doing extensive editing on a math club feature.

 

“It’s not always professional, but I want it to be theirs, and it’s fun,” said Briesemeister. “It’s a process of learning real world skills.”

 

• Watch the latest show at https://vimeo.com/256713948.