Junior high students from across the Santa Clarita Valley are spending the week making a series of television game shows as part of a Student Television Network Summer Academy at the SCVTV Media Center in Newhall.

Nearly two dozen students from Placerita Junior High School, Rio Norte Junior High, Castaic Middle School and Albert Einstein Academy are learning real-world skills involved in television production including directing a multi-camera television show, operating professional studio cameras and mixing sound for television.

“These are all 21st-century skills that kids need to be successful,” said Nancy Held Loucas, program director for the Student Television Network.

Every day this week the students will be producing a half-hour academic game show, “The STN Challenge,” to be televised on SCVTV at 8 p.m. and hosted online at SCVTV.com.

“This experience is a unique hands-on learning opportunity for the students,” said SCVTV Production Manager Megan Perez.

“They’re learning how to work as a team inside a fully-functional, professional television production studio. At the end of the day, they take all of the new skills they have learned and produce a television show all on their own.”

The Academy is organized by Director Paul Kass, who also teaches at Placerita Junior High and is an STN board member. Kass has picked a team of camp counselors, many of whom are his former students, to help guide each of the production groups.

“We have one group in the studio and control room, learning the different jobs involved in producing a TV show,” Kass said.

“Then we have two other groups involved in filming and editing PSAs and commercials. Those students are using new video gear, aka video backpacks, on loan from Sony, and state-of-the-art, non-linear editing programs including Sony Vegas and Final Cut Pro X.”

This is the second year SCVTV has teamed up with STN to host the summer academy in Newhall.

STN will be putting on other Summer Academies for junior high and high school students in San Diego, Carlsbad and Ft. Lauderdale later this year

About STN

Student Television Network (a 501C3 non-profit organization) embraces the educational components of broadcast journalism, video production, filmmaking and media convergence by networking students and teachers with professionals in the industry. Middle school and high school students are given varied opportunities for training, interaction, competition and critiques from qualified experts. For more information, refer to the website at studenttelevision.org or call the Carlsbad office at 760-692-2295.