South Houston Intermediate School eighth grader Sunday Molina’s childhood dream of filming people is finally becoming a reality through his school’s new media production class.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted a camera to film people, by my parents couldn’t afford one,” Molina said. “Now I get to use one every day. I want to add artistic vision to the class.”

Seventh grade science and synergistic lab teacher Arnold Alanis said he was inspired to begin the media production class at his campus after creating a video for the Safe and Civil Schools program called “Do the RIGHT thing,” which was a program aimed at encouraging positive behavior from students in the hallways during passing periods.

“I have always had an interest in film and videography,” said Alanis. “The video I created last year was a great success, and many students wanted to be involved. With the great emphasis on rigor and relevance in this district, the most obvious way I thought I could bring relevance to the curriculum was to offer students what they find important. Media production gives teachers and students the tools to be more relevant and still have high expectations.”

The class currently has several Canon ZR800 cameras and is looking to raise money to purchase a professional camera soon. Alanis and his students completed a program by the American Film Institute that trains teachers to teach students how to create video media in the classroom, which came directly from the district’s Instructional Technology Department.

“Media production is no longer a great hobby, but rather a valuable tool to keep our students ‘future proof’,” Alanis said. “They will need expert communication skills to be successful in their careers.”

The students are now working on a comedy skit with inanimate objects having a conversation, and Alanis said the class is aiming to broadcast its projects, as well as eventually create a live broadcast of the school announcements and news. Students have also suggested projects ranging from weather programs to spotlighting positive happenings at school.

The program is currently only offered to eighth grade students, but Alanis is looking to expand the class to seventh graders next school year. To be selected for the class, students have to audition by creating a video project or a script of something they would like to film. Alanis said class instruction is based on technology TEKS, as well as writing and science standards.

“This class will help my students in the future because they will have a skill set that many other students will not have,” said Alanis. “They will be able to conceptualize an idea, write out their thoughts in a cohesive manner, sell or pitch their ideas, and finally, produce and make concrete what was once only an abstract thought.”

Alanis said he hopes to help the program grow through additional professional equipment such as cameras, a switch for live broadcasts and hopefully a studio.

“We aim to achieve so much this year, and I hope to see my students take away a sense of accomplishment and pride in what they create in this class,” Alanis said. “I hope we can lay the foundation for a solid program that will offer positive media exposure for our school and our students. I believe this opportunity will spark an interest in school that some students at the intermediate level truly need, and I hope to see all my students create videos that share their ideas and creativity with the world.”