Date: Fri 13-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-videos-Hrabstock-cable

Full Text:

NHS Productions Are Coming To Cable

(with photos & SIDEBAR)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Next week you can see Newtown sports highlights and special events on Channel

17.

Students in Kerry Hrabstock's video classes at Newtown High School will have

their shows aired on Channel 17 weeknights at 7 pm starting Tuesday, February,

17.

Mrs Hrabstock particularly wants to encourage eighth grade students to watch

Channel 17 next week, and consider the video program for one of their courses

for next year.

Next year will be the first year the course is open to freshmen.

Mrs Hrabstock said that "our goal here is to put as many student productions

as possible on Channel 17, and for that we need some creative hard-working

students."

She said that "students who come to this video production program will

definitely be ahead of their peers in college."

Over a dozen productions made by students this year, along with two

unconventional productions using "Claymation" (like Gumby) done by a student

last year will be aired.

Mrs Hrabstock explained that video production isn't just for those seeking

high-paying jobs in television; people from many different careers are using

videos to explain what they do.

The administration of the Newtown School District sent a video prepared by Mrs

Hrabstock this fall to the State Education Office to show the results of the

writing initiative grant.

The Connecticut Education Association is currently running videos of

Connecticut teachers presenting lessons in science and math as part of a

campaign to promote public education in Connecticut.

(This started January 19 and will continue throughout the winter and spring,

on WSFB-TV, WTNH-TV, WVIT-TV WTIC-TV and Cablevision.)

Mrs Hrabstock commented that video production "is a vehicle for expression

that is gaining in popularity, appeal and power. I only see that increasing in

the future." She said that already, she has kids from all subject areas in the

high school coming to ask her for help with video productions.

Mrs Hrabstock has assisted with many, but not all of the productions that will

be aired. She said that one video by Arne Vestweber, an exchange student from

Germany, needed very little editing. It showed children playing and learning

in the Nurtury Program.

Several students chose to capture sports highlights, including interviews with

some local key players.

Mrs Hrabstock encourages students to approach video production with both a

creative and a critical eye.

The teacher was very pleased with Jennifer Barillan's video on girl's field

hockey. She used voice-over, and an effective combination of shots at games,

practices and interviews to give a good overview.

Tucker Reed and Craig Schoenbaum have a one-hour video capturing local

football highlights, and a third sports video looks at last season's softball

team.

Mrs Hrabstock and Bob Melko both worked on a news-style coverage of the AIDS

Quilt.

Maggie Wolowitz did a short program on the new library, and Matt O'Masta

covered French Night at the Back Door Cafe.

There are also two music videos, one featuring guitar player Pedro Avila

singing with Newtown High School students.

Mrs Hrabstock used to work for Channel 30 television, and wants to share her

expertise with students with a variety of career interests. She said,

"Everywhere you look, there is video. It's definitely a growth industry. It's

even on the Internet now!"