End of Summer Teen Video Club at BCAT Studios

Between Monday, Aug. 15 and Friday, Aug. 19, Burlington Cable Access Television (BCAT) Production Coordinator, Thaddeus “Tad” Stephanak, has led Burlington teens on a introductory journey through the world of video production and studio work.

“We focused on something different everyday,” explained Stephanak. “Monday it was all in-studio stuff, then Tuesday we learned how to operate cameras for location shoots and Wednesday we went out to the Commons to do some shooting.”

On Thursday, when Patch stopped into BCAT, roughly twenty eager teens were preparing their final project for the club - a series of Harry Potter parodies that the students wrote, developed and executed with the guidance of Stephanak that they will have complete on Friday. The videos will air on BCAT in the following weeks.

Talking about the club's main focus, Stephanak said: “It's about learning video production in general and to promote BCAT in the community […] For the kids, it becomes a quick, crash-course in studio and field work.”

Here is a list of some of the basics that the teens learned during their time spent with BCAT:

• Camera and Switchboard Operation
• Audio Board Work
• Field Camera Work and On-Location Shooting
• How to Manage Light
• Creative Writing/Scripting
• Directing
• Acting
• Editing and other Pre/Post Production Work

One enthused teen, Crystal Carren, who is soon to be a seventh grader, detailed what drew her to the BCAT club when she said, “my mother found out about it and I've always been interested in acting and electronics, so it's a really great opportunity to try new things and meet friends.”

BCAT club member, Philip Arcaro, who will be heading into eighth grade, shared Carren's sentiments about the social aspect of the video club when he said, “First of all, I came because it's fun, and second, of all, I've made really great friends here.”

Stephanak explained that this teen video club may be ending this Friday, but the regular BCAT video club, the Video Voyagers, will be starting up a few weeks and continue into the school year. Stephanak urged all Burlington residents in middle or high school, regardless if they go to a public or private school, to come down to BCAT or visit their website at www.bcattv.org to learn more about what video production opportunities that will be coming around as the school year begins to take shape. Best of all, BCAT extra circular engagements such as the teen video club and Video Voyagers are free of charge.