Husky TV Film Fest

Matawan Regional High School is renowned for their sports and music programs, but this year was all about one group: The TV Production kids. Together, TV Production 1, 2, 3, and 4 worked together to change the program and the way that students in the school perceived it. Although each student has their own different interests outside of the class, they all come together in and out of the classroom to make films, news pieces, and their biggest challenge yet- a film festival.

In Fall of 2016, Husky TV released their first episode of their news show, aptly titled "The Husky TV News Show." The show is written, compiled, and produced by teacher Craig Burfeindt and his TV 4 class, where, as described by TV-Film Club President Miranda Allen, is "open always to new ideas, no matter how zany." Each student works on segments and parts of the show that they choose or are assigned to. While Allen writes the scripts for the anchors, Mark Guariglia, another TV 4 student, works on his Man On The Street serialized videos for his routine segment, Mark On The Street. One of his episodes covered a question that divided students, asking whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich. The Studio is also well-known for creating commercials for school events, such as the school musical, Honeymoon In Vegas, and Relay For Life. While the news show has become a big part of the TV program, students are still making short films and submitting them into the Teen Arts festival, held every year at Brookdale Community College. This year, students were received technical and creative merits on their work, as well as a critique from someone who actually works in the business.

Students who stick with the program tend to end up studying some form of communications. MRHS alum Gianni Lobikis, who attended the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and is currently attending Full Sail University, has lately been tweeting '#BringGianniHome', a simple slogan that Lobikis is using to convince the New Jersey Devils that he would have a strong fanbase if he was hired as a Radio Analyst. Seniors from the program this year will be attending Full Sail, Ithaca College, and East Stroudsberg University in the fall, studying film and emerging media.

While the students of TV Production are very busy, the seniors who would be graduating wanted to go out with a bang. They wanted to do something that has never been done before. That's when Miranda Allen approached Burfeindt, or as his students call him, Mr. B, with the idea for a student showcase. Allen explained that the film festival would not have a panel of judges, but would have winners based on whatever the audience likes best based on viewing. A year later, the event, hosted by Mark Guariglia, will be held on Tuesday, June 13th in the Anne Hannah Auditorium. Allen, who is nominated for three categories, is beyond terrified. "I feel like it's much easier being judged by strangers. But, this is my community. I know these people, so I'm a little hesitant to get their feedback."

Before we ended our interview, Miranda Allen was asked to give one reason to come to the festival on the 13th. "Our program is really small." Allen said, gesturing to the small TV Studio editing room, which consists of twelve iMac systems. "But, I think we've worked really hard this year to show what you can do with a small program as long as you keep learning and you never give up. We want to show the community that while the class may be called TV Production, we're more than just the news show."

The Husky TV First Annual Student Film Festival will take place on Tuesday, June 13th, 2017, at Matawan Regional High School, in the Anne Hannah Auditorium at 6 PM. Admission is free, and every person admitted shall receive a ballot. Refreshments will be sold.