Youth Program Teaches Media Production

Future filmmakers and television producers as well as young people just wanting to learn something have a great opportunity with an upcoming free program from Attleboro community cable station DoubleACS. Called the Youth Media Program, the 10-week session beginning April 23 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. will teach locals ages 13 to 18 about the basics of video/film production and allow them to produce a short film as well as various other media pieces.

DoubleACS Operations Manager James Jones said the new program grew out of the success of the station's Adventures in Television Summer Program.

"We wanted to provide more opportunity during the year for students to learn about the power of media," he said.

Jones added, "The program was designed using the Massachusetts Educational Frameworks for Video and Television production so the students would have a great foundation when moving on to a high school or college level program."

Teaching the course will be DoubleACS producers Dave Angell and Auston Ricketts, who have extensive backgrounds in television and film production. They said young people going into the program do not have to have any knowledge of media production, but they will come out of the session with great skills.

"They'll be able to create their own productions, put them on YouTube and this will spark their interest," Angell said. "It could inspire them to pursue a media career, but even if that is not what they want to do as adults, this program will teach them life skills, including how to work together in groups and how to plan."

During the program, participants will work in groups to create a public service announcement, television show, news piece, visual effects project and short film. All the equipment will be provided by DoubleACS. The session will conclude with a mini-film festival in which participants' family and friends can attend to see what the teens have produced.

"They'll be learning how to do all the aspects of the job, including working in different crew positions," Ricketts said. "They'll be learning about pre-production, writing scripts, shooting, lighting, sound recording, editing and all the aspects of post-production." 

Graduates of the program will be able to use DoubleACS equipment in the future for various purposes, including producing their own shows for the station and the Internet.

The program is limited to about eight participants, so those who are interested should sign up as soon as possible. To sign up, teens or their guardians should contact DoubleACS at 508-226-2227 and ask for Angell or Ricketts.