CHS TV is a student-run video broadcast that delivers news, entertainment, and school highlights to students every Monday during homeroom lunches via the group’s YouTube channel. Behind each episode is a detailed process led by Mr. Sean Wilson and a team of students in his two TV Broadcasting classes.
Planning for the weekly episodes of CHS TV begins in September.
“At the beginning of the year, I have them all kind of generate ideas for different segments that they might want to create,” Wilson said.
As the director of CHS TV, Wilson said these initial ideas are written down and revisited throughout the year as students determine and decide which segments they want to organize, lead, and implement. While Wilson oversees the broadcasts, it is the students who ultimately develop each 20-25 minute episode.
“You have to be in charge of a segment,” Wilson explained. “I let them kind of drive it because the show is for you guys.”
This allows students to demonstrate their creativity while also learning how to manage time and delegate responsibility.
One of the more popular segments this year is “Parking Fails,” which was created and led by seniors RJ Gallagher and Dylan Hutchcraft. As part of this segment, the duo evaluates the parking of cars by both students and staff on a variety of factors, including distance from lines.
“In the beginning, we map out what cars we want to do,” Gallagher said. “We go out, find four cars, and see which ones look the worst.”
Despite being a short segment, Gallagher notes it can take several days to put together the entire segment as filming for each segment of CHS TV is spread across multiple days.
“One day we’ll film two cars, another day the other two,” Gallagher said. “Then we add the intro, outro, and edits.”
Once completed, the segment is submitted to be included in the weekly episode.
Gallagher said he joined CHS TV to try something creative.
“I wanted to try being on the news and make something cool for everyone,” Gallagher said. He added that the reaction from students and teachers makes the work worth it.
Senior Dylan Anderson said CHS TV has shown her how much work goes on behind-the-scenes.
“People only see the final video,” Anderson said. “They don’t see all the planning and editing that happens first.”
As a student in the class, she said Wilson has each of them try out different roles, both on and off camera.
Wilson emphasized that students working behind the camera are just as important as those on screen.
“Not everybody wants to be the center of attention,” Wilson said. “I like to think that I have a place for everybody here.”
Roles students can choose from include filming, editing, writing, or hosting.
Each episode follows a weekly schedule of production. Hosts are chosen early in the week, scripts are written, and filming typically happens on Thursdays.
“On Friday, they give me their completed segments,” Wilson said.
Over the weekend, he assembles and compiles each of the segments into one full episode and uploads it to YouTube.
With around 40 students enrolled this year, CHS TV has more segments than available space to fit into a single episode, meaning some segments are saved for future weeks. Determining which segments make the cut opens opportunities for the crew to show their critical thinking and hands-on skills.
“It can be stressful,” Anderson said, “but it’s fun when you see the final result.”
Although viewers see only a few 20-25 minutes each week, CHS TV reflects hours of work behind-the-scenes and remains an important part of the CHS community.
New episodes, as well as past episodes, of CHS TV can be found on the “CinnaminsonHSTVProd” channel on YouTube.
