A/V PRODUCTION - Open to 9th-12th, no pre-req.

This class provides an introduction to the art and craft of movie and television production. Students will collaborate with others to learn the basics of screenwriting, shooting and editing video. Student filmmakers get hands on experience with HD cameras, and learn how to edit with FInal Cut Pro on Apple computers. This class is mandatory if you want to be on K-AHS.

ADV A/V PRODUCTION - Open to 10th-11th, MUST have passed AVP

Students take a deeper look into the technical aspects of A/V Production and learn more advanced editing techniques and camera equipment. This class envelops students in the fast paced world of television field production by involving students in the nationally recognized PBS Student Reporting Labs Project. Students will collaborate with others to create their own news segments with mentors from KLRU and KUT. They also learn studio production and work on multiple contests throughout the year as a class.

A/V PRACTICUM 1 - Open to seniors, MUST HAVE PASSED ADV. AVP. 

Students produce K-AHS on tuesday, wednesday, and thursday and friday. They also attend the Austin Film Festival and spend the year working on the Senior Thesis Film,  a short film shot on location outside of Austin.

A/V PRACTICUM 2 - Must have passed A/V PRACTICUM (first available 2014/15)

Having been involved with the PBS Student Reporting Labs for the last year as a junior, it was a real treat to be able to tour the KLRU studio and view one of the tapings for Overheard with Evan Smith with Jim Lehrer as the guest. It was only a year ago when my teacher was showing me a video clip of Mr. Lehrer addressing me and my classmates about the journey we were about to take working with the PBS NewsHour Extra website. Having only seen a high school media studio it was mind blowing to walk around the maze of KLRU’s office to see studios the size of our classroom and a control board that looked like something off of a spaceship. It was not only the size that was impressive, but the staff of KLRU is truly amazing; being able to watch them in their element was enjoyable and enlightening. (See photos from the trip on K-AHS’s Flickr page)

The taping was my favorite part, listening to Jim Lehrer crack jokes about all of the politicians he’s interviewed was the highlight of my day. My parents were also jealous that I got to sit in on such an influential political figurehead which made the gloating that much more enjoyable. It was a learning experience as well. Being the youngest crowd there Overheard gave insight to the class about the inner workings of political interviews, a process that had never been explained to us.

Before the taping, Erika Aguilar gave us a tour of the KUT studio and showed us where they record bands, interviews, and eat bagels! (morning story meeting table). It felt really cool that we also had a story meeting table and did the same thing they did, bouncing ideas off each other as a team to get the best ideas on what to put on air.

The Austin Highs Media team is so lucky to have been able to work so closely with our mentors, KLRU’s Lynn Boswell and KUT’s Erika Aguilar with the Student Reporting Labs to create our own NewsHour Reports. The experience last year, producing our news stories, was very difficult, but well worth the stress. That year taught me how to be a serious journalism and media student and gave a voice to my classmates and I, a group of individuals whose point of view often gets over looked. That experience gave us a chance to see what it means to be a journalist, and to see all the hard work that goes into finding a story that is worth creating.