Media Arts Classes Prep for Film Fest
Students collaborate on the final touches for their short films before the big deadline. Photo: Jasmina Jamshedova
By JASMINA JAMSHEDOVA
Lights, cameras, and creativity fill the classroom as students in Midwood’s Media Arts class transform everyday ideas into full scale productions. From filming short movies to editing clips and preparing for the annual film festival, the class offers a hands-on experience that goes far beyond a typical elective. Open to students interested in film, editing, and storytelling, Media Arts provides a unique opportunity to explore both the technical precision and the creative freedom of media production.
The Midwood Film Fest, which will display student work on June 2 in the school auditorium, is one of the best parts of the program. Mr. James Bruffee, the advanced classes’ teacher, said he is "incredibly excited…because it represents a rare bridge between the classroom and the real world” – a rare chance for students to view their movies with a live audience.
“There is a specific kind of feeling, with magic and nerves, that happens when a student sees their work projected on a big screen,” Mr. Bruffee said. After students turn in their final cuts by the end of May, he picks the best projects from both his and Mr. Henry Mei's classes. There will even be a popcorn machine at the event, to make it feel more like a real movie theater.
Students in the class described the experience as both rewarding and challenging. Molly Murphy ’28 chose Media Arts as her elective because of her previous involvement with media and the stage crew in middle school. Murphy said the class has “exceeded her expectations” and that each project pushes her to be more creative than the last.
“It’s really cool seeing what other people can create and then realizing you can do the same,” Murphy said. She added that the class not only builds technical skills but also teaches students how to collaborate and approach complex projects from different perspectives.
Hala Elsherif ’27 described her experience as “really good” and noted the variety of new skills she has acquired. “Editing is definitely my favorite part because you can take something simple and turn it into something that actually looks like a real movie,” Elsherif said. She strongly recommends the class to other students because it is “really fun” and offers a type of creative engagement not usually found in a traditional classroom.
Students tackle a range of intensive assignments throughout the year that serve as stepping stones to their final productions. For example, one of the first projects requires students to shoot a “silent narrative,” meaning they must tell a complete story without dialogue, only using lighting and camera movement. Students also edit complex sequences to practice “match-on-action” cuts, and rotate production groups so that everyone can get a taste of different roles such as director of photography, sound engineer and lead editor.
One valuable thing about Media Arts is how well it balances structure and creativity. Students have to follow professional deadlines and technical rules, but they also have the freedom to express their own ideas and styles. Students are always pushed to think outside the box and go beyond what they think they can do.
As the film festival approaches, the excitement continues to build. With original student-led films, a live audience, and a theater-like atmosphere, the event is set to highlight the hard work and vibrant creativity that define the Midwood Media Arts program.