Vertical Video Syndrome - A PSA

In the spirit of our PSA work these past couple of weeks, I found this video on Jim Sill's YouTube channel and had to share. It truly explains my hatred and concern over millions of videos shot with people suffering from VVS. Share and pass on!

Tutorial Video: Editing Audio in iMovie

Several of my students have had questions about how you can edit your audio clip within iMovie without having to split it or in Garageband.  Below is a YouTube video that explains it better and clearer than I ever could have, so be sure to check it out if you need any tips!

Playlist: Poetry in Frames

In Video 7, the filmmakers got an opportunity to combine poetry and video with their recent project. For Poetry in Frames, the students had to pick either a poem or song lyrics and make video that best interpreted it for them.

Skills that the students learned/utilized during this project were:

• Using the audio recording room in the library to record their song/poem
• Integrating green screen effects into their project

They have done a fantastic job with their projects and I am thrilled to show off some of the videos below. Take time to like or comment on their video if you like it, feedback is the best form of flattery in Video Production!

Instagram Short Films

Our very own tech coordinator, Patrick Green, sent me this short film made all through Instagram photos. What an awesome way to show the power of social media and finding structure in chaos. Enjoy!


An Instagram short film from Thomas Jullien on Vimeo.

Making a Jumpcut Video

Our awesome Technology Coach, Heather Dowd, made this tutorial on how to make a jumpcut video. Check it out, it's super informative and cute; thanks Ms. Dowd!

Green Screen Fun in SAS MS Library!

Check out the video my wonderful student Kim helped me produce to promote the new green screen room in the SAS Middle School Library! Be sure to check it out soon for your next film!

How to Use Green Screen Effects

While making your iMovie Trailer, you might want to try out the effect of using green screen. We are very fortunate to have a green screen right here on campus in the Middle School Library, so be sure to check it out at least once while taking video this semester!

This video below is an awesome tutorial of how to use green screen and special effects.

The Conversation: Final Videos

The kiddos did awesome with their Conversation Scenes and I am SO proud to show them off!! Click the video below to see the best videos from all 4 Video Production classes. Make sure to leave a comment on the videos you like the best, the filmmakers love to read them!

Posting Still Images into iMovie '11

Because we aren't able to update our laptops to iOS Mavericks yet, some people are having lots of trouble adding still images into their iMovie trailers to set the landscape. Luckily, there is the beautiful world of YouTube and kids that do my job for me. Watch the video below to learn how to add in a still image into your iMovie trailer!

Video of the Week: Halloween Treats Gone Wrong

Happy Halloween to all of awesome filmmakers! Here's a little something to make you smile AND laugh.

The Hero's Journey - Disney Version

Today in Video Production, we learned about Joseph Campbell's Monomyth, or the Hero's Journey as it is more popularly known as. The students will be taking this information and utilizing it to begin creating their scripts for the upcoming Conversation Scene.

In class we watched a video that uses Star Wars, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter to explain the Hero's Journey, but I found a video on YouTube that uses all Disney movies to also illustrate it. Check it out below and BE AMAZED!

Fantastic Storyboarding to Film Video!

Mucho thanks to the incredible Heather Dowd for finding this video on how cinematographers take their simple storyboards to an incredible film. Definitely ties into what we learned with the Door Scene. Check out the Vimeo below!


Before & After - 'Life Source Reborn' (Storyboard / Raw Footage / Final comparison) from Ernesto Mántaras on Vimeo.

Playlist: Door Scene-Final Cut

We finally wrapped up our Door Scene unit and am thrilled at the work the students produced! I made a playlist of the videos that were voted either Best Overall or Scariest Scene and voted by the Video Production students in class. Just in time for Halloween, muahahaha.

Smart Girls at the Party

Recently, I was browsing some new channels to subscribe to on YouTube and came across this fantastic channel called Smart Girls at the Party featuring the amazing Amy Poehler. It a channel that interviews normal teenage girls about their lives and talents, and it always ends in a dance party.

Wouldn't it be amazing to start something like this at SAS where we interview our fellow students and make them feel like rock stars?? Who's up to do this challenge with me?

Slammin' SAS Student Work

The students have been hard at work making their Day in the Life of an Animate Object Project, and I could not be more proud of what the kiddos have created. Below is a list of some of the videos the students voted as best in their classes. Check them out below, and be sure to subscribe to their YouTube OneChannels to see more of their upcoming work!

Mr. Green's SAS 5X5

This week in class, we will be making short 25-second movies comprised of 5 five-second videos. One of our awesome teachers, Mr. Green, took the challenge and made his too! Check it out below:

Cheers for Cody (and Ariel!)

Here's another awesome One Channel video from one of our kiddos! She features here cute dog Cody to help her explain what you can find on her site; creative and clever :)

Snaps for Ethan Aldaba

Now that the students are finishing up their YouTube One Channel videos, I will start posting some great ones as they get posted. Below is one of our 8th graders, Ethan, who is already a video production star. Check out his amazing YouTube One Channel video and others in his channel, you'll definitely want to subscribe.

Roller Coaster Ride

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What a great first week at SAS and an even better back to school assembly! Here's a little taste of our afternoon, have a fantastic weekend!

3 Important Things from Ashton Kutcher

Ashtok Kutcher gave a surprisingly insightful and meaningful speech at the Teen Choice Awards last night. If only those teenage girls would have stopped screaming to actually listen to him. Check it out below:

Sra. Gach's All-Time YouTube Greatest

T-Mobile Welcome Dance: Hands down my favorite flash-mob video of all time. Why? Probably because I had never seen a flashmob like this, where they literally spontaneously sang all the songs here to people based on what they looked like, were doing or just because. All of this for commercial for T-Mobile, pretty impressive!

Steve Jobs Commencement Speech: Say what you will about Steve Jobs, this commencement speech is one the best I have ever heard/seen. He is honest and realistic about what awaits the grads in life and what they need to do to succeed.

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes: Anytime I need to get pumped about doing something, whether I want to or not, I put the video on and BAM, I am suddenly motivated and ready to rock. I dare you to watch this video and not want to clap at the end.

Pep Talk from Kid President: If there was every a video that made me want to change the world, this one would be it. This adorable kid dances, quotes Journey, and takes Robert Frost to an even better level. I think every one in the world should take the 3 minutes to watch this video and be motivated to make a difference.

JK Wedding Dance: There are so many reasons I love this video; it has the element of surprise, weddings, people dancing and all in the name of love. I dare you not to smile while watching this.