Foundations of Multimedia Production

Course Description:
This introductory course equips students with foundational skills in multimedia production. Through hands-on projects and team collaboration, students explore studio roles, basic camera operation, basic photography and audio techniques. Instruction covers photography composition, storytelling, editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, and creating a digital portfolio. Students also observe and contribute to in-school productions like The Cardinal to gain real-world context.

Foundations of Visual Storytelling

This foundational course introduces students to the core principles of media production through the lens of photography, video, and audio storytelling. Emphasizing on-location production skills, students develop technical fluency with DSLR cameras, basic lighting setups, and field audio equipment. Coursework includes photojournalism, portrait photography, podcast production, and music video creation. Students explore composition, manual camera controls (ISO, shutter speed, aperture), and visual design while learning to organize and edit projects using Adobe Lightroom and Premiere Pro.

Throughout the year, students engage in real-world media tasks, practice industry-standard safety protocols, and build creative confidence through structured production cycles. Critical thinking, collaboration, and communication are fostered through Think-Write-Pair-Share routines and peer critique. By the end of the year, students produce a portfolio showcasing their growth as visual storytellers and complete the OSHA 10 – General Industry certification.

Advanced Production & Industry Application

Building on foundational skills, this course deepens student expertise in cinematic storytelling, client-based production, and digital content creation. Students operate in professional production teams to execute advanced projects such as short films, promotional videos, portrait sessions, and aerial drone cinematography. Emphasis is placed on lighting design, client communication, and post-production workflows using Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.

In the first half of the year, students complete FAA-aligned drone flight training and prepare for client-facing photography and commercial video work. In the second half, they conceptualize, script, shoot, and edit a short film, integrating narrative structure and visual composition. Employability and collaboration skills are embedded in all units to prepare students for real-world production environments.

Students work toward earning the Adobe Premiere Pro Certified Professional, Adobe After Effects Certified Professional, and Employability Skills Certificate, while continuing to build a professional media portfolio that demonstrates industry readiness.

Related: Multimedia Journalism

Students advance their technical and creative skills in broadcast journalism, field reporting, and motion graphics. They take on studio roles such as technical director, producer, and anchor, producing live segments for The Cardinal Recap. The course emphasizes advanced camera and lighting techniques, podcast creation, and video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Students prepare for Adobe certification exams and develop professional digital portfolios to demonstrate career readiness.