Mater Dei's Film & Media Arts Department

Course Length: Year

Grade Level: 9-12

A-G Designation: “G” - College-Preparatory Elective

Prerequisites: None

Introduction to publication design is a year-long course in which students will learn how to tell stories through writing, photography, broadcast, design and social media. This course will provide a foundation in multimedia journalism as a means of training students to work for one of Mater Dei’s student media staffs, including The Scarlet Scroll newspaper and the CROWN yearbook, as well as Monarch Television. Students will learn how to research, how to use production software and equipment like Adobe InDesign and digital cameras, and how to capture the stories of the Mater Dei and Orange County communities through various platforms.

This course is a year-long multimedia production course devoted to the publication of the student newspaper, The Scarlet Scroll. Students will gain experience in writing, photography, graphic design, layout design and social media by covering the stories of the school year that take place on and off campus and within the Mater Dei and Orange County communities. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $125 course materials fee.

This course is a year-long multimedia production course devoted to the publication of the student newspaper, The Scarlet Scroll. Students will gain experience in writing, photography, broadcast, graphic design and layout design by covering school-related news, feature stories, social issues, art reviews and sporting events that take place on and off campus and within the Mater Dei and Orange County communities. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $25 course materials fee.

Students in this course may apply for editor positions on the staff of the student newspaper, The Scarlet Scroll. While continuing their work as reporters for the student newspaper, editors will also serve as the leaders and managers of the staff by planning and editing content, overseeing the staff, teaching new skills, and organizing events and new projects. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $25 course materials fee.

Students in this course may apply for editor positions on the staff of the student newspaper, The Scarlet Scroll. While continuing their work as reporters for the student newspaper, editors will also serve as the leaders and managers of the staff by planning and editing content, overseeing the staff, teaching new skills, and organizing events and new projects. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $25 course materials fee.

This course is a year-long multimedia production course devoted to the publication of the student yearbook, the CROWN. Students will gain experience in writing, photography, graphic design, layout design and social media by covering the stories of the school year that take place on and off campus and within the Mater Dei and Orange County communities. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $125 course materials fee.

This course is a year-long multimedia production course devoted to the publication of the student yearbook, the CROWN. Students will gain experience in writing, photography, graphic design and layout design by covering the stories of the school year that take place on and off campus and within the Mater Dei and Orange County communities. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $25 course materials fee.

Students in this course may apply for editor positions on the staff of the student yearbook, the CROWN. While continuing their work as content creators for the yearbook, editors will also serve as the leaders and managers of the staff by planning and editing content, overseeing the staff, teaching new skills, and organizing events and new projects. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity.

Students in this course may apply for editor positions on the staff of the student yearbook, the CROWN. While continuing their work as content creators for the yearbook, editors will also serve as the leaders and managers of the staff by planning and editing content, overseeing the staff, teaching new skills, and organizing events and new projects. This course is both a class and an extracurricular activity. This course has a $25 course materials fee.

The course is primarily a production course using class members as the production unit with a focus on short fiction filmmaking, including story; development, production techniques and the art of post-production. Students will learn and participate in a variety of roles in the creation process including those of director, producer, editor and production assistant.  This course will also introduce students to various perspectives on the study and production of film and media theory and production. Students will gain an historical understanding of media as well as its application. Materials fee is charged for this course.

Filmmaking II picks up directly where Filmmaking I leaves off and expands on the previous curriculum while introducing more advanced techniques. Students study the historical development of the motion picture industry on a global level as well as the contributions of specific artists from visual and performing arts who have shaped the look of film today.  Students study narrative storytelling and apply that knowledge to scriptwriting. Cinematography and editing principles and concepts will be applied so students have a clear understanding of what it takes to work as a professional in the film industry. Finally, students explore the opportunities for career paths in film and related industries. Materials fee is charged for this course. 

Honors Filmmaking allows for students to take on greater leadership roles and work on longer form projects as they continue to hone their filmmaking skills, learning about but the creation process and the industry. Scriptwriting, cinematography and editing principles and concepts will be applied so students have a clear understanding of what it takes to work as a professional in the film industry. Finally, students explore the opportunities for career paths in film and related industries. Materials fee is charged for this course. 

Honors Filmmaking IV builds on the leadership skills developed during Honors Filmmaking III as well as work on longer projects. Students will continue to hone their filmmaking skills, creativity, and on-set leadership. Students will lead small groups to create independent short films reflecting the professional film industry. The focus in this course is on Directing, Screenwriting, Advanced Camera Techniques, and Storytelling for Film. Finally, students explore the opportunities for career paths in film and related industries. Materials fee is charged for this course.

These advanced courses will allow students to learn more professional techniques of television production including: directing, producing, acting for television, advanced camera operation, studio and remote shoot management, advanced scriptwriting, advanced editing, creativity in audio and lighting, graphics and technical engineering. Students will be required to work in a variety of crew roles to gain experience. Students are responsible for creating the Monarch TV morning news. This class will be invaluable in portfolio building for those students who plan to major in production and pursue careers in television, film, or live broadcasting. Materials fee is charged for this course.

Building off the knowledge gained in Advanced Television I, students will have the opportunity to enhance and develop both creative and management skills. Students will assume roles emphasizing leadership such as producer, director, floor director, writer or lead on-air talent. Under the direct guidance of the instructor, these students will work alongside the Advanced Television I students acting as team leaders and mentors. Assignments will focus on the production of the Monarch Television morning show as well as additional segments for Mater Dei and the Diocese. Advanced crew positions require leadership skills and carry increased responsibility; therefore, assignments require extracurricular participation. Materials fee is charged for this course.

This advanced honors course will allow students to learn more advanced techniques of television production through leadership roles with a focus on running production teams serving as the director and producer while learning advanced production skills and techniques.  Students will be required to work in a variety of crew roles to gain experience and students will be required to complete a designated number of extra-curricular hours toward class assignments. 

This class is an opportunity for students to hone their video production skills while producing broadcast quality publishable content. Specifically, students will learn to produce sports programs — live sporting events and televised sports programs — which will potentially air on the school’s website, morning show, or stream live on the Internet. In addition, students will learn the techniques and tools sports writers use for creating content to be aired on television, podcasts, and social media. Analysis of sports programming and documentary-style filmmaking will help guide students in their creativity and production skills. This course does require extracurricular participation. This course has a required materials fee.