Redwood television (TV) produces five to ten minute segments that are played every Friday during SMART like clockwork. Yet, behind the scenes is a mystery to most. Hours are spent each week filming segments, diving deeper into the community and providing an entertaining break for students hard at work.
Senior Brooke Ellington, executive producer and main host, estimates that she spends about seven to eight hours a week putting together the final product.
According to Ellington, students in Redwood TV are first split into groups. It runs on a three week cycle, providing ample time to brainstorm segment ideas, write a script, film and edit. Once a segment is completed, it is sent to Ellington for edits and production. It is then sent to the Redwood TV advisor, Eric Berkowitz.
“I edit the entire thing. I edit my personal segment, and then hopefully I’m just getting sent segments to put together. Once I’m done, I’m exporting it, uploading it to YouTube, and then I send it off to Berkowitz,” Ellington said.
While Redwood TV is a student-led class, Berkowitz is there to help if students hit a wall.
“[Berkowitz] is a creative guy, so he is really good at coming up with segment ideas and where to go with them if students are struggling, and he uploads everything to the website. He’s definitely a part of the process, but he’s more of a supportive force behind it all,” Ellington said.
Senior Madi Rand said that she signed up for Redwood TV because of Berkowitz.
“I had found out [about Redwood TV] as it was a recommended class to take by Berkowitz. I started as a behind the camera operator, and then I went to become an on screen host junior year, and [now] I am a main host and editor,” Rand said.
Rand is aired frequently during the weekly announcements and enjoys the consistent screen time.
“I will say it’s quite hard to memorize the script, but it’s fun because you’ve usually been going to school with the main hosts for four years now, and it’s just a time to have fun, trying not to laugh while saying important announcements,” Rand said.
Redwood TV offers an array of jobs and talents available to students, including the ins-and-outs of writing, filming, and editing.
“I think the class is great for anyone that is interested in learning to tell stories, [and] people who are interested in video production or editing or any kind of filmmaking,” Berkowitz said.
Berkowitz is hoping to further expand the horizon of Redwood TV through new projects and audiences.
“I’d love to collaborate more with The Bark and with photography to find ways that our kids can cross-pollinate and get their stuff out to a wider audience,” Berkowitz said.
Berkowitz also submitted a grant to the Redwood Foundation in hopes of upgrading the equipment used in filming.
“This next round of grant cycles, we’re [hoping] to get five more cameras and lenses, so we’ll have 10 and phase out the much older cameras,” Berkowitz said.
Redwood TV provides a learning outlet for students interested in film. Thanks to their passion and hard work, students are informed on all parts of on-campus life, from sports, to clubs to arts.
