Ah, yes, the new semester. Have you got a minute?

So we began the new semester (Q2), and we are all terribly excited. [General laughter can be heard from the peanut gallery.] Actually, there is quite a bit of excitement at the prospect of getting a lot more hands-on time in the labs and with the TV studio equipment.

We've begun Radio Promotions, Audio Editing, and Television News Production - not to mention, continuing with Broadcast News Writing... but now that I've mentioned it... howdy, Mr. Stockwell. Much of the class remained intact, but we are down to 40 students - with a lot of absenteeism. Once this quarter is over, and we have declared which way we want to go with the final two semesters (Radio or TV), the size of the class will drop dramatically as the two factions go their seperate ways. These last two weeks we have been chest deep in the actual production of the news - handling the cameras and the bridge in total; teleprompters, VTR, the switcher, CG, and all other positions including, Director and AD roles, etc, etc. Of course, it is ALL scripted, but it is a real eye opener.

I am always amazed at how people can simply refuse to try. The exercises are repeated over and over again with everyone playing a different part. The attitudes and lack of interest are apparent with so many, but then so is the eagerness and desire to learn with so many more. I love the energy of a lot of my peers, and I get a chance to learn from watching and asking questions from some of them. Others are like me, unsure, but not afraid to try. After all, we are there to learn.

The teams we've been running with will be tested, as our instructor for these sessions - Dave Daniele (or "Double D" as he prefers to be called) - is planning on breaking the groups into new teams. I have had probably the best set of the kids with the lesser amount of misfits, but I am afraid this is about to change. I was pleased with conversations yesterday with others who are also completely fed up with the clowning around and could-give-a-crap-attitude of about six to eight of our classmates. Can't wait for the next semester, where (hopefully) the level of earnestness and seriousness rises for all of the people remaining enrolled, not simply for those of us who arrived completely ready to learn about the industry in the first place.

This Saturday is the long-awaited PA seminar! Woohoo! It begins at 9 am and ends around 1 pm, and hopefully will lead to something. If nothing else, I will be more prepared for the last two quarters at SHS. I will keep you informed. Until then. be well and happy.