Victoria BreenStaff Writer

Every day during fourth pe-riod, 26 students come together to work with various types of media. With the help of MSGVarsity, a tri-state area television network, students are offered technological experience, a creative outlet and chances to have their films fea-tured on TV. Mr. Vandergrift has been teaching this class for five years.

“Media [production] class has a relaxed yet constructive environ-ment that allows many kids with varying interests to express them-selves through different media,” senior Daniel Iafrate said. Each student is trained to use computer programs such as Final Cut Pro. Students can work directly with filming and sound editing and even create comic books. With these tools, students produce short films and documentaries. Grades are based off of these pieces. “It’s one of the only [classes] in this school

that combines art and technology,” Mr. Vandergrift said.

MSGVarsity’s funding —$2,000 a year for three years—helps the class make up for this and allows it to replace broken equipment and buy memory cards and other important materials.

MSGVarsity also sends pro-ducers and technical crews to hold workshops with the class. Students are able to upload their work to the MSG website, msgvarsity.com. The class has already uploaded almost twenty videos. Anyone outside of the pro-duction class is also welcome to submit videos as long as they are appropriate.

Senior Kelsey Jance and ju-nior Tucker Jepsen were both chosen by MSG to have their vid-eos broadcast on local television on January 25.

After submitting their vid-eos to the MSG site, a crew came to Westhill to interview the two chosen students and others in the class. The segment was broadcast

along with their videos. Jepsen said, “My movie was made as a promotional video for the ultimate frisbee team. It was a lot of fun to film, and the [ultimate frisbee team] was really cooperative.”

While Jance was nervous to see herself on TV, she described the experience as “surreal; I couldn’t bear to watch it. I knew my sister would make fun of me,” she said.

The class also has a contract with a website called Itsrelevant.com. The site pays students to film sports games and special events that are relevant to Westhill. The students are able to use high-tech cameras and software in exchange for raw footage of the games. Not only do these opportunities pro-vide students with film experi-ence, but they also get paid $25 per event. This program is open to all Westhill students.

In addition, the class is look-ing forward to submitting its media to the V Awards. The V Awards are held by MSGVarsity

and are in partnership with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Vandergrift said, “Tucker Jepsen and Kelsey Jance have both finished good films for submission and we’re currently working on a Harry

Potter spoof that takes place at Westhill. [Junior] Jason Bernstein and Kelsey are producing that one for us.” Winners will be awarded a $5,000 grant, a prize which Van-dergift said “would really help our program.”

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Jacqueline StoneStaff Writer

Some people travel for busi-ness or for pleasure, but art teach-er Ms. Barney travels for both. Ms. Barney has been everywhere and back, and it all started when she began work for the Interna-tional School Service, an agency that hires American teachers for overseas teaching jobs with her husband.

In addition to teaching in the United States, Ms. Barney has taught in Lebanon and Lon-don. “The Arabs have a saying about the love of travel. They say, ‘Once you get the sand in your shoes, you can never get it out.’ And that is me exactly, I love it!” Ms. Barney said.

Ms. Barney will take any op-portunity to travel, whether with a group or by herself. “I traveled for three weeks to Australia alone, went scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and had a wonderful time. I toured Ireland a few years

ago with a girlfriend and went to Japan in 2002 for three weeks with a group of 199 other teach-ers from all over the USA,” Ms. Barney said.

Ms. Barney’s favorite subject to teach is ceramics. “When I was in Lebanon, I had seen a man in the mountains making beautiful ceramics pieces, and it really in-spired me. In fact, with the help of a supporting headmaster, I was able to bring the art of ceramics to the school I was working at, which, until then, did not have ceramics,” she said. With so many sights to see, it may be difficult to decide where to start. “Go wherever you have an opportunity to go. You may never get the chance to go again, so grab your chance,” Ms. Barney said. “As far I am concerned, in-ternational travel provides the best opportunity there is for personal growth and multi-faceted learning experiences.”

Ms. Barney has traveled through all of Europe, Scan-dinavia, and the Middle East,

visiting countries such as Syr-ia, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Greece, Cypress, Jamaica, Ha-waii, the Virgin Islands, Mex-ico, Costa Rica, and Egypt, which she described as “mind-boggling. Egypt surpassed my expectations.”

Ms. Barney says that a high-light of her trip to Egypt was when she ran into Arab men on horse-back in the tourist area. They were dressed in authentic Arab robes and their saddles were decorated in beads and beautiful woven fabric. One of the Arabs let her ride his horse. (She’s skilled in horseback riding so she wasn’t nervous.) Ms. Barney said that she would never forget the experience, as it was “the thrill of a lifetime.”

Everyone has a place they dream of visiting, and for Ms. Barney, this place is Tahiti. She says that if she has the chance to go, she could see herself sailing, scuba diving and swimming. Also on her list of places to visit are China, India, Russia, and Poland.

Julie Arditti / Photographer THE TRAVELING TEACHER Ms. Barney seizes any opportunity to travel and teach abroad. She has taught in three different coun-tries and has traveled to many more.

Media class produces future filmmakers

FEATURE February 2011www.thewestwordonline.com Art abroad

Ms. Barney travels and teaches around the globe

Lights, camera, action!

Elizabeth Quartararo / Managing EditorMOVIE MAKERS Senior Peter Matusiewicz works on a film proj-ect in his media production class.