Video & Screenwriting
The MTS Digital Media Academy
Students in the Video Department produce five minute videos, both fictional and documentary. They participate in numerous festivals and contests, including the DMA hosted .edu Film Festival. Students produce Hit the Couch, a webTV show featuring the work of the entire DMA. Each year, the DMA produces Five Minute Films, DVD of the year’s work. Screenwriting students complete 5, 30, and 90-plus page scripts that are published bi-yearly in the DMA produced book, The Last Draft.
From Video and Screenwriting to Graphics and Music, the Digital Media Academy has it all!
The Video Arts Department at MTS Digital Media Academy offers:
- 13 state of the art Macintosh workstations
- Final Cut Pro 6 editing software/Final Cut Studio 2
- Canon cameras
- Screenwriter Movie Magic screenwriting software
Students work in tandem with the other arms of the DMA, thus have access to professional sound editing equipment and a sound department to provide post production, and professional design equipment and a graphic design department to promote their projects.
You can visit the Video Arts Department’s classroom page for more detailed information about the daily activities of MTS Video Arts Students and a calendar of department events.
Frequently asked questions:
What are the entrance requirements for your program?
Students need only be enrolled in the MTS charter school district. We have implemented a system this year to help guide new students toward the branch of the DMA that they are interested in. By enrolling in the Intro to DMA course, students are exposed to all three branches of the DMA and have an opportunity to specialize from there if they wish.
What kind of internship opportunities exist in your program?
ComArts High is proud to be the host and sponsor of the .edu Film Festival and the Sound Unseen Film Festival. Sound Unseen Film Festivals LLC, the producer of both festivals, offices on premises at Comarts High and serves as a constant source of intern opportunities for our students. Playing a major part in the development, planning, and implementation of these festival experiences gives our student interns a unique look into the festival production profession.
The Video Arts Department also offers an internship with Wowza, LLC, a local marketing firm. Student interns create promotional video productions in cooperation with Wowza for use by the district.
Do students earn any required credits through your program?
Students can earn Fine Arts credits for all video and video editing classes.
Students can earn Language Arts credits for all screenwriting classes.
In what ways do students use technology in your classroom?
In addition to the equipment that is necessary in this field, curriculum in the Video Arts Department is presented using an individualized web-based platform. All curriculum is created using the principles of Universal Design for curriculum, that is – all class work is equally accessible no matter the level of the learner. Information is presented via readings, podcasts, videos, activities, and games. Students work at the pace that best suits them, whether they are gifted learners or students with learning disabilities.
Unlike distance web-based classwork, students in this department have an instructor present to guide and teach on an individual basis. In addition: students have the ability to access classwork from any computer with Internet access – from home, the library, even your local coffee shop.
To take a look at these online classes, go to the following guest access sites:
Are there any certifications that may be earned by students who are successful in your program?
In the near future, the Video Arts Department will offer a Final Cut Editing class that will prepare students to test for Level 1 Apple certification in Final Cut 6 at an Apple Authorized Training Center.
Who is the ideal candidate for your program?
A committed, artistic student with enthusiasm; an interest in film, video, editing, and technology; and a vision for his or her future in the world of digital media.
About the Instructor: Trey Wodele
Trey is a graduate of Southwest High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Screenwriting from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul . Trey earned his Minnesota State teaching license in Language Arts at Augsburg College in Minneapolis and continues his graduate studies in education there.
Trey has worked as a waiter, gardener, screenwriter, editor, substitute teacher, and finally, as a teacher of screenwriting, video editing, and video production at MTS.
He is the founder and co-producer of the .edu Film Festival, Minnesota’s only school sponsored, state-wide film festival for high school students.
When he’s not teaching, Trey is riding his Electra bicycle, reading mystery novels, watching movies, messing with his Macintosh computer, or playing with his ipod touch. Trey and his wife have two children, ages 8 and 18 months.
Someday, Trey and his wife hope to purchase a sailboat and spend their retirement sailing the Caribbean.
Video Arts Department Links:
- Article – The Teen Film Revolution
- .edu Film Festival
- .edu Film Festival webTV Channel
- Hit the Couch webTV Channel
- Recent work by video students
- The Last Draft
- MTS online learning site
- Student email and docs start page
For more information on the Digital Media Academy & the Video Arts Department, contact Trey – twodele@emailmtcs.org – or call us at 612-728-8915.