Video Arts

Taft’s video program starts in our high-tech video lab, and reaches across the globe. The lab has 10 Mac workstations equipped with a variety of cutting edge editing and special effects software for teaching the art of filmmaking. Students have access to professional quality HD and 4K video cameras and support equipment, including lights, tripods, stabilizers, and microphones.

Video Arts

The program begins with an introduction to fundamental filmmaking tools, and film basics: composition, shot types, camera angles and scripting. Beginning students complete a series of “shoot-to-edit” projects, which become their building blocks for video storytelling. As students advance through the program, they will work more on scriptwriting and storyboarding, advanced audio recording, and lighting techniques, and will take on projects documenting the life of the school, and promoting school programs and events. Class projects may range from adapting novels and creating mini-series, to recreating the school’s history and producing video content for other academic disciplines.

In recent years, student filmmakers have worked on major motion pictures with well-known directors, and have competed in prestigious film competitions at both the local and national level. Taft students recently took home top honors at the Tribeca Film Festival’s “The America I Am” Youth Film Competition.