Mass Communications classes build skills, friendships

Acting for a comedic skit, writing for a news broadcast, operating a camera and editing a final project: these are all skills you can acquire by enrolling out Yuba College’s Mass Communications Department.

The class sizes in this field are small; however, small class size actually allows more one-on- one time between the students and teachers and offers the students more individual time with the equipment. After taking these classes, students walk away with the skills needed to land an entry level position in the field or transfer to a university.

Electronic Movie Making, one of the courses offered through the mass communications program, helps students master basic skills in continuity, composition and editing. In this class students complete projects such as TV commercials, music videos and short films.

This class is offered at both a beginner and an advanced level. At the end of the semester students’ projects are burned onto a custom DVD.

Film is another class that will help students master their skills both behind and in front of the camera. This class is very similar to Electronic Movie Making, but instead of having the modern advances of a digital movie camera, students use film.

That’s right, take a blast back to the past and use the black and white film. Along with fine tuning students’ continuity and composition skills, their editing will be put to the test. These cameras provide no audio, so any sound students want to include in their film has to be recorded separately and synched up to the action.

Ever wonder what it would be like to work on the set of Saturday Night Live or MAD TV? Then you’ll probably be interested in taking a studio class. Studio Video Production is about making short skits in front of a live camera.

In this class students will learn what it’s like to write, act, operate the camera, direct and produce! It’s a little bit of everything with a lot of attitude.

Especially for those who major in Mass Communications, students in these classes become very close. Since taking one class usually leads to taking interest in another, friendships are quickly made. Students often use their skills to help each other with projects. These classes require a lot of off campus work.

Perhaps the most called-on person for help is Warren Crocker, a former Yuba College student who is now a college employee. He has often been accused of living in the loft of the studio. Crocker has been called the “prodigy of the Media Department.” He is always the first one students go to for help.

When asked what he thought about the Mass Communications Department at Yuba College, Crocker simply said, “It’s growing.”

Yuba College student Heather Thill has completed several of the Mass Communications courses, including Studio Video Production and Electronic Movie Making.

Thill said the department is great, but could use some updates. “The editing equipment is great and really up to date, and hopefully they can expand the studio,” Thill said. “We are hoping some of the funding from Measure J will expand into the Mass Communications program.”

Stephen Cato, Interim Dean for Distributive Education and Media, came up with the “Earn While You Learn” program for students enrolled in Mass Communications classes and the Mass Communications Club.

In this program, students are given jobs shooting college events or offering a variety of skills in off site projects. ITV also offers job opportunities for Mass Communications students.

“Currently the club is on a temporary inactive basis due to no faculty,” Cato said. “I will return to full-time teaching next semester.”

When asked where the Mass Communications department could improve, Cato said the number one thing needed is equipment. The studio equipment is outdated, especially the cameras which are 15 years old. Also, according to Cato, the remote class is in need of a van for transporting students and equipment.

The Mass Communications Department at Yuba College offers a wide variety of classes to master media skills, job opportunities, and a chance to make lasting friendships and memories.