Twenty-nine-year-old Anthony Medina, a third-year student at Northern New Mexico College, is living proof that, as the saying goes, sometimes “the third time’s a charm.”
Medina tried his hand at cooking classes and information technology before finally finding his true calling — becoming a film major and subsequently joining the college’s film crew.
College students taking David Lindblom’s television production classes at Northern learn more than theory — they participate in a hands-on program.
“We film all the graduations and as many of the basketball games as we can,” Lindblom said.
The instructor was at the mens college basketball game on Jan. 16 to supervise the film crew, which was streaming the game live that evening.
The students in the Film Digital Media Arts Department (FDMA) learn basic camera, sound, lighting and editing techniques in their TV production classes.
Additionally, they are part of the camera crew working on multi-cam shoots during events such as the city-sponsored annual Christmas Light Parade.
Lindblom said even though the students did not stream the parade live this year, they produced a 3-D version of the event and uploaded it to the Canal Seis (Channel Six) website. Canal Seis is the Department’s official channel, which broadcasts through local cable and live-streams and documents events at the college.
He said although students at first may not know how to work the equipment, a couple of weeks into the program, they start to develop the technical knowledge to succeed.
“It’s very hands-on, and it’s a confidence-boosting experience for students,” he said.
Lindblom said last semester, General Educational Development students (GED) worked on a project filming other GED students in the classroom. He said it was great to see their progress by the end of the semester.
“Having the experience of not having a book in front of you is the best part about it,” Medina said. “You get to do everything hands-on. You get your equipment, you get to experience and become one with the equipment.”
Medina said working on the film crew ensures that students in the program get work experience prior to getting into the workforce.
“You do have to follow orders as in any job,” he said. “You have to follow a criteria, that’s what we do in the Film Department. We have deadlines, we have projects, without that, we can’t get that project done.”
Fourth-year student Mario Delgadillo said he enjoys the creative process of shooting and editing.
“The process of actually putting things together in a new, imaginative way is what I like,” he said. “I enjoy the procedures of filming, of trying to capture the moments, of the activities being played out.”
Medina said people from Denver were not able to watch the Jan. 13 basketball game, but team relatives and supporters got to go online and were able to watch it on the live stream.
“We got good feedback as a TV crew,” he said. “What my coach told us is that we did the best job that had ever been put on. To run a successful stream like we did, we all had to work as one.”
Medina said from a viewer’s standpoint, seeing the game from another state was something they could look forward to.
“You log onto the computer, you automatically see something good,” he said.
He said technology bridges the gap between people and facilitates a sense of belonging.
The Canal Seis crew streamed Northern New Mexico College’s fall graduation ceremony, Dec. 12, 2015. Lindblom said relatives of an international student from Croatia, were able to watch the student graduate online.
Medina acknowledges the part technology plays in both the creative process and in peoples’ lives.
“Without a computer, you kind of have a distance and you feel negative about not being able to attend, or participate in the event,” he said. “So with the streaming that we did for graduation, it made the people that weren’t here feel they were a part of it, even though they were miles away. Also, it gives us something to do as a local channel/film crew for Northern New Mexico College and it gives more power to move further and perfect our craft.”
Some future projects the students would like to see include making a mini infomercial for the college.
“So other people throughout the country can actually see what Northern has to offer,” Medina said.
He said he looks forward to the possibility of lending a hand in the college’s recruitment efforts by lending his expertise in video production.
“Maybe it will help them succeed in what they want to do,” he said. “I’ll be talking about my program, the film and digital arts department, the nursing program, the information technology program. I’ll put all the programs on the table and kind of go into it to the point where they kind of get a good feeling about what Northern has to offer them.”
Medina said if he had any suggestions for prospective students, he would advise them to be true to their passions.
“Know what you want and why you want it,” he said. “Don’t just get into a degree, just so you get that piece of paper. Follow what you want and stick to it.”