Tech Communication Arts Technology Focuses on Future

CREST HAVEN — The Communication Arts Technology classroom at Cape May County Technical School is enough to drop anyone’s jaw. Impressive it may be, but that is not its goal.
Teacher Nancy Driscoll’s focus is to produce trained technicians for broadcasting, writing, publications, digital photography and the entertainment industry.
On Oct. 20, the Board of Education convened an hour prior to its 1 p.m. monthly meeting in the Communication Arts Technology room, there to be hosted for lunch and tour the studio and control room.
Driscoll said that the course’s 12 full-time students hosted the board partly to thank members foe “all the support and additions” they have made possible.
From that studio, similar in most respects to one found in a commercial broadcast set, students produce daily programs as well as those shown daily from 4-8 p.m. on Channel 9 (on Comcast cable systems in lower Cape May County).
Driscoll said cross-content training helps students put to use elements from other classes, including math, English, and history. The program emphasizes a wide-rage of hands-on production skills.
“English teachers bring in the writing component,” she cited as an example.
Communication Arts Technology is a three-year career program in all aspects of television production including field production, studio production, graphics for television, videography, lighting, still digital photography, audio editing, post-production, script development, television delivery systems and multi-media applications.
Production of video segments is emphasized using television field production techniques, studio applications, and post-production design principles in state of the art digital technology.
Students actively participate in the practical skills in television sound production and lighting, to include sound recording and editing, postproduction mixing, lighting design using field and studio instruments, special effects, color correction and additive gels. Graphics applications include basic skills in motion graphics: color, form, typography, design and movement of design elements. Emphasis is on design principles and incorporating multimedia components.
Students work with a variety of software using standard and accepted broadcast script formats. They develop treatments, storyboards and full scripts for a variety of program types for radio, television and film throughout the program and student projects culminate in any combination of community service, closed-circuit transmission or cablecasting as well as local, state and national competitions.
Graduates have continued studies at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Temple University, Purchase University, Stockton College, Rowan University, Frances Cabrini College, Cumberland County College and Atlantic Cape Community College.
CAT students have won a national Gold Medal, two N.J. State Gold Medals, two Silver Medals and five Bronze Medals. Additionally, students have earned local recognition for community service projects dedicated to providing a public service in production efforts.
Graduates have received scholarships and awards from The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Temple University, Boston College, Rowan University, STARS and attendance at the New Jersey Governor’s School.
Students have become communications specialists in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy as well as State Troopers.
Graduates are employed with the Atlantic City industry, NBC Channel 40 in Linwood and the Game Show Channel in New York, as well as multiple freelance opportunities.
A number of graduates have also selected a career track in education, majoring in English.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com