On Saturday, November 21 students in Conestoga’s Broadcast Television program lent their skills to provide exclusive coverage of the annual K-W Santa Claus parade for Rogers TV. Students in the program have covered the parades in Kitchener and Guelph since 2011, but this marks the first time their coverage has aired on a cable network.
Students used five cameras along the route and produced and directed the broadcast from a remote location. The Conestoga team was also responsible for co-hosting the event alongside Rogers TV professionals. Leading up to the parade, the students worked for weeks preparing graphics, scripts and shot lists.
Second-year Broadcast Television student Samantha Zeffer directed the parade coverage and said she learned first-hand how many details are involved in making a production a success. She felt directing the parade was both an honour and a great way to utilize her skills.
Denise Largaespada, also a second-year Broadcast Television student, co-hosted the parade with Susan Cook-Sheerer of Rogers TV. “It's exciting to have our work broadcast live; it takes our program to another level by integrating us into the community and helping us build hands-on, real-life experiences with an established network,” said Largaespada.
Coverage of the parade was part of the TV Mobile course which gives students an opportunity to experience multi-camera operation in the field and understand and explore the roles of producers, directors and crew members.
“The opportunity to have the students' work air on cable television is invaluable,” said Rachelle Cooper, Broadcast Television and Journalism Broadcast professor and executive producer of the parade. “It is excellent for the students' resumes and portfolios and it shows the community that our Broadcast Television students are producing professional work.”
The students’ coverage of the parade will be repeated several times leading up to the holidays on Rogers TV Cable 20.
Conestoga's two-year Broadcast Television diploma program provides students with the skills to compete in today's video production marketplace and to create broadcast-quality product backed by engaging storytelling. Visit the School of Media & Design for more information.