Though students only see the five minute BHS newscast in our fourth period, behind the scenes of BTV are camera people, directors, and anchors hastily working to put out daily news. Mr. Erle and a collection of students run BTV. The BTV staff is separated into three different groups that rotate different positions every few days, which is why we see different faces on BTV very often.

First, the script is written and uploaded to a teleprompter in the filming room. The director then tells the tech people when and where to place the graphics we see next to the anchors. Anchors come into the filming room and run through their script as camera people shift cameras. Often times, anchors film two or three times until they film a perfect video.

Ernest Law films Connie Nong and Giulia Pugliese for the next episode of BTV

“Sometimes when you mess up you have to redo it until it is perfect, which takes a lot of time,” sophomore Sydney Roncal said. Behind the camera, the staff manage the transitions between the anchors, features, and segments. For example, the staff may add music during the transitions. They also control the lights and sound to make sure that the anchors are seen and heard by the viewers. There is a room behind the filming room where the staff controls the lights and sound.

BTV includes important information about teachers, school events, and current events happening in our community.

“BTV is a great way to find out information and it definitely shouldn’t be ignored,” senior Connie Nong said. Not only does BTV include information, it also features teachers and includes skits. “We have to take time outside of class to film features,” sophomore Francesca Ty said. Ty explains that they try to include features so the student body can relate more to the videos, as watching the anchors report is uneventful. BTV may also include skits occasionally, as counselors will give them ideas on topics such as suicide awareness or breast cancer awareness.

Although the staff and Mr. Erle put their effort into making BTV a great production, the students at BHS are still unaware of the information being shared on BTV. This is due to the fact that teachers are unwilling to show BTV during class.

“It doesn’t feel like there’s a central communications hub. Not having the information out to kids, the teachers have to go to the bulletin and share the information. Kids just don’t know what’s going on.” Mr. Erle said. BTV staffers also agree with this claim.

“It’s only five extra minutes from the teachers to play BTV. And instead of playing it, teachers rely on the PA to get announcements out,” senior Guilia Pugliese said.  BTV is not only watched by the students though, it is also watched by parents.

“My mom watches the episodes!” senior Ernest Law said. This shows the importance of BTV, as it spreads to more audiences. This also highlights why BTV should be shown in class.

“The main goal for BTV is to inform all the students and teachers and staff and we would love it if everyone could listen to it because it involves them,” Law said.