Brentwood Broadcast: Telling Stories through Film and Media

21 October 2024William L, Ellis ‘26

Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays are unique at Brentwood. These afternoons, students step away from academics and athletics to focus on the arts, one of the three pillars of Brentwood’s tripartite program to hone their creative abilities. This approach encourages students to develop as well-rounded individuals and find their success not just in the classroom, and sports field, but in the arts studios as well.

On arts days, students partake in a minimum of two courses, each lasting an hour, with the option of taking up to four. While some may expect arts at Brentwood to be traditional like drawing and painting, this is far from the truth. In fact, with over 30 options to choose from, all which run the length of the school year, we are provided with unique selections, ranging from Debate and Public Speaking, to Media Arts, Ceramics, Strings, Choir, Musical, Theatre Production, Yearbook Photojournalism, Photography, Painting, to Film. One standout that seems to be catching the eyes of many is Brentwood Broadcast.

In Brentwood Broadcast, students are stepping into the spotlight – both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Through video, podcasting, and live streaming, we form a dynamic broadcast team documenting the many activities that take place in the Brentwood community. Tommy R, Ellis ‘26, a returning Brentwood Broadcast student, shared his love for the course, feeling like it prepares him for life beyond Brentwood: “I love Brentwood Broadcast so much. It has helped me become much more comfortable with the film industry, learn how to use state-of-the-art technology, which will help me in my intended future career path” he says. Aspiring to be a broadcaster, Tommy appreciates the hands-on experience the course provides.

Students are able to experience several different roles, including but not limited to camera operator, editor, live stream producer, host, reporter, and announcer. We work with peers and the instructor to schedule coverage of events throughout the school year. With school-provided video equipment and tools like Adobe Premiere Pro for editing, we are provided with all the resources we need to find success in the world of filmmaking. Recently, students created individual projects of their choice, such as a day-in-the-life episode of a friend to a documentary of their personal life, and we are now planning group projects where we are given the choice of producing a “get to know you” video, a music video, or a documentary of our choice.

None of this would be possible without the instructor, Ms Justine Backlund. After earning her B.F.A. at Simon Fraser University – where she received the Praxis Centre for Screenwriting Award for her final project – she completed a Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford. Besides teaching Brentwood Broadcast, she also teaches English and enjoys cold-water swimming. “I am consistently impressed by the ability of Brentwood students to transform into film directors, cinematographers, and editors,” she explains. “It takes such a heightened level of maturity and awareness to manage a film set, and it is a pleasure to see small sparks of inspiration become projects that capture moments of athletic joy and human empathy” she adds. Known for her understanding, nurturing approach as well as her kind personality, Ms Backlund makes learning enjoyable, interesting, and exciting. Jaxen L, Ellis ‘26, reflects on his learning experience with Ms Backlund in Brentwood Broadcast for the second time: “She is such a kind teacher. Although we boys might be a little rowdy at times, she somehow makes me feel calm and ready to learn” he notes. “Combining creativity with knowledge is what I enjoy the most, and I’m so happy I chose the course. Within a month of classes with her, I already feel myself becoming a mini film director” he continues.

A huge thank you goes to Ms Backlund and the Arts team for providing this course, opening doors for students to explore the world of filmmaking regardless of experience levels. The hard work Ms Backlund puts into every class to ensure we learn and understand the material never goes unnoticed, and it is courses like this that changed my opinion on arts. Before Brentwood, I saw arts as uneventful, but this class has broadened my horizons and shown me how they spark creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Whether or not someone has aspirations of becoming a film director, this course provides them with fundamental skills applicable to jobs, from marketing, broadcasting, or even news reporting. Even after just one month, I’ve enjoyed every class, opening my eyes to new technology and experiences, and look forward to continuing my growth as a filmmaker under Ms Backlund’s guidance.

William L, Ellis ‘26

Where Students Choose To Be