Thursday, March 27, 2025
Students in Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting, a specialty program in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, stepped into the roles of professional filmmakers on Jan. 31, transforming an old locker room at Wellington C. Mepham High School into a Hollywood-style sound stage.
The project, led by students in the BCII and Foundations of Broadcasting classes, gave participants hands-on experience in set design, cinematography, and directing.
Here’s what to know about the production and the program behind it.
1. Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting prepares students for media careers
BMB offers students from Mepham, Kennedy, and Calhoun high schools the opportunity to develop skills in video production, journalism, and multimedia storytelling.
Housed at Mepham High School, the program provides hands-on experience in filming, editing, and producing content that is shared with the school community and beyond. Students create news segments, documentaries, and original films while using professional-grade equipment. The program mimics real-world media production, preparing students for careers in broadcasting, film, and communications.
2. Students took on professional film roles in a realistic production setting
For this project, students stepped into industry roles such as script supervisor, best boy, and key grip, working collaboratively to bring their short film to life.
Allison Redican, a broadcasting student who served as the project’s art director, focused on transforming the space with props and lighting. “It was really cool to see how props and lights can completely change the look and feel of a place,” she said.
Claire Arnoff, the director of photography, ensured that every shot was framed and lit to match the film’s vision. “It was really hard to place the cameras and lights just right to create the look, but in the end, it came off like a real movie set,” Arnoff explained.
Sophomore Paige Anderson took on the role of first assistant director, helping to maintain the professional atmosphere on set. “Everyone knows you call out ‘quiet on the set’ and ‘action,’ but there are a lot of other parts to the process that made it feel like a professional setting,” she recalled.
3. The project will launch at Valentine’s Day Film Festival
The scene filmed by BCII students takes place at a construction site where a “strange discovery is made.” This short film will serve as the foundation for upcoming student-produced Valentine’s Day mystery films, created by BMB’s BCIII and BCIV classes. These films will premiere on the BMB YouTube channel on Tuesday, Feb. 25, as part of the program’s annual Valentine’s Day Film Festival, showcasing the students’ storytelling and production talents.
By combining hands-on learning with real-world experience, Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting continues to offer students a unique opportunity to explore the world of media production and prepare for future careers in the industry.
