Welcome to WHCA’s Production Crew Experience (PCE)
The Production Crew Experience (PCE) is WHCA’s dynamic, hands-on program designed to teach the art of video production, editing, and storytelling. Over 12 weeks, participants engage in meaningful projects that serve the Whitman – Hanson community, gaining real-world experience while building the skills and portfolios to fuel their creative aspirations.
The PCE offers opportunities for participants at different levels of experience and commitment:
- Production Crew Volunteers (PCVs): Perfect for those looking to explore media production as a hobby, give back to their community, or try their hand at video storytelling. PCVs support WHCA’s mission while gaining valuable experience at their own pace.
- Production Crew Interns (PCIs): Paid internships ideal for individuals seeking professional experience. PCIs dive deeper into WHCA’s production process, contributing to impactful projects while learning the technical and creative skills required in the media industry.
- Production Crew Apprentices (PCAs): Select, paid positions for participants with prior experience or advanced skills. PCAs take on leadership roles within WHCA productions, driving projects and collaborating closely with WHCA staff and community partners.
If you’re not yet signed up yet with WHCA
click below to schedule a follow up chat.
What You’ll Learn
Throughout the PCE, you’ll master the essentials of media production:
- Field and Studio Production: Learn to plan, shoot, and manage live and recorded productions.
- Video Editing and Post-Production: Develop your skills with tools like Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Creative Suite.
- Collaborative Storytelling: Work with WHCA’s team and community partners on compelling programming.
- Project Development: From idea to execution, explore every stage of producing original content, including contributions to WHCA’s One-Off Series Programs.
Why Join the Production Crew Experience?
- Learn by Doing: Dive into hands-on projects that challenge and inspire you.
- Serve Your Community: Create content that informs, entertains, and engages the Whitman-Hanson area.
- Build Your Portfolio: Walk away with a professional body of work to kickstart your media career.
Details on WHCA’s Production Crew Experience Projects:
1. "The Basics" - Video Production Foundations
Project Description:
Get started by learning about the resources available to you at WHCA. You will get access to a WHCA username and it’s resources and lear how to download/upload from/to WHCA.
You will also log in into a “14 Day Filmmaker” program WHCA is enrolled with. This program is filled with great tutorials on shooting and editing. You will be referring back to this website often throughout your work with WHCA. You will also install free video editing software DaVinci Resolve on your laptop/computer during this step. Please identify and discuss with your WHCA supervisor what camera you plan to work with.
2. Photo/Video Shot Composition
Project Description:
Develop your creative eye by compiling a list of shots that fall into a theme of your choice. Properly frame and capture shots throughout the community. The shots will be critiqued and the best shots may be featured on WHCA’s channel, website, or other media/platforms! Your WHCA supervisor can help you pick a theme if you need suggestions.
3. Event Coverage
Project Description:
Develop your skills in event production by taking charge of the entire process—from pre-production planning to post-event editing. In this project, you’ll research and prepare for an upcoming event, build an equipment kit tailored to capturing the action, and execute a seamless setup on-site. During the event, you’ll focus on capturing compelling footage, including interviews and B-roll that enhance the story. Post-production involves editing your work into a polished final product that informs, entertains, and engages. Gain real-world experience in producing professional event coverage for the Whitman-Hanson community!
4. Video Continuity For Editing
Project Description:
Gain hands-on experience in both video continuity and digital video editing, combining essential skills to produce polished and engaging video content. You’ll start by learning the importance of continuity through filming a process of your choice from start to finish. For example, document the steps of making coffee, ensuring each shot flows seamlessly without jump cuts or inconsistencies. Once you’ve captured your footage, you’ll use DaVinci Resolve or Apple’s Final Cut Pro to edit your project, assembling your clips into a cohesive and visually compelling sequence. Add music and graphics to elevate your final presentation. Not only will you build technical proficiency, but you’ll also create content that informs, engages, and entertains the Whitman-Hanson community.
5. Promotional Video (Shorts)
Project Description:
In this project, you’ll create a short, engaging promotional video aimed at attracting new users and viewers to WHCA.tv. Your video will exemplify WHCA’s mission:
“To provide content and opportunities which inform, enlighten, and entertain members of the Whitman-Hanson community through access to modern technology, equipment, facilities, and training.”
You’ll showcase WHCA’s resources, services, and community impact through dynamic visuals, strong messaging, and a compelling call-to-action. Highlight the value WHCA brings to the community—whether through educational programs, community partnerships, or unique opportunities for local residents to share their stories. Your final product will not only raise awareness of WHCA.tv but also inspire others to explore the opportunities we offer.
6. Web Design & Portfolio Project
Project Description:
This project introduces you to the fundamentals of web design, focusing on creating and modifying content using WordPress. You’ll start by contributing to WHCA’s website, gaining hands-on experience with real-world tasks. Once comfortable with WordPress, you’ll move on to develop your own portfolio website, showcasing the work you’ve done throughout your WHCA production crew experience and beyond. Additionally, you will gain exposure to the newsletter tool MailChimp by assisting in the adaptation and creation of content for distribution in WHCA’s newsletter.
7. Field Production
Project Description:
In this project, you’ll develop and hone your storytelling skills. You’ll choose a topic of interest that can be safely filmed, create thoughtful interview questions, and connect with an expert on the subject for an in-person or virtual interview. To support the interview, you’ll also capture relevant B-roll footage that visually complements the topic. This project emphasizes crafting a compelling narrative through thoughtful planning, research, and filming, laying the groundwork for the editing phase in a subsequent project.
8. Promotional Graphic Design
Project Description:
WHCA is a vital hub for promoting community events and sharing important information with residents of Whitman and Hanson. In this project, you will play a key role in designing visually compelling graphics to support WHCA’s Community Bulletin Board and social media platforms. These bulletins and posts help WHCA and the individuals and organizations we serve share announcements, promote events, and connect with the community effectively.
You will use sites like Canva.com to create professional designs that align with WHCA’s mission:
“To provide content and opportunities which inform, enlighten, and entertain members of the Whitman-Hanson community through access to modern technology, equipment, facilities, and training.”
This project emphasizes the importance of strong visuals in effective community outreach, enabling you to make a meaningful impact while honing your graphic design skills.
9. Live Production Switching
Project Description:
Live video production is at the heart of WHCA’s mission to provide high-quality, real-time coverage of events that matter to the Whitman-Hanson community. With a fully equipped production studio, control room, and several permanent remote live-sites, mastering live video switching is a crucial skill for WHCA crew members.
In this project, you will learn to operate the TriCaster video switcher, gaining hands-on experience in live production workflows and best practices. This skill set will prepare you to manage dynamic live productions, from municipal meetings to studio shoots, ensuring seamless video transitions and professional-quality broadcasts.
10. Assignment Editing
Project Description:
Video editing often begins with raw, imperfect media that needs to be shaped into a polished final product. As a professional editor, you’ll frequently encounter content you didn’t create, with missing elements or unexpected challenges. At WHCA, one of our most frequent editing tasks involves processing Community Submitted Content, ensuring it meets our standards for cable broadcast and online distribution.
This project focuses on honing your editing skills by working with real-world submissions, such as municipal meetings recorded on portable devices. You’ll learn how to optimize media assets for playback, enhance audio quality, and use WHCA’s programming templates to create a polished final product that aligns with our best practices.
11. Interview Production (long form)
Project Description:
Community media thrives on telling authentic stories through engaging conversations with real people. Unlike working with professional actors, this project emphasizes collaborating with everyday individuals—members of the Whitman-Hanson community who bring their unique experiences and expertise to the table. Through a “talk show” style interview, you’ll develop skills in crafting compelling conversations and capturing the authenticity of your subject on camera.
The goal is to create an interview segment lasting 10–30 minutes that feels natural, informative, and visually polished. Beyond asking the right questions, you’ll learn how to make your subject comfortable on camera, manage their interaction with the lens, and maintain a balanced focus between videography and conversational flow.
12. Documentary-Style Video Production
Project Description:
In this project we will create an entire episode from WHCA’s “One Off Series Program” menu. WHCA’s “One-Off Series Programs” are series-programs where each episode can be produced independently of any other pre-existing or following episodes. While all of the episodes fall under one “series brand”, each individual episode is unique, with the exact subject matter and execution being up to that episode’s producer.
Bonus: Interview Practice & Progress Review
Project Description:
As you near the end of your production crew experience at WHCA, we will conduct a formal Exit Interview. This interview serves both as a reflective discussion on your WHCA production crew experience experience and as a career development opportunity. During this time, you will have the chance to showcase your work, prepare for future job applications, and discuss potential next steps within WHCA.
