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Student-Produced Videos Take to the Web

November 20, 2011 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Plenty of SLA students create entertainment for the rest of the student body — from music, to visual art, to video. Three groups of students are working on their own web shows this year — “Leftovers” by Stephen Holts, “The Good Friends” by Anna Roman, Shelby Harcher, Markia Johnson and Elisa Hyder, and “The Friday Afternoon Show with Justin Pullins” by Justin Pullins. Written by them, acted and recorded themselves, here are details about the show from the stars themselves. Interviews by Emilisa Lopez.

Stephen Holts, “Leftovers”What is your web show about?
Leftovers is about a group of individuals who are friends mostly because they don’t really fit into any other group. Throughout the show, they’ll be many cliques that the friends try and fit into, only to realize the only group they really fit into is the one they created.

Where do you get inspired?
Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE The Office, last year that show was my entire life. This whole web-show idea really started off as a joke where I just inserted videos of my friends into The Office’s opening theme. From there, my group of friends (who I had already half volunteered) expressed interest in doing the show weekly and produce it on our own. Then, it was called The High School Office, but after a copyright fiasco with NBC, the show had to be renamed and reformatted.

How do you come up with ideas?
50% of the Leftovers’ material comes from my own group of friends and the hilarious things that happen to us everyday. Some are directly from real life, and some are things that happened that were a little twisted for the show. The other 50% are ideas that come from my co-writer and I.

What is the process like?
Last year the process was interesting. I had never done anything like producing a web-show before, and it was very stressful, plus my lack of experience in combination with my friends and I not trying to be too serious made the process made things a bit rough. Since then I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t, and this year hopefully will be the best year for the show so far.

Who helps?
Last year, the entire show was run by my friends and I, who were sophomores at the time. Abe Musselman and I cowrote and directed the show, and we also acted in it along with Ryan Harris, Sam Lovett-Perkins, Sophie Henninger, Jenn Wright, and Tucker Bartholomew.
This year, the main cast consists of seniors Douglas Wallace, Anthony Torrance, and Yadi Angeles. Also in the main cast is sophomore Imani Rothwell and freshmen Penelope DeOlivera, Ray Albarovhi, and Micah Getz.

Any other details you want to include?
This year will be an amazing year for the show. You can look forward to at least three episodes before school ends for the winter holidays, and hopefully many more when we return for the new year.

Episodes will be posted on Leftovers’ YouTube page, and you can find it by going to http://www.youtube.com/user/LeftoversSLA.

Anna Roman, “The Good Friends”

What is your web show about?
So the web show is going to be like the View with a sprinkle of Ellen DeGeneres. Basically we are going to be talking about different events, within school, out of school, and whatever the students want us to talk about, only putting in our own view on it and such. We want it to shape around all the students so the show itself will be VERY student interactive. So even though we can’t have a gossip show (even though that would be awesome haha) we want to give the students what they want. So we are going to be trying to do that in a very reasonable way. It should be awesome.

Where do you get inspired?
Well I know last year there had been some attempts to make an SLA news show or student friendly show but kind of failed. Since they really only ended up making one or two episodes. So I really like the idea about making a show for SLA where students can really participate in it, look forward to watching it, and even pick up some good information from it. So my team and I really wanted to re-create the shows but find a way to make it successful. So we just started brainstorming about things we would want to see and watch and we are growing from there.

How do you come up with ideas?
Well, surprisingly, all of our ideas don’t come from ourselves. We actually ask around and ask our peers what they would like to see or for us to talk about. Since our first episode is coming out very soon, November 21st, we have been coming up with some ideas for it but actually had the idea to make surveys where the students can vote on the different choices they are given and really put some input into the show. So all of our ideas come from us but also from everyone else.

Who helps?
This whole show is made up of Markia Johnson, Shelby Harcher, Elisa Hyder, and myself.

What is the process like?
The process is split up between all of us equally, each of us have one main thing they worry about for the show. I am in charge of all the camerawork and putting the show together. Shelby gathers all the info we get and decides what is going to be on the show, so she basically organizes the whole shindig. Markia covers the health segment we will have on the show. And Elisa gathers most of the news that is going around in the school. But even though we all have one main thing we worry about, we all help each other out with everything so it works out nice.

Any other details you want to include?
Just that you guys should check us out. Our second promo should be up by 11/15/11, at the llatest, 11/16/11. And our first episode will be out by November 21st. So check us out but also take our surveys! We can’t make an interactive student show if no students will interact. And finally if you want to know what is going on with The Good Friends, or you just have some ideas for the show, you can email anyone of us on our SLA emails, check out our twitter which is @TheGoodFriends, or just come talk to us in person. But I think that is it for now. Thank you for taking interest in our show!

Justin Pullins, “The Friday Afternoon Show”

What is your web show about?
The Friday Afternoon Show with Justin Pullins” is a talk-variety-sketch show. I’ve really tried to be very loose in the genre of show; whatever I think would be cool to include as a segment in the show, I do. However, every episode of the show, I have a guest from our school. Whether it’s a teacher, a sports team coach, or a head of an extra-curricular activity, I talk to them about how they’re contributing to the school community.

Where do you get inspired?
A lot of things inspire me; I am a huge fan of cerebral comedy and comedians. Improv and sketch shows are great sources of inspiration of me, as well as underground and non-mainstream comedians that you can find on YouTube and College Humor websites.

How do you come up with ideas?
Great ideas just come to me through thought and weird conversations with my friends. Often times, things that bother or annoy me becomes the basis of a sketch. For example, in this new school year, I’ve noticed the weird things that our new freshman do, such as standing aimlessly in the hallways, blocking doors in the process. So, in the upcoming November episode, there’s a sketch for a fictional pill called “Fresh-pro-a-phil”, which when you take it, gives you all the qualities of a freshman, which includes the good things, like school spirit and vitality, and the terrible things as well, like nervous behavior and walking around aimlessly. This is one example on how one observation can lead to something great

What is the process like?
The process of making the show is monthly. Sketches and bits of the month’s show are shot throughout the month, whenever I have to time to do so. One of the great things about having full creative control is the ability to work on you own schedule. I never feel pressured to write or film anything; quality of the show and its segments are much more important to me than the quantity.

Who helps?
I have tons of friends who are more than willing to help. Allen Yang has been a great help with being a cameraman and all around go-to guy, Nick Manton, and Terrance Oliveri-Williams just to name a few. There are many people who I can depend upon for all of the production positions. However, I’ve always preferred to have complete, creative control of the show; I write all sketches and jokes, and I find all of the guests. However, I do have some friends who would be willing to help with the creative elements, should I want them to.

Any other details you want to include?
No details, just a shameless plug (I have no standards, whatsoever)… “The Friday Afternoon Show with Justin Pullins” November edition will premiere at the end of the month! Be sure to watch!

My teacher just added me on Facebook! Social Media at SLA

November 20, 2011 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Isabela Supovitz-Aznar

Staff Writer

Science Leadership Academy is very different from most schools in the way that the students and teachers build strong relationships, while maintaining their professionalism. It is acceptable to have a teachers’ phone numbers and call or text them, to add or be added by your teachers on Facebook, and to chat them as long as students keep their conversations professional to a certain degree.

At many schools this kind of contact is frowned upon, or even banned. But at SLA, many students are fine with the practice. “It kind of adds to our school environment that we can talk to our teachers and feel safe talking to them” says Sophomore Jhonas Dunakin. “It makes the school an overall better environment.”

At SLA, teachers want students to feel comfortable, but to still be able to take on the responsibility of doing their own work. As a result, students are given a lot of flexibility about how and when they seek support. When students need help and support to achieve the goals we want to, our teachers are always there to help. Part of the support system is that students can email teachers, or instant message them when they want criticism, advice, or have questions on anything we learned in school.

Although it is optional for teachers to add their students on social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and iChat, it makes the community more cohesive.

Math Teacher Sunil Reddy said his original policy was that he wasn’t going to friend students for the sake of maintaining his image as a teacher. Things like his pictures from college weren’t really that bad, but it just wasn’t stuff he wanted students to see.

Over time, however, he changed his mind. “Eventually I just had so many friend requests from students that I just decided to make a new account, this way I didn’t have to worry about censorship.”

Other teachers choose not to add students until they graduate, while others go ahead and request students. Whatever path they choose in social media, teachers take the time to personalize learning at SLA, which in a way helps students prepare for college and the real world.

Student Plays Performed at Temple

November 20, 2011 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Natasha Ashby

Staff Writer

This year, two juniors, Manna Symone-Middlebrooks and Jenn Wright, had theatrical works showcased in the New Voices: Workshop Productions at the Tomlinson Theater at Temple University.

Both students had winning submissions in different Philadelphia Young Playwrights competitions, which they entered as sophomores through Mr. Block or Ms. Pahomov’s English classes.

The name of Manna’s play is “But, I’ve got my Fingers and These Ashes.” iIt follows the life of a family living in Sri Lanka at a sweat shop, the factory owner and an intern.

The idea came from one of Mr. Block’s assignments last year.

“I watched a set of videos on PBS, which gave me insight on sweatshop and the impact it had on American culture. I chose a topic people could relate to easily, sweatshops, because we all wear clothes, shoes, underwear, so it all relates.

Manna’s play was actually a series of monologues. “I used monologues spoken by different people and put them together to create a story. I wanted the audience to see that there is more than one way to tell a story and that in order to get the whole picture you have to consider all the eyes looking at the story. Also we have to realize that what we do in America has an international impact.”

Jenn Wright’s monologue, titled “It’s Chuck,” told the story of a seventh grade boy trying to re-invent himself on the first day of school.

Her winning piece was actually written at the last minute, when she ditched the draft she had submitted in class. ” I had the other idea for a long time, and this one just kinda flowed out of me. It came very easily to me. The story was all in my head and it just came down to formatting it into a monologue and not a short story.”

Many students wanted their plays/monologues to be relatable so that the audience can truly understand the point of the pieces of work. “I didn’t write it to be a super hilarious monologue,” said Wright. “I did want it to have a sort of light heartedness to it, because a lot of the other pieces were serious and dramatic so I wanted mine to be different.”

Neither of the winners expected to get chosen. ” I was really surprised, I submitted it because it was a piece I enjoyed writing and I just thought if they liked it, they liked it, if they didn’t, they didn’t,” said Wright.

“I like to win, so I claimed the win before I win,” said Symone-Middlebrooks. I did not expect it to get chosen, but I kept telling myself, you got this, as a way of keeping myself in a positive state.”

Both students were pleased with how their work was portrayed on stage by the actors. “I think the interpretation they had was better than what I had in mind since they were the audience at first and then the actors”, said Symone-Middlebrooks. While Jenn just enjoyed working with the actors because she has not spent a lot of time working in theatre.

The work was presented on November 3rd and November 5th, and was performed by temple theatre undergraduate actors, with many SLA students, teachers, and families in attendance.

“I liked that Manna’s was not really a play but a set of monologue put together,” said SLA Junior Allison Patterson. “I liked that Jenn’s had a lot of energy, and it was awkward but a good kind of awkward.”

After being introduced to several plays/monologues last year in Ms. Pahomov’s class, Junior Sam Lovett-Perkins felt that attending this year was a must.

“I liked Jenn’s because it kinda reflected myself, so I could relate to her story and I thought it was creatively written. Manna’s was really deep and it touched on a very serious issue. But it was really special and the writing was amazing! I thought of it as a monologue project but it was actually a bunch of monologues shoved together which made a good story.”

SLA Senior Wins Disney Marathon Trip

November 20, 2011 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Marina Stuart

Staff Writer

Everybody loves Disney, so why on earth would you not want to run 26.2 miles through the Disney parks?

For one lucky runner that dream actually came true. Senior Markia Johnson, who is a member of Students Run Philly Style, has won a spot in the Disney World Marathon in 2012-all expenses paid.

SRPS is an organization in Philadelphia that helps students around the city become long-distance runners. There are about 45 different teams and they are located at different schools and neighborhoods.

This year an organizer who works with students run and CIGNA, the marathon sponsor worked out the following arrangement: One SRPS member will get an all expense paid trip to run in the Disney World Marathon. Students were nominated by their team leaders and had to write an essay explaining why they deserved the opportunity.

Of the 250 students nominated all around Philadelphia, only one was selected, and that was Johnson.

According to SLA organizer Jeremy Spry, “Markia was nominated because she has been with Students run for seven years and is a senior so it was fitting that we nominated her.”

When asked about being nominated, Johnson said she didn’t really think it would happen and didn’t actually ask her parents for permission to enter the contest. However, when she did find out she got the award she immediately called her parents who agreed and were very excited for her.

As a part of her weekend at the marathon, Johnson must also help with the kids Disney World “Fun Run” and be part of a speaker series and the Disney world expo.

For her essay, Johnson “wrote about how this was my last year in students and I finished three marathons, which is current goal. I also wrote about how doing the Disney World Marathon would be a good way to end my students run career.”

Johnson will participate in the Disney World Marathon run on Jan 8th 2012.

SLA Discusses Safety in School, City

November 20, 2011 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Mike Dea

Staff Writer

Every morning students walk into school and pass through the doors, knowing an alarm will sound a dismissal from the school and an immediate suspension…
This is the typical experience of almost every student in the School District of Philadelphia.

Every public school is required to have metal detectors at the entrance of their school buildings. They are put in place to prevent students from carrying knives, guns, or other weapons into the school and possibly hurting their peers or themselves.

Science Leadership Academy is a rare exception to the rule. The school negotiated to have a building without the metal detectors.

In an interview with Engineering and Science Teacher Matthew VanKouwenberg, he explained how difficult it was for SLA to remain without metal detectors. “From the very beginning, TFI (The Franklin Institute) has had to use their social and political capital to prevent the institution of metal detectors.”

However, violence in the city remains an issue, which makes traveling to and from school an issue. For students at SLA, this situation can be a special concern, since many students make long commutes with multiple transfers in many different neighborhoods.

Senior Natalie Sanchez said that though she commutes via SEPTA rarely, when she does “It takes about half an hour to 45 minutes to get to school,” during which time she needs to travel through some of the more unpleasant neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

She isn’t the only student facing this challenge. This story is similar for those of the SLA student body who live in the depths of South Philadelphia, North Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia and other neighborhoods that don’t border Center City.

In the minds of some students, their self-defense is the most important thing, willing to risk the weapon’s discovery and the subsequent suspension, if not expulsion. A recent suspension along these lines lead SLA administration to iniate a school-wide discussion about safety.

Mr. Lehmann addressed the student body Thursday, October 27th, dissuading SLA students from bringing weapons to school, as it would require radical changes in SLA operating policy.

“We understand that neighborhoods are getting more dangerous,” Mr. Lehmann conceded, “but that doesn’t mean you can bring weapons with you to school.”

Mr. Lehmann went on to talk about how, if students continued to bring weapons to school, then there would have to be changes in SLA’s day to day functioning, such as the institution of metal detectors and bag checks.

“I think one of the most important things is I need to feel trusted in a working space, and asking kids the first thing they do everyday is walk through a metal detector sends a powerful message to kids that they aren’t trusted” Lehmann said in an interview with reporter Sam Lovett-Perkins.

However, if repeat incidents such as the one that happened the week of Oct. 16th do occur, then metal detectors will become a part of the SLA daily life.

Mr. VK reinforced this point in his interview, stating that between the “incident a while back and the recent incident, it will probably take only one more before metal detectors are instituted at SLA.”