El Diamante High School Media Arts Academy
Where Creativity Meets Craft
About the Academy
The Media Arts Academy, established in 2015, provides hands-on, experiential, project based learning opportunities in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector.
Students learn how to:
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effectively tell stories
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design visually interesting characters
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create special effects make-up
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compose beautiful shots
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operate professional camera equipment
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lead a production unit
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and edit using industry standard software.
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Our Team
Meet the Faculty
Spencer Carr
Academy Lead
English 2 - Sophomore
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San Diego State University
JOURNALISM AND MEDIA STUDIES
WITH A MASTERS IN FILM STUDIES
Jason Hopper
Intro to Video - Freshman
Adv. Filmmaking - Junior
Adv. Cinematic Arts - Senior
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Life Pacific University
LEADERSHIP STUDIES WITH A MASTERS IN STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
Tom Fox
English 1 - Freshman
American Literature - Junior
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Fresno Pacific University
BIBLICAL STUDIES WITH A MASTERS IN DIVINITY
Jeff Watamura
Media Arts 1 - Sophomore
Media Arts 2 - Senior
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California State University
ART
Administration
EDHS Principal
Kim Nelson
Nancy Nauman
DeShonda Williams
Academy Courses
Our Program
The Media Arts Academy is part of the Linked Learning Alliance, integrating rigorous academics, career technical education, work-based learning, and comprehensive support services into a cohort learning model.
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Independent evaluation shows that, compared with peers in traditional schools, Linked Learning students of all backgrounds—and especially groups historically marginalized—are more likely to stay in school, graduate on time, and develop skills employers seek for the future.
Dual Enrollment- Fresno City College
GRC-27 Digital Video Production
Intro to Video is the introduction level course in the 3 course Career Technical Education (CTE) Production and Managerial Arts Pathway. As part of this class, students will develop basic camera operation, audio recording, and video editing skills using Adobe Premiere Pro, and other professional media creation software. Students will learn film production techniques, working in groups to produce a variety of media products. All students will be dual enrolled in GRC-27 "Digital Video Production" at Fresno City College and will receive 3 college units upon successful completion.
Freshman
Intro to Video
English 1
This course is a study of various genres of literature including short stories, novels, plays, poetry, and essays. With an eye on the new Common Core guidelines, this class will prepare students for the rigors of college education by helping them become more proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students will learn to read, recognize, and understand various literary styles and techniques found in both fiction and expository texts. Consequently, they will be expected to read for analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of ideas and artistic styles.
Required texts for the course include, but are not limited to:
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myPerspectives Pearson
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A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
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Legend by Marie Lu
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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
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The Odyssey by Homer
Physical Education
Sophomore
Media Arts 1
English 2
This course is a study of various genres of literature including short stories, novels, plays, poetry, and essays. With an eye on the Common Core guidelines, this class will prepare students for the rigors of college education by helping them become more proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students will learn to read, recognize, and understand various literary styles and techniques found in both fiction and expository texts. Consequently, they will be expected to read for analysis, evaluation, and appreciation of ideas and artistic styles.
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Required texts for the course include, but are not limited to:
· myPerspectives Pearson
· The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
· The Tempest by William Shakespeare
· To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
· Oedipus/Antigone by Sophocles
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Students will also be required to read at least one outside book per semester. Guidelines for these projects will be outlined as the assignments are given.
This course is heavily weighted in writing development. The units are designed to consistently build a knowledge base for the students as they write and revise their work. At the completion of the course, students will:
· Produce writing that establishes a precise claim and develops an idea that connects back to the claim
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· Organize writing so that it clearly communicates ideas and evidence
· Use correct MLA format in writing
· Identify relevant evidence from close reads of a text
· Analyze evidence clearly and concisely in writing
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Incorporated into the VUSD curriculum will be content specific to the Linked Learning Academy. Students will view, discuss, analyze, and evaluate select films, treating them as visual texts. The purpose is to expose students to past and modern, classics, and to show that filmmaking is an art form. Students will also be introduced to the foundations of screenwriting to prepare their own scripts and films.
Physical Education
Junior
Adv. Filmmaking
Dual Enrollment- Fresno City College
GRC-23 Video Editing- Adobe Premiere Pro
GRC-51 Storyboarding
Advanced Filmmaking is the concentrator (2nd) level course in the 3 course Career Technical Education (CTE) Production and Managerial Arts Pathway. As part of this class, students will focus on advanced camera technique, advanced video editing (including color correction and grading) using Adobe Premiere Pro, and cinematic lighting. Students will practice film production techniques, working in production units to produce films (PSAs, Advertisements, and Documentaries) for the SlickRock Film Festival, and a capstone short film. All students will be dual enrolled in GRC-23 "Video Editing- Premiere Pro" and GRC-51 "Storyboarding" at Fresno City College and will receive a total of 4 college units upon successful completion. Students will also have the opportunity to to receive Adobe Certification in Premiere Pro.
American Literature
American Literature & Advanced Composition is an integrated English/language arts course emphasizing reading, writing, listening, speaking, and researching for a variety of purposes in a variety of settings. Course content focuses on developing independent and proficient readers and writers through the use of a variety of increasingly complex text, opportunities for academic classroom discourse and the integration of academic vocabulary and Standard English language conventions (syntax and diction).
The course of study surveys a variety of seminal texts from the canon of American literature, exploring ideas and broadening learner perspectives related to issues of American identity and the development of the United States’ literary traditions. The principal genres used as vehicles of study include poetry, novel, short story, drama, speech, memoir, and essay. Instruction focuses on the analysis of texts in even greater depth and through increasingly complex readings, writing, and speaking tasks, building upon the skills students have developed in English 1 and 2. American Literature & Advanced Composition instruction also places particular emphasis on the development of college and career readiness skills - communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. This course is aligned to Common Core State Standards for 11th/12th grade English/Language Arts.
Required texts for the course include, but are not limited to:
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myPerspectives Pearson
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The Crucible by Arthur Miller
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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Students will also read at least two literature circle books of their choosing. Guidelines for these will be outlined as the assignments are given.
Senior
Adv. Cinematic Arts
Dual Enrollment- Fresno City College
GRC-32 Cinematography
Advanced Cinematic Arts is the completer (3rd) level course in the 3 course Career Technical Education (CTE) Production and Managerial Arts Pathway. Completing Advanced Cinematic Arts will meet college and career readiness standards. As part of this class, students will study film aesthetic, sound design, visual effects, prepare a short film pitch, and produce a 15-30 minute senior thesis short film according to industry standards, as well as films (Music Videos and Advertisements) for the SlickRock Film Festival. All students will be dual enrolled in GRC-32 "Cinematography" at Fresno City College and will receive 3 college units upon successful completion.