This fall, MTN is changing the way it does its introductory field production class. In the past, the Beginning Video Production - Digital class has been a five session production workshop with classes on camera, and editing, plus time to work with a group to make a short video. The five sessions were all held within two and a half weeks. Some of the people who took the class wanted more time to learn the equipment, some thought that class was too long. Other people had trouble working all the sessions into their busy schedules. To try to make the classes work better for more people, MTN is breaking the one class up into four separate classes. You can also take them all together just like before. The first class is called “Pre-Production.” It will include information on how media communicates its messages to us, and also explain how to plan your production to get the most out of the time you spend on it. It also includes a tutorial on the MTN dub rack. The cost of this class is $10. The next class is the “Basic Camera” class. In one night we will cover the Canon basic cameras and microphones. This single class is all you need to take to get MTN's basic camera certification. The cost of this class is $45. For the third class you get to choose. If you want to work with modern nonlinear editing techniques you will want to take the “Basic Edit Digital” class. This class is a one night introduction to MTN's Casablanca systems. Your other option is to take the “Basic Edit Cuts” class, which introduces you to the DV Cuts system to do longer pieces with simpler editing. The cost of either of these classes is $60. A fourth class is free if you have taken the Pre-production, “Beginning Camera,” and one of the beginning edit classes. This is the “Production Workshop,” a three session class. Each session will include additional information in the areas of audio, lighting and editing. You will work closely with an instructor and other students to make a short video that will be shown on the MTN channels. You can take all the classes individually over a long period of time, or register for a Combo, a set of all classes with a single instructor (this option includes the Basic Edit Digital class). The cost of a Combo is $100, a savings of $15 over individual classes. Beth Peloff will join John Akre in teaching these classes. Look for the upcoming fall class schedule to find the dates and times, or visit the MTN web site at www.mtn.org. -John Akre