By Gabbie Corral |Staff Writer|
Professor Rod Metts has high hopes for CSUSB’s future in the television and video production department. There are more students who are minoring in film studies and the department is continuing to grow thanks to dedicated professors like Metts.
He teaches a wide variety of courses including media and culture, the development of motion pictures and introduction to video production.
“The production courses allow students to experience the process of trying to transpose something from one medium to another, like a scripted story board to a visual media,” said Metts when asked to describe one of his classes.
His free spirit and passion for television and video production make his courses more intriguing. Students acknowledge Metts as one of the most comical professors on campus, but also as one of the most respected.
Metts says he likes to give his students the feeling of empowerment when transforming their work into something that tells a great story.
“One of the things I like to stress [to my students] is that even the most advanced technology cannot save a poorly told tale,” said Metts.
Metts tries to ward his students from using a lot of visual trickery in their assignments and focus more on the content of the storyline they are trying to tell.
When talking about how to design the best story, “The angle, the lighting and your choice of color palette all create the medium that communicates the message you are trying to send,” said Metts.
In addition to inspiring students who wish to become successful in the film industry, Metts has been working on developing programs to help them get there. One of his many projects includes a Media Academy that has been in the works for a few years.
“The academy would service students who are interested in film production as a pipeline from the local high schools, through to San Bernardino Valley College and eventually to CSUSB,” said Metts about the program he is helping with.
“The idea is to keep those students who are in the area in a film production program so they can maintain a pathway through high school to possibly a Masters of Fine Arts in video production.”
Metts is also looking forward to guest speaker Howard Rosenman, a prestigious Hollywood producer who is best known for producing “Father of the Bride” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
The event is free and will take place in the Santos Manuel Student Union theater on Thursday, June 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will focus on Rosenman’s experience producing for the big screen. He highly encourages all students to attend.
“I really do love the students here and I want them to be successful,” said Metts. “Many of them get accepted to prestigious graduate schools or get jobs in film and I’m thrilled with the caliber of students that we have here.”
With Metts’ motivation and passion for television and film production, the opportunities for students with the same aspirations are endless.