High School Media workshop participants take video and watch other production equipment while a musician plays a guitar on a set for a video

Students learn while creating their own projects at High School Media Workshop

High school students and incoming college students from around the region created music videos, short films and much more while they also experienced life on a college campus at Ohio University's annual High School Media Workshop.

Photos by Ben Siegel | September 3, 2026

Ohio University welcomed high school students and incoming college students from around the region to campus over the summer for the annual High School Media Workshop.

Hosted by the School of Media Arts and Studies in OHIO’s Scripps College of Communication, the workshop gives students the opportunity to learn about different areas of media production, create original works and experience life on a top-rated college campus.

This year’s workshop was very successful, as 43 students participated and created outstanding projects during their time on campus.

“Every year the students come up with their own ideas, and they take the lead with their projects,” said Andie Walla, associate professor of instruction and director of the workshop. “I am always impressed, and this year I was blown away by the work that the students did.”

A camp participant smiles at other campers while also taking video on the College Green. Several other participants are also recording video nearby.

A participant at the workshop looks into the camera while recording video inside a studio

A camp participant holds a camera while waiting to take a photograph on OHIO's College Green

The participants at the workshop had the opportunity to work in different areas, including video production, music production and technology, animation and audio for cinema.

Participants who were studying video production, for example, learned about shooting video, the technical aspects of using cameras, framing shots, basic editing and much, much more.

“Every student gets their hands on a camera,” Walla said. Some students come to the workshop already experienced in video production and editing from work they are doing in their schools or on their own, while others have no experience at all. All of the students gain new skills, though, and they enjoy learning together.

“It’s really fun to see them excited and learn some new skills,” Walla said.

This year’s video production students created music videos during the workshop, and used the Scripps College of Communication’s new LED WALL as part of the project.

OHIO student Ben Maskiell, who is also a local musician, even came to campus for the workshop and played music for the students to record for their videos.

A camp participant wearing a headset records video of a person playing guitar on the sound stage.

Andie Walla talks to two students who are wearing headsets and working on a video project at the camp.

Three camp participants set up cameras while outside on the College Green at Ohio University.

Participants at the workshop also had the opportunity enroll in an advanced video production program where they each made a short film.

“This year, our students used a script that one of our camp counselors wrote,” Walla said. That counselor, Cooper Dawson, is an OHIO student who is studying media arts production.

Students were able to experience working on the set of a short film and being involved in the different parts of the production.

“The students did their own interpretation of the script and then were involved in editing, lighting and everything,” Walla said.

The short film also used the Scripps College LED wall, and filming also took place at the Heritage Hall Coffee Shop (which was empty over the summer).

See videos from the High School Media Workshop

Students in the basic video production program worked with local musician Ben Maskiell to create a music video using multi camera techniques.

This production was created during the workshop under the supervision of Cecil Houser. This was written and directed by Cooper Dawson.

This video features photos and video clips from Behind the Scenes at the 2026 High School Media Workshop.

Students at the High School Media Workshop play musical instruments in a recording studio

A participant at the workshop works on an animation project on a computer screen.

Camp participants who took part in the music production program brought their own instruments with them, while OHIO also provided pianos and other instruments. The student then learned how to correctly use microphones and audio equipment with the musical instruments.

“They also got a lot of time to jam and write music,” Walla said. “Their job was to write original music for the short films.”

The students studying animation, meanwhile, created the opening sequences and closing credits for the films as part of their program.

“The students have fun and get to try out different roles while they are on campus,” Walla said.

And while the students learned a great deal about media production, they also learned much more during their time on campus.

“It’s a great way for students to experience college life,” Walla said. The students stayed in the residence halls, ate in the dining halls and got a taste of what college life is like.

“It’s a very fun, social time, too,” Walla said.

The students also had plenty of time to talk with the camp counselors, who are current OHIO students, about different college majors, student organizations and college life in general.

Six students served as counselors this year, and they each played a key role in making the event a success.

“Our counselors and staff members make all of this possible,” Walla said.

For more information on the workshop, see the High School Media Workshop website.