Behind the lens
At Radford College, the Media Crew plays a vital role in bringing school events to life. From filming to projecting live events, this year’s team of 18 students ensures everything runs smoothly and reflects the energy of the moment.
However, while many students see the finished videos, few understand the work, focus and attention to detail involved in creating them.
We spoke to five students from the Media Crew to explore the benefits they’ve gained, what they love and what they wish others understood about the work they do.
For many students, the Media Crew offers hands-on experience in a field they’re passionate about. Whether filming live events or working with cameras and audio equipment, they’re learning skills that extend beyond Radford.
“I’ve learned a lot about media production, from setting up cameras to using editing software,” says Thomas Liu, who is the Media Crew Captain and a Year 12 student who joined in 2021. “It’s not just about having fun with cameras; it’s about capturing the right moments.”
For others like William Pennington, a Year 8 student, the Media Crew sparked an interest in pursuing a media career. “Before I joined, I just thought it was cool to see behind the scenes,” he says. “Now I definitely see myself pursuing a job in media.”
The experience isn’t just about technical skills. Many students have learned the importance of teamwork and working under pressure. “There is a lot of pressure and stress involved,” says Miles Greig, a Year 10 student. “People expect a professional product, despite us not being professionals, so we really have to work together.”
Despite the fun and rewards, the students point out that the work can be stressful. Jeexin Lu (Year 10), who has been a crew member for about a year, says, “It’s not all fun. You’re constantly trying to capture the right moments and make sure you don’t miss anything, all under pressure and with a lot of people watching.”
Thomas adds, “We really have to focus as we’re often receiving instructions through our earpieces while we’re watching our surroundings and making sure our camera is pointing in the right direction.”
There’s also the pressure of quick delivery. Today, the Media Crew was tasked with capturing Foundation Day and Bishop's Cup events, with a turnaround time of just two hours.
“I wish people understood the amount of work we put in and saw the screens as more than just screens. If they looked up into the booth and saw the people working behind-the-scenes, they’d realise that we do a lot more than just pressing buttons and filming,” says one of the Media Crews' Year 10 students.
They also say that Media Crew Teacher Mr Tim Minehan works incredibly hard to make the co-curricular engaging and takes the time to help each crew member learn their role.
Miles agrees: "I really like the way Mr Minahan explains things."
All the students also wish that their peers better understood the difference between the Media and Tech Crews.
“The way the two crews approach events is very different. We focus on capturing content, while the Tech Crew handles the physical setup,” Thomas explained.
"It’s like the Tech Crew handles the pre-show work and we handle during the show,” Jeexin adds.
Looking ahead, some students, like Thomas and William, are considering media careers. “I'm pretty interested in media in general, especially on the storytelling aspect of it. So, if I did end up going to university for media, arts or communications, I would probably want to try and work towards probably filmmaking and telling stories,” says Thomas.
“I love the adrenaline during a show and working with all the equipment,” William adds.
Regardless of future careers, all students agree that being part of the Media Crew has been a rewarding experience and enjoying learning new skills alongside friends. “It’s one of the best things I’ve done at Radford,” says William.