2026-2027 -- Carden Conejo Middle School - Flipbook - Page 50
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StoryLab: Writing for Screen, Sound & Stage
This dynamic elective invites students to explore the art of storytelling across multiple platforms,
including podcasting, screenwriting, digital media, and performance. Students learn how to develop
compelling ideas, write scripts, structure narratives, and bring their stories to life through voice, sound,
and visual storytelling. Emphasizing creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, the
course builds confidence in self-expression while introducing students to modern media tools and
production techniques. Whether crafting a podcast episode, writing a short screenplay, or producing
original content, students discover the power of their voice and the impact of meaningful storytelling.
As a culminating experience, students will produce a podcast episode or short-form narrative script.
The Business of Film & TV Production
This course introduces students to the creative and commercial sides of the film industry, revealing
how ideas move from concept to screen. Students explore the fundamentals of film production
including development, budgeting, marketing, distribution, and project management, while learning
how creative vision and business strategy work together. Through case studies, team projects, and
simulated production experiences, students take on industry roles such as producer, director,
marketing executive, and production manager. They develop skills in leadership, collaboration, financial
literacy, negotiation, and strategic planning. By the end of the course, students will design and pitch
their own film project, complete with a production plan, budget, and promotional strategy — gaining a
real-world understanding of how storytelling becomes a successful enterprise. Learning extends
beyond the classroom through real-world industry exposure. Students will have opportunities to
engage with visiting television and film executives, producers, and creative professionals who share
firsthand insight into careers in entertainment and media. The course will include a behind-the-scenes
visit to a working television production studio, where students observe how professional teams
collaborate to bring content from script to screen.
Woodworking, Design, & Stage Craft
This immersive, hands-on course introduces students to both the creative and technical sides of
theatrical production. Students explore the principles of stage design by conceptualizing sets, props,
and performance spaces that support storytelling, while also developing stagecraft skills through
woodworking, construction, tool use, and safe production practices. Through collaborative projects,
students move from idea to execution — sketching designs, building physical structures, creating
functional stage elements, and managing behind-the-scenes production. The course builds problemsolving ability, spatial reasoning, teamwork, and craftsmanship, while offering students the powerful
experience of seeing their ideas transformed into real, working environments. By uniting imagination
with technical skill, students learn how creative vision becomes reality.
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