From left to right, Harry Zimmerman '18, Ross Weathersbee '10, Jake Johnson '17, Zack Grella '19, Zihan Chen '17, and James Lopez '19 were part of the Christ School Broadcast Network team for the 2016-17 school year
Lights, Camera, Action, CSBN
Student-driven Christ School Broadcast Network back for 5th year
Zack Grella '19 came to Christ School three years ago with no real interest in broadcasting or filmmaking. Now he has his own YouTube channel.
Zack's sophistication in video production has grown to the point where he can shoot his own footage, edit, and upload it. Success stories such as this are why the Christ School Broadcast Network is more than just an online channel for Greenies sports and other special occasions. "It's really cool. I've never seen anything like it at any other school," Zack said. "When you have opportunities like we do, and access to all the gear, it really develops your passion for it. I'm excited about my third year of doing it."
CSBN will begin that new year with Saturday's live 6 p.m. webstream of the home football game against Christian Academy of Knoxville, Tennessee. CSBN streams all home football and basketball games as they happen through YouTube, and is very much a student-driven media operation. The boys operate the cameras and provide all commentary under the supervision of fourth-year Director Ross Weathersbee '10.
The CSBN YouTube channel is located here.
Weathersbee only has one regret when it comes to CSBN. It was not around during his time as a student. CSBN began doing live streams in 2012.
"It's awesome to give back to the school in this manner, and to provide this experience for people who can't be here in person," Weathersbee said. "We have such a dedicated group of students who put hours and hours into it. Some of them start out as just people we ask for help on the day of an event."
This is a school year full of change for CSBN. The network's first foray into documentaries is the 33-minute "Leave No Doubt" film, based on last spring's state-championship lacrosse season. "Leave No Doubt," gets its worldwide premiere Wednesday at 6 a.m. It was produced by Weathersbee and directed by Associate Athletic Director Bobby Long.
Also new for this school year, CSBN will also be putting out student, faculty, and program video profiles which celebrate the essence of the Christ School community. The first edition of these profiles are currently in production.
