Reality Star Talks Shop With Drury Television Class

By Andy McKeever
iBerkshires Staff
05:46PM / Sunday, February 12, 2012

Print | Email |

Important

0

Interesting

0

Funny

0

Awesome

4

Infuriating

0

Ridiculous

0

Student Christy Haley said she spent weeks preparing for the interview but was still nervous as taping began.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Not every high school student gets to interview a television star but on Wednesday, Christy Haley did just that.

The Drury High School senior talked with Jessica Gahring, shop manager from TLC's reality show "NY Ink," in the high school's newly revitalized television studio.

"I'm really impressed with the studio. I think this is phenomenal," Gahring said after chatting on camera with Haley for nearly a half hour. "I never had anything like it."

The Drury TV station was sitting dormant just two years ago when teacher Jamie Choquette decided to get it back up and running. With help from Northern Berkshire Community Television, the school administration and grant funding, Choquette resurrected the  program. He started with taking over the morning announcements with six to seven minute news clips and is now expanding its programming.

"It's just an evolving thing and it's unbelievable," Choquette said. "Last year was the start of it all. There was unbelievable support from the administration."

This year, the students began doing longer shows and he asked them to reach outside the school for interviews. Haley recently ran into Gahring at a local doctor's office and asked her to come on her show. Gahring's daughter goes to a local elementary school and she swings through the Berkshires often.

Haley was emailing with Gahring to set up a time, writing the script, designing the graphics and picking her production crew for the weeks leading up to the interview. With all that preparation though, Haley said she was still nervous when the camera began to roll.

"A lot of plannng went into this," Haley said.

Gahring showed up early on Wednesday to chat and hang out with the class. When it was it time for the interview, she fielded questions that ranged from personal to fun. The conversation touched on a lot of high school issues, with Gahring taking stands against bullying, cliques and being judgmental. She talked about future goals that includes supporting programs like Drury's.

Gahring showed up early and stayed late talking with the students.

Gahring said eventually she would like to use her connections to start a non-profit organization that supports high school art programs.

"There are not enough people who want to give to the arts," Gahring said. "I'd like to use my connections to do something for them."

She stayed after the interview to give pointers, sign autographs and talk with the class. She even went back on camera with student Andre Martell, this time wearing a Drury High School T-shirt the students gave her, to film a clip for the morning announcements.

Martell, the anchor for one of the three classes that makes the announcements, said the film program has taught him a lot. Martell said he would love to stay in media — either film or music.

"I think it's a very good program," Martell said after recording the short clip.

The students do everything from filming to editing to writing the scripts and Choquette said they are loving the program. He said he always finds students coming in to work on their projects outside of the scheduled class time.

"These are kids that seem like they can't get away from here," Choquette said. "The reaction has been unbelievable."

The interview will be played throughout the school and students will be able to watch it during their free periods, Choquette said. And Gahring will not be the only one to see the inside of Drury's studio. Choquette said the students are setting up other interviews with notable personalities.

With students taking the active role, Choquette said it makes the teaching easy and he wants to keep the program growing. His on a constant search for grant funding to improve the equipment and eventually hopes to start airing the shows on NBCTV.

Gahring is a big supporter of education and arts programming and agreed without hesitation to help the students and the program.

"I love inquisitive minds," she said. "In high school and below there are so many pressures ... They need support."

• Pittsfield Council Passes Charter Review Commission Plan
• Memorial Day Events 2012
• North Adams Council Differs On Budget Process
• Olver Crashes Car On Way To Berkshire Community College
• Stamford Students Take Trip To Celebrate Positive Behavior