Today In Swampscott Goes Live

The co-producer counted down: "5-4-3-2-1 Bonanza."

Video rolled and so did the team in the second ever production of Today in Swampscott — a new television show produced by students.

Viewers who tune in to the segment shot noon Monday in the SHS-TV studio will see show host Kelsey Lombard interview author and animal rescuer Dyan deNapoli, known as The Penguin Lady.

Viewers won’t see the juggling and coordination behind the scenes.

The Penguin Lady came away impressed.

In the studio: three cameras operators; a camera director; and Kelsey and her guests.

In the control room: sound, graphics, camera people; the co-producer/director; and teacher Tom Reid.

Some colleges do not have that kind of a program, deNapoli said.

She is no stranger to large-scale set-ups. She spearheaded the largest animal rescue in history — 40,000 oil-splashed penguins — and has been interviewed by the BBC, CNN and other major media players.

The Today in Swampscott host said viewers would be surprised to know the presentation was done by high school students.

Co-producer Liam Madigan-Fried said the students are motivated.

When problems arise they respond.  

At Monday’s live taping, control room technicians heard three on-air scratchy sounds.

Maybe it’s a microphone near the host’s hair, someone said.

Audio person Adam Beerman scanned lights on the sound board and confirmed the clip-on microphone near the host’s shoulder was where the sound was coming from.

The control-room director, wired through a headset to camera director Erik Murphy, told him to motion for the host to brush her hair away from the microphone.

The camera director relayed the instructions, getting the host's attention by waving his arms then flicking his fingers through his hair.

The got the message on the fly and the taping continued.

No one panicked. The show went on.

Madigan-Fried said the television production room is a sanctuary. The students trust each other and want to do well. Their minds are flowing.

“It’s the complete opposite of sitting at a desk,” he said.

SHS-TV is broadcast on Comcast Channel 15 in Swampscott and Verizon Channel 40 in Swampscott, Nahant and Lynn. 

Schedule through Oct. 23:

• 7 am, 11 am, 3 pm, 7 pm and 11 pm: "Today in Swampscott" talk show.  SHS student Kelsey Lombard interviews students and adults involved with upcoming events such as the Penguin Lady speaking at First Church Congregational, Taste of Swampscott at SHS, Mix-It Up Day at SHS and a concert with the Dupes and others at Unitarian Universalist Church.
• 7:30 am, 11:30 am, 3:30 pm, 7:30 pm and 11:30 pm: Clarke School 4th Grade Presents "The Code of Conduct."
• 8 am, 12 pm, 4 pm, 8 pm and 12 am: "Navigating the College Admissions Process" - Panel discussion at Swampscott Public Library. 
• 9:30 am, 1:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 9:30 pm and 1:30 am: "SHS Underclass Awards."  

Some shows may be shown less frequently once video of the current School Committee is edited and ready to cablecast.

Any school or community organization who'd like to publicize upcoming events on future episodes of "Today in Swampscott" should email the students' teacher at reid@swampscott.k12.ma.us