Dartmouth High’s media production program is expanding, thanks to partnerships and support from local businesses.

For the past three years, media production teacher Robert Perrotti has led initiatives to boost the program, since taking over the program in 2016. That has included the purchase of new hardware, a new control room, iPads, and software.  

This year, he’s developing private partnerships to build the program even more, including an internship program.

His class partnered with Andrew Garcia Law to produce a series of ads. That expanded into an internship for one student.

Two additional local businesses have partnered with Perrotti’s class to offer paid internships: MyDanceVideo.com and Home Instead Senior Care.  

Dartmouth High senior Jamie Pedro has been working with Home Instead at its State Road office since early May. Dartmouth Franchise Owner Lauren Langevin gave Pedro the opportunity to lead major video production projects which tied into Home Instead’s local-centric mission statement.

“Pedro really understood the vision that we wanted and what we’re trying to do,” Langevin said.

Pedro led the production of an advertisement focused on the community, with shots taken from locations across the South Coast to illustrate the company’s local focus.

“There’s so many more pieces that goes into creating projects than you think of looking at it,” Pedro said. “You have to talk to whoever you’re making a video with, you have to do a script, storyboard, production, post-production.”

For Pedro, it was intimidating at first being put in charge of the projects, especially being outside of the studio environment with access to fellow students to lean on for advice.

Pedro will stay on with Home Instead until at least the end of the school year. In September, Pedro is heading to Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia to study film and video production. Pedro hopes to work professionally in film editing in the future.

In addition to internships, Perrotti’s classroom is on DonorsChoose, a crowdfunding platform specifically designed for education projects.

“When they donate to our projects, if they leave their information when we produce the next program we’ll give them a shout out on the show,” Perrorti said.

So far, DonorsChoose fundraisers have funded a variety of new equipment, including microphones, camera attachments, lighting, an Apple TV, and other equipment. Several local businesses, including Andrew Garcia Law and Home Instead Senior Care, have appeared as sponsors.

“We can get additional equipment we normally wouldn’t get,” Perrotti said “It’s another avenue for additional equipment we can use to build up the program.”

Those interested in sponsorships can contact Perrotti at robertperrotti@dartmouthschools.org.