#SEVACON

#SEVACON began in 2020 as a free, online convention for media students, families, and teachers in the Sacramento area.

Connect with fellow student producers and industry experts to learn about media production through Zoom events. Programs range from creating home studios, production pitch-fests, virtual field trips, video challenges, and more! Students have even more opportunities to advance their media production expertise wherever they are. Look for unique registration information for each new event and get resources from past events below.

#SEVACON: Actor Symera Jackson – Watch Now

#SEVACON met teen actor Symera Jackson. Symera has been working in television and commercials since the age of 9. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she can be seen in Disney’s Sydney to the Max, ABC’s Alex, Inc., as well as starring as a series regular playing Jackie Murphy in the hit Netflix series, TEAM Kaylie. We learned what it takes to be a full time high school student and actor.

Program Highlights
Full Time High School Student & Actor
Auditioning Process with Confidence & Perseverance
How to Prepare for a Show
Typical Day of Shooting
Advice When on Set
Promoting a Show
Inspiring Advice for Other Students
Using Your Voice for Good
Q&A

#SEVACON: Sports Reporting – Watch Now

#SEVACON had a sports takeover! Fox40’s Scott Moak and KCRA3’s Michelle Dapper joined us to talk sports broadcasting. Professional mentors broke down what it takes to make a compelling sports report.

Program
Welcome
Meet Our Presenters: Michelle Dapper & Scott Moak
Reporter Perspective
Game Highlights Reporting
Sports Features/Stories
Team Perspective
Working with Broadcasters
Story Development
Leveraging Social Media
Review Student Stories from Oct. 17 Sac Republic Game
Announce top video for Oct. 30 Sac Republic Game
Q&A

#SEVACON: Hollywood Stunts

If you’ve seen an action movie in the past decade, you’ve probably seen Todd Schneider at work. Todd is a Stuntman, Stunt Coordinator and 2nd Unit Director working on some of the largest movies and television shows in Hollywood — For All Mankind, Medal of Honor, Captain Marvel, Baby Driver, Captain America: Civil War and Iron Man 3. #SEVACON enjoyed a conversation with Todd as he shared glimpses into his life performing and coordinating stunts in films.

Program
Meet Our Presenter
Working in Film
Past Projects
Practical vs CG
Types of Stunts
Day in the Life
Q&A

#SEVACON: SEVA 2022 Contest Kickoff

#SEVACON answered your questions about this year’s SEVA 2022 Contest! The event helped you in your production process no matter what stage you’re in. We covered categories, the entry form, releases, copyright rules, music resources, the captioning process and more! This was an interactive opportunity to make sure everyone is SEVA ready!

Program
Welcome / Introductions
Overview of the SEVA Contest
Share Your Idea
Entry Form
Releases
Copyright Rules
Music Resources
Captioning Process
Award Night
Event Conclusion

#SEVACON: SEVA Contest Countdown Party

#SEVACON welcomed you to ask your last minute questions leading up to the entry deadline on Friday, February 11. Participants also learned about the exciting opportunities coming up as SEVA season continues after the deadline.

#SEVACON: The Perfect Interview – Watch Now

#SEVACON connected with students and teachers to share tips and tricks for the perfect interview. SECC’s own production team was joined by SEVA Teacher and former reporter Melissa May to go over all the technical aspects of filming an interview as well as the skills needed to ask the right questions and get the right answers. Participants also learned how to film their own SEVA Producer Interview!

#SEVACON 2020 – 2021

Creating a Home Studio
Story Pitch-Fest
Virtual Studio Tour
Content Creation
Building a Story
Post-Production
Camera Presence
Virtual Tour of Cal OES
SEVA 2021 Kickoff
Bob Peterson of Pixar
Deadline Countdown Party
Live with CA State Parks

#SEVACON: Creating a Home Studio
Watch #SEVACON: Home Studio with Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Watch #SEVACON: Home Studio with Vanessa Gomez

The kick-off event for #SEVACON was all about producing from home. Participants learned about simple equipment you can use to create a great video regardless of where you are. They also went behind-the-scenes with SEVA producers as well as KCRA Morning News anchor Deirdre Fitzpatrick and Dakota News Now morning anchor Vanessa Gomez to learn about their home studio setup.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: Recording Zoom Interviews with Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Highlight: Reporting from Home with Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Highlight: Coming up with Story Ideas with Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Highlight: Building a Package from Home with Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Highlight: Selecting a Background with Deirdre Fitzpatrick

#SEVACON: Story Pitch-Fest
Watch: Pitch-Fest with Veronica Serrano Padilla
Watch: Pitch-Fest with Jessica Mathies

This event put great story ideas in the spotlight, and students brought their SEVA video project ideas to share! Participants learned about the process of pitching video ideas to others from Veronica Serrano-Padilla, KCRA Programming Director and Jessica Mathies, Executive Producer of Program Development for Hearst Television. The #SEVACON Virtual “Pitch-Fest” allowed students from miles away to share their story ideas with fellow students and hear feedback from industry professionals and their peers. Download the “Dev Template” from this session.

#SEVACON: Virtual Studio Tour: Dakota News Now with SEVA’s own Vanessa Gomez
Watch: Dakota News Now Studio Tour with Vanessa Gomez

#SEVACON traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to go behind the scenes at ABC/NBC Dakota News Now with SEVA’s own Vanessa Gomez. Vanessa got her start in news by anchoring the Carnegie Connection at Andrew Carnegie Middle School. She went on to graduate from Casa Roble High School and USC. She gave us a behind-the-scenes peek at her life as a morning news anchor, and let us know how she turned her early passion for media in to a successful career.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: The Control Room with Vanessa Gomez
Highlight: Studio Tour with Vanessa Gomez
Highlight: Reporting with Vanessa Gomez
Highlight: Producing with Vanessa Gomez
Highlight: Photographers with Vanessa Gomez

#SEVACON: Becoming a Better Content Creator with Kenneth Johnston
Watch: Becoming a Better Content Creator with Kenneth Johnston

#SEVACON welcomed Kenneth “KJ” Johnston, CEO of KJ2 Productions to give his pro tips on how to create content that is gripping and inspiring. As a writer and director, KJ and his team have produced film and tv projects in over sixty-three countries on six continents. KJ went through what it takes to tell a story in just 30 seconds and producing content during COVID. Get to the Daily Production Report Template from this session.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: Storyboarding with Kevin Molohan
Highlight: Production Materials with Kevin Molohan
Highlight: Editing a PSA with Eric Whitehead

#SEVACON: Building a News Story
Watch: Building a News Story with Olivia DeGennaro

#SEVACON shined a spotlight another SEVA success story from Andrew Carnegie Middle School’s media program. Olivia DeGennaro virtually joined students to give her experiences and tips as a current KTXL Fox40 reporter.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: Getting an Emotional Response with Olivia DeGennaro
Highlight: Digital Footprint with Olivia DeGennaro
Highlight: Appearing on Camera with Olivia DeGennaro
Highlight: Making a Package with Olivia DeGennaro
Highlight: Going Live with Olivia DeGennaro

#SEVACON: Post-Production with PBS KVIE
Watch: Post-Production with PBS KVIE

Editing combines all of the production elements into a final presentation. The post production team at PBS KVIE visited SEVACON to share their workflow, tips and techniques for a successful edit. Participants looked inside the edit of an actual show to see what it takes to go from script to your television.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: Workflow of an Editor with Nate Bindewald
Highlight: Designing Motion Graphics with Jamie Judd
Highlight: Characteristics of a Working Editor with Ken Nicholson

#SEVACON: Camera Presence with Scott Moak
Watch: Camera Presence with Scott Moak

#SEVACON connected with one of the most well-known voices in the Sacramento area. Sacramento Kings public address announcer, Sacramento Republic FC VP, and Fox40 host Scott Moak shared tips and tricks for developing your camera presence and how you can use your voice to share powerful stories in our community.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: Demographics with Scott Moak
Highlight: On Camera Presence with Scott Moak
Highlight: Becoming an Announcer with Scott Moak

#SEVACON: Virtual Tour of Cal OES
Watch: CalOES with Bryan May

#SEVACON went behind the scenes with Bryan May at Cal OES (Governor’s Office of Emergency Services). From single camera field reports to weekly studio news conferences, Bryan and his team share vital information with the people of California to help plan for and mitigate the impacts of emergencies.

#SEVACON: SEVA 2021 Contest Kickoff
Watch: SEVA 2021 Contest Kickoff

#SEVACON answered your questions about this year’s SEVA 2021 Contest! The event provided an overview of the categories, entry form, releases, copyright rules, music resources, the captioning process and how to shoot your official SEVA 2021 Producer interview. This was an interactive opportunity to make sure everyone is SEVA ready!

#SEVACON: Bob Peterson of Pixar
Watch: Bob Peterson of Pixar

#SEVACON connected with Bob Peterson to learn about his journey and experiences as an animator, screenwriter, director, voice actor and member of Pixar’s Senior Creative Team. Some of Bob’s credits include: writer and co-director of UP, voice actor (Roz in Monsters Inc.), co-writer on Finding Nemo, co-writer on Cars 3 and writer/director of Forky Asks a Question. Bob also shared how he embeds life experiences into the stories he creates.

2021 SEVA poster

#SEVACON 2021: Official Deadline Countdown Party

#SEVACON welcomed students to ask their last minute questions the day before the SEVA 2021 entry deadline. Students learned about the exciting opportunities they can be part of as SEVA season continues after the deadline, including student interviews, the virtual red carpet and Award Night.

#SEVACON: Live Field Trip with CA State Parks
Watch: Live Field Trip with CA State Parks

#SEVACON connected with the PORTS project to visit the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve with interpreter Daniel Williford to experience the parks’ marine life, geological formations, endangered archeological sites live, through technology. Check out the PORTS Digital Content Library.

Watch the Highlights:
Highlight: Tech of the CA PORTS Project