Parktown Boys’ High School has launched a new multimedia creative studio to add to the school’s cultural offerings and help future-proof learners for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The school officially opened Studio ’91, aptly named after the old boys class which funded the project, on April 7.
According to project director and alumnus of the Class of 1991 Nathan Waywell, the studio will ensure that Parktown Boys will become a school recognised for its drama and other cultural offerings as well as its sport.
Speaking to the Gazette, Waywell explained that the studio would help the school put on a major production each year which would include animation, soundscaping and music production.
“There is a whole side of the entertainment industry to introduce children to on an extra-mural level. We want to create major productions based around Stem – science, technology, engineering and maths,” said Waywell.
“The studio will showcase creativity in a technological environment in the digital world performed live on stage in the analogue world.”
The launch of the studio is part of a number of features arranged in celebration of the school’s centenary next year.
Headmaster Malcolm Williams said the project confirmed how individuals and groups could make a difference.
“This facility places us at the forefront of what is offered in schools generally and provides another avenue for our boys to march to their own ‘creative drum’ – part of the school’s DNA – and achieve excellence,” said Williams.
The cutting edge high-tech facility is equipped with Apple computers and a ‘green screen’ capability, enabling learners to do audio and video recordings, hold interviews, set up podcasts and allow learners to explore areas of animation, sound design, editing and music production.
Captain of Studio ’91 and Grade 11 learner Adrian Draxl said, “I am extremely excited about this studio and want to do 3D sculpting and learn to animate. I have not previously had the facilities to do this, but now I do. This is a hobby that I really want to explore.”
Vice-Captain of the studio Londani Kwinda said, “This is going to massively assist me in my future career and it will help navigate me through multimedia art like animation and digital illustration.”
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