JULY 22-25, 2025
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA
Empower Your Film Production Classroom
The STN Summer Film Adviser Workshop offers STN educators an immersive professional development experience designed for both new and established film programs, hosted by STN film teachers Josh Bishop and Ryanne Meschkat. Through expert-led sessions on essential film topics, discussions on best teaching practices, contest and convention preparation, and exclusive tours of local filmmaking facilities, participants will gain valuable insights and resources to inspire and support their students in film production. Open to teachers of all experience levels—whether building a new program or enhancing an existing one—this workshop also provides rich networking opportunities for lasting professional connections.
LOCATIONS
John Burroughs High School
1920 W Clark Ave.
Burbank, CA 91506
HOTEL OPTIONS
Residence Inn Burbank Downtown - 321 S Ikea Way
Hotel Burbank - 150 E. Angeleno Ave.
Hilton Garden Inn Burbank - 401 S. San Fernando Blvd.
Springhill Suites Burbank Downtown - 549 South San Fernando Blvd.
LOCAL AIRPORTS
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) - 2.9 miles from JBHS
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - 28.9 miles from JBHS
HOSTED BY VETERAN STN TEACHERS
Josh Bishop is a Massachusetts native now living in sunny Southern California, Josh is now in his 7th year teaching students at Clark Magnet High School in the areas of Broadcast and Digital Cinema Production. His program, Panther Studios, has achieved great success in his short time at the helm, winning 1st place in several national competitions. Many of his students have continued on to pursue a career in Broadcast and film production. A firm believer in the power of building community, Josh works hard to instill a sense of belonging in all of the students in his program. "It Takes an Army" is a battle call for his students to step up and support each other when times get tough. Before teaching, Josh worked in the industry producing content for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, the A&E Network, and WCVB-TV News in Boston. He brings with him experience in all areas of production, emphasizing the importance screenwriting and post have in the final product. He looks forward to contributing to the continued success of STN, and welcoming new broadcasting and film programs to the STN Family.
JOSH BISHOP
Ryanne Meschkat is a Burbank, CA native now in her 10th year teaching both Film and TV Production at the high school level. She taught Film & Video Production for 7 years at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita, CA and revolutionized the preexisting broadcast journalism program. While at Canyon, Ryanne joined Student Television Network and her students attended two in-person conventions and one convention remotely in 2021. Ryanne is now in her third year at her alma mater, John Burroughs High School in Burbank, CA. Students at both Canyon and Burroughs have seen success while members of STN, placing in several virtual and in-person awards competitions. Before teaching, Ryanne worked at ProAngle Media, producing live sports events including the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, and Raiders. In addition, Ryanne earned her Masters degree in Journalism Education this past year from Kent State University. Ryanne strives to bring industry standard knowledge, skills, and experiences to all her students to help grow their love for visual storytelling.
RYANNE MESCHKAT
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Session Descriptions
Cinematic Storytelling Workshop
Explore strategies for helping students generate story ideas, identify meaningful themes, and build strong narrative foundations, including logline development and story structure.
The Future of Filmmaking & Education
Gain insights from industry professionals on emerging trends, technologies, and skills students need to succeed in the evolving film and broadcast landscape.
Pre-Production Basics
Learn essential pre-production steps like scripting, storyboarding, location scouting, and casting to turn ideas into ready-to-shoot films.
Production Basics
Master the essentials of running an efficient and organized film set, from on-set communication to equipment management, while fostering creativity.
Post-Production Basics
Discover techniques for guiding students through editing, sound design, and color grading to enhance their films and achieve maximum storytelling impact.
Finding the Leads & Managing Personalities
Explore strategies for assigning key production roles and managing diverse personalities to build cohesive, collaborative student film crews.
Gear Up! Equipment Management
Learn practical tips for managing and organizing film equipment, ensuring productions have the tools needed for success while keeping processes smooth.
Projects & Assessments
Share and discover effective projects, assignments, and assessment strategies to enhance classroom learning in film and broadcast production.
Using the STN Curriculum
Dive into the STN Curriculum and explore how to balance teaching film and broadcast pathways for maximum program effectiveness.
Film Festival Programming & Student Contests
Discover best practices for helping students craft polished contest entries, manage deadlines, and succeed in STN contests and festivals.
STN Convention & Fundraising
Learn how to prepare for the STN convention and implement proven fundraising strategies to support student participation and travel logistics.