Eye for editing: Noche develops, produces mixed sports videos

By JESUS SARMIENTO
The Tower

In the heart of classroom 60, nestled on the left side of a sprawling table, there’s a student hunched down with noises blasting from his headphones. Jay Noche watches every second of a video to find its best moments. His surroundings start to dim and become muffled as he loses himself in the editing process.

Noche’s hands move without hesitation — his finger poised over the keyboard and his eyes fixed on the glowing screen before him. Each click of the mouse is a step closer to realizing his vision, to breathing life into a timeline and raw footage that unfolds before him like a blank canvas waiting to be painted.

In this moment, he isn’t just a student who is editing because the teacher has instructed him to do so. He is an artist, a storyteller, weaving tales of light and shadow, of joy and sorrow, that transcends that confines of the screen.

For him video editing is not merely a task to be completed, it is a passion, a calling that ignites the soul and fills him with a sense of purpose. In the quite solitude of room 60, he finds solace in the act of creation, knowing that with each project he completes, he leaves a little piece of himself behind, a testament to the power of imagination and the beauty of expression.

“My style of editing is trying to make a story out of it,” said Noche, also a member of the school’s Valley Oak League championship volleyball team, “and showing the good moments and the bad moments, like a type of movie.”

As the mastermind behind Sports Media’s mixed sports videos, Noche combines his passion for entertainment and sports with his editing skills, creating captivating content that resonates with peers and mentors alike. This spring, Noche has played a significant role in the creation and production of three mixed sports videos, including Uno Wrestling, Dodgeball Football, and Blindfolded Chicken Fights.

Mixed sports is the combination of two popular competitions. Students, like Noche, are in charge of blending the sports and games, while also writing rules and addressing any and all game-play scenarios.

“I really enjoyed making a new sport, rules for it and including the whole class to get involved with the sport,” he said, “Having to edit it was really fun, too.”

An avid sports enthusiast and creative thinker, Noche has appreciated the opportunity to create a new game in Sports Media, taught by James Burns. He envisions a game where everyone can play and every role is as important as the other. He must consider the playing surface and locate the necessary equipment.

“I want to catch people’s attention because not that many people were there at the moment,” he said, “but I want them to experience what the person was feeling in the moment. That’s what I like.”

Not only is Noche the head of the mixed sport concept but he also edits the videos for the people at home or at school to watch and laugh. He begins by reviewing the raw footage, carefully selecting the best shots and moments to capture the essence of the content. Noche pays close attention to the lighting, sound quality, and camera angles, ensuring a polished final product.

Throughout the editing process, Noche remains open to feedback and collaboration, welcoming input from students and teachers alike to refine his work further. With meticulous attention to detail, Noche transforms raw footage into compelling, visually stunning content that resonates with the audience.

“Jay is a promising young editor,” Burns said. “The few projects he has produced for Sports Media have been top notch and he’s able to provide a different flare to the classroom.”

The Tower spoke with Noche about his spot in Sports Media and his eye for editing.

THE TOWER: In Sports Media, what is the best project you made and why?

JAY NOCHE: My best project would be the recent one — Dodgeball Football. I really enjoy making a new sport and the rules for it and including everyone in the sport.

TT: How long does it take to edit a video?

JN: It would take at least one to two periods.

TT: How long does it take for you to come up with these ideas?

JN: To get the idea and to get the rules for it and to see how it would work with class time, it would take one to two days.

TT: How long does it take to setup?

JN: To setup, it takes about a day because you have got to visualize it and then you must pitch it to Mr. Burns and ask if it’s good or not.

TT: How do you balance Sport Media work and your other activities throughout your day?

JN: Honestly, I value my time a lot, like my time in class for each class is my time for that class work.

TT: How does the process of making a video work?

JN: The process is you must pitch the idea (and) visualize how you record it. You must think about who you need (and) what you will need for a video. On deadline, you got to figure out how much time you have (and) how much video you need. When you’re recording, you must check the mics, battery, and lens. Afterward, you download it and then work on the video and then post it.

TT: What does it take for you to say a video is finished?

JN: I have to rewatch it multiple times to spot any small mistakes. It’s like rereading your own work.