Each year, the students in the Honors Digital Media course participate in a school-wide tradition: creating the “Best of GA” video. This special compilation of short videos highlights the best work from Digital Media students and kicks off House Olympics, one of the most anticipated days of the year.
Under the guidance of Digital Media teacher, Mr. Dainis Roman, the students in the Honors program select and edit clips and various projects, ultimately creating a 50-minute compilation of creativity.
“These projects are usually ones of their preference as to what they would like to produce,” Mr. Roman said.
Throughout the years, the “Best of GA” video has incorporated many kinds of ideas, with the most popular videos being comedic skits.
To name a few, funny sketches like “Undercover Boss,” “Hot Ones” and “GASPN” were included in this year’s edition.
While providing them with freedom, Mr. Roman also works closely with the students so that they are able to produce their best work.
“I’m empowering them to really learn to work as part of a team, learn to work on development of concept to completion and all the steps in between,” Mr. Roman said.
Hugo Simonetti ‘26 touches on his experience working on the “Best of GA” video this year, highlighting the different steps in the process and the level of work going into the final project.
“For the first month or two, we just spent it all scripting,” Simonetti said. “And then every script that we write goes to Mr. Roman, who says if it’s ‘Best of GA’ worthy.”
Although there is not a specific checklist for what makes a video “Best of GA” quality, there is a clear expectation that precision is one of the most important things in the editing process.
“Editing can make or break a project,” Simonetti said.
It matters less the content of a project, but rather the effort and quality of the short itself.
“I focus more on the attention to detail, like cutting to the millisecond,” Max Davis ‘26 said.
As well as small details, dedication and time put into a project are other huge aspects of a successful video.
“All my hard work goes into it. I don’t just work in digital media, I work at home and during free periods,” Simonetti said.
Although comedic shorts are often a trademark of the “Best of GA” video, there has been a larger effort to incorporate more dramatic shorts.
“I do try to push them a little, if they’re so inclined, to do something on a different level,” Mr. Roman said. “Let’s not just do humor.”
Two horror shorts were added into this year’s video, one directed by Davis, and the other directed by Kai Quartapella ‘26 and Ethan Na ‘26.
Because of that suggestion from Mr. Roman, there has been a larger discussion about allowing the “Best of GA” video to follow more of a film festival structure, incorporating a wider variety of pieces in the final project.
“I try to push them and have them explore that side of the human condition. Because that’s the other side of it,” Mr. Roman said. “Every day we’re experiencing different kinds of emotions.”
Pushing students to tap into their emotions and what’s around them also provides a stronger video.
“I think that’s the key, if students just learn to tap into what’s around them and use their natural resources,” Mr. Roman said. “It’s just as effective.”
Ultimately, the purpose of the Best of GA video is to showcase the best-produced videos and experience the feeling of an audience reaction.
“My goal is to give all students the opportunity to experience these different facets, and then to have an audience react to it, you know it doesn’t get much better than that,” Mr. Roman said.