Digital Arts Lab
Digital Arts Lab
Located in the Genworth BrightLights Education Center, the Digital Arts Lab consists of an editing room and studio space. Our after-school courses offer students the opportunity to learn every facet of production, from pre-visualization, setting up, shooting, editing, and perfecting video content. Students who excel in their studies can even be hired for paid internships or be awarded RPAA college scholarships.
Thanks to grant funding, registration is free for public and charter schools and only $150 for private and homeschool students. Scholarships are available.
Fall Classes
Foundations of Video Production (Grades 7 - 12)
Tuesdays, September 22 – November 10
Final Student Showcase: November 18
RPAA’s Foundations of Video Production, taught by John Reinhold, RPAA’s Digital Arts Manager, is a hands-on class where students learn how to tell stories using film and video. Students explore how movies and videos are made, beginning with the history of film and the foundations of photography that led to the moving image.
Students explore the many creative and technical elements that come together to make a film, learning camera techniques, lighting, sound, and the different creative roles involved in filmmaking—all culminating in the art of visual storytelling.
With an emphasis on teamwork, exploration, and building confidence students will work together on a final short film of less than five minutes, with every student contributing to the project and taking on different creative roles throughout the production. The collaborative project gives students the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice while finding and developing their own creative voices.
Advanced Video Production (Grades 9 -12)
Wednesdays, September 23 – November 11
Final Student Showcase: November 18
In RPAA’s Advanced Filmmaking class, students take their skills to the next level through individual projects that challenge them to develop a distinctive creative voice. Building on preproduction, production, and postproduction skills, students explore advanced storytelling techniques, visual styles, and cinematic language while refining camera work, lighting, and sound design. They also dive deeper into editing, learning pacing, transitions, and postproduction effects to enhance narrative impact.
The class is taught by Todd Raviotta, Film Professor at the Governor’s School for the Arts, who works closely with students to help them explore their ideas, experiment with different approaches, and discover their own unique creative voices as filmmakers. With a focus on experimentation, problem-solving, and artistic growth, each student completes a creative video project that strengthens both their creative voice and technical abilities. (Portfolio work and foundation-level experience needed.)
Registration is now open for spring Digital Arts Lab courses!
This semester, we will be offering 2 courses:
- Foundations of Video Production | Grades 7-12 (March 3 – April 28, Tuesdays)
- Video Production Project | Grades 9-12 (March 4 – April 29, Wednesdays)
The foundations class is designed for middle and high school students who are interested in video production but haven’t had much experience yet. Video Production Project is designed for high school students who already have some video production experience and are ready to take their skills to the next level.
Students are invited to the newly expanded studio space within the Dominion Energy Center where they explore filmmaking as both a technical craft and a creative art form. From the very first day, students discover how lighting, camera angles, and blocking can shape the mood of a scene and bring stories to life, gaining hands-on experience in creating dynamic, engaging visuals. Through exciting projects, they build a foundation in film history, visual storytelling, and script development; discovering and developing their own creative voice.
Classes emphasize collaboration and teamwork, giving students the opportunity to experiment, share ideas, and have fun bringing stories to life with their peers. Working in a supportive and encouraging environment, they gain hands-on experience in a variety of filmmaking roles (director, cinematographer, editor, sound designer, and even performer). As they bring ideas from script to screen, students learn about performance, camera work, using creative decision-making while producing original short form content. In addition, students engage with leading Richmond arts organizations and gain firsthand insights from industry professionals and artists about crafting creative content.
The editing lab is equipped with Apple workstations featuring the latest production tools, including Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, Canva, Audacity, and DaVinci Resolve. Students gain practical skills in pre-production planning, production design, and post-production editing that translates across multiple platforms and technologies. These skills will empower them to bring their creative ideas to life while enjoying the process of learning and creating together.
The studio includes professional audio recording equipment, multiple backdrops and green screens, lighting systems, and 4K cameras. In this space, students learn how to safely and confidently run a production—from pre-production planning through final delivery. The Digital Arts Lab also serves as a rental and collaborative space, allowing students to work alongside local artists and arts groups to explore, create, and share original content in a fun and supportive environment.
Meet Your Teachers
John Reinhold, RPAA’s Digital Arts Manager, is a multidisciplinary creative whose work spans digital filmmaking, media production, and cultural storytelling. A seasoned marketing and media professional, longtime contributor to RVA Magazine, professional DJ, and collaborator on stage, mural, and film projects, Reinhold’s practice blends cinematic craft with Richmond’s dynamic arts community.
With more than 20 years amplifying the artists, musicians, and cultural movements that define RVA, Reinhold has contributed to public art initiatives including The Richmond Mural Project and numerous collaborative film and live productions. He currently serves as our Digital Arts Manager, where he leads digital arts initiatives and mentors emerging creatives in video production, visual storytelling, and collaborative media environments.
Todd Raviotta is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans digital filmmaking, cinema history, and multimedia image-making. A photographer and writer for RVA Magazine, radio DJ, and longtime collaborator in both documentary editing and narrative film projects, Raviotta’s creative practice bridges critical study and hands-on production.
A graduate of VCUarts, he earned his BFA (2001) and MFA (2004) in Photography and Film. He currently teaches video production and film theory at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Across all of his work, Raviotta centers sustained creative practice and community advocacy as guiding principles.
Hire RPAA For Your Production
Real-world experience is more valuable than classroom instruction. This is why we offer our students opportunities to work on productions for our Resident Companies and arts groups in the Richmond region at a much lower cost than full-fledged production studios. For more information about hiring RPAA to help you record your production or to rent studio space and equipment, submit a production request below.
Rent DAL Studio and Lab Space
Our Digital Arts Lab and Studio are available for rentals outside of class hours. Please reach out to Education Coordinator Bri Allen at ballen@rpaalliance.com for more information and pricing.
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