Jonah Smith utilizing the TJ studio to produce new hype videos. photo courtesy of Jonah Smith
Dive into the creative mind behind the newest TJ sports hype videos.
During the 2023-24 school year, the Spartans saw a great number of amazing Thomas Jefferson High School hype videos from Shots By Sloan. This year, a junior has taken over the role and has given the TJ community more hype videos to look forward to.
Posting on Instagram as JS Productions, junior Jonah Smith has made a name for himself as a bona fide creator and one that the TJ community is proud to call theirs. Last year, the school looked forward to the bi-weekly Shots by Sloan videos, and this year, the student body was pleasantly surprised to see a new persona take over this role. Smith has been eager to show the school what he’s got and took great inspiration from other creators. “I’ve always liked making videos in Digital Media and Spartan Edition class, and seeing creators like Shots by Sloan and 303 Collect inspired me to promote the TJ sports teams,” Smith said. TJ’s CCT and video pathways have allowed Smith to learn how to make these stunning videos.
The process is long and hard, as Smith needs enough footage to be able to make these videos. By going to sporting events and spending free periods editing, he is able to get TJ’s spirit going, getting more and more people to sporting events. Filming comes first, and being right next to the action and up close and personal to the games allows Smith to capture amazing footage of game-breaking moments and amazing plays. Smith mentioned that filming is his favorite part of his videos, saying, “I get to be on the field or court right next to the action. It’s fun to see how the sports I don’t play personally work.” Smith is a three-sport athlete, running cross country, and playing baseball and basketball, so through his videos he gets a new perspective on the experiences of other sports. This is a perspective that not many students get to see. Without Smith’s videos, this perspective would be lost to students, but Smith gives them the excitement of seeing it up close and personal. The videos give students something to look forward to and give a sense of excitement to the Spartan Edition right before a big home game.
So far, Smith has released some amazing football hype videos for the latest season. After the conclusion of fall sports, there has been a lull in the sports action, but Smith plans on continuing the videos throughout the winter and into the basketball season. Releasing more and more videos will give the community a fresh perspective while also getting Spartans excited for the upcoming season. Winter sports are here and spring sports are just around the corner, meaning there are ample opportunities for hype videos to come out and astonish everyone. Smith will continue this project next year, giving the students more videos while building his skills and making them even better video after video.
Smith wants to continue this into college, perfecting his craft and continuing to do what he loves. “I definitely want to keep making videos throughout the school year and into next year,” Smith said. “I’m not sure exactly what my plans are after that, but I know that I’ll always enjoy making videos, and if I have an opportunity in college, then I’ll definitely be taking it.” As Smith takes more time to make his videos, they will become a statement for TJ and give fans an awesome experience at games. JS Productions adds to the school spirit and fun that TJ is known for around the community. The creativity that Smith shows gives students something to look forward to when there is a big game or special moment. Students are given the opportunity to attend these games and make the videos even better. JS Productions is giving this school more spirit and showing off what makes TJ special in and out of the classroom.
