Student Success
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Flipped Out hosts Ryan Wolfe and Stephanie Savage are recorded by Lethbridge College student Teiganne Stewart.

From Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, to Love It or List It, to Property Brothers, home renovation shows are a television staple. Now, Lethbridge College’s Digital Communications and Media (DCM) students are throwing on their work boots and hard hats to produce a show of their own.

The students are in charge of scripting, filming, editing and producing Flipped Out, a six-episode web series. The show was conceived and made possible by sponsorship from The Lethbridge Mortgage Centre, which bought a home and is working with industry partners to renovate the entire house. The process is being captured by second-year DCM students as part of their programming.

"Opportunities to get behind the camera are exactly why I joined this program,” says DCM student Teiganne Stewart. “I learn more from these hands-on experiences than I ever would in a classroom. Flipped Out is an experience I'll be able to take with me when I graduate and begin making a name for myself."

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Lethbridge College students Teiganne Stewart (left) and Kayla Parker-Harvey (right) get right into the filming of Flipped Out.

The home, on Lethbridge’s south side, was purchased in the summer, and renovations and filming began in early October. The challenge for the students is to create cohesive episodes that tell the story of a home renovation in an interesting and informative way.

“Our students are getting to experience what it is like to work in a real-world video production environment,” says George Gallant, Lethbridge College Digital Communications and Media instructor. “They are learning how to structure a story, the importance of working within a team and how to be adaptable as schedules are always changing, while dealing with real clients who have their own concerns that need to be considered. They are also getting added mentoring from video industry professionals from the community.”

Once completed, the home will be sold and The Lethbridge Mortgage Centre will donate the proceeds to the college for the DCM program. Students are working in teams of three in a competitive process, and each member of the winning group will receive a $1,000 student award.

“The Lethbridge Mortgage Centre is so excited to partner with Lethbridge College and the DCM students and faculty,” says Ryan Wolfe, The Lethbridge Mortgage Centre. “Flipped Out showcases the best of what our community has to offer. The state-of-the-art technical abilities of the DCM department, the dedication of the students as they learn their craft in a unique way, and the generous and supportive commitment of the local business community all make this an incredible project. The support of the many trades that have joined the project is the major reason why we will be able to make such a substantial donation to the program once we sell the house. We’re just so happy with the quality of the production and southern Albertans are in for a real treat.”

Program creator Wolfe is co-hosting the program along with college alumna Stephanie Savage (Digital Communications and Media 2018). There have been numerous Lethbridge College tie-ins, including cameos by President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns and students from the Massage Therapy program. Renovation work and filming wrapped up in December and students will now turn their efforts to the editing process as part of their studies this semester.

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Lethbridge College student Teiganne Stewart filming Flipped Out.

“I really like doing this sort of work because it makes me feel like I'm already in the production business, even though I'm still in college learning about using the camera and audio systems,” says DCM student Kayla Parker-Harvey. “I feel professional in what I’m doing, and working along with a great team makes it even more fun. This is definitely a memorable experience for me."

The episodes will be completed in March 2019 and will be made available through The Lethbridge Mortgage Centre’s website and flippedoutmc.ca. Be sure to check back for updates as the launch of the program draws closer.

Nearly 30 local businesses and individuals have come together to make the show a reality. A list of partners is available on the Flipped Out website.

Lethbridge College’s two-year Digital Communications and Media diploma program reflects the evolution of the industry by incorporating cutting-edge industry trends and the latest equipment and tools into the classroom to ensure education remains relevant into the future. Many graduates go on to careers in traditional media, such as newspaper, television, web and radio reporters, as well as emerging careers as bloggers, freelance video journalists and social media specialists.


LISTEN: Lethbridge College DCM instructor George Gallant speaks about the benefits of being involved in Flipped Out.