IN THE CLASSROOM:It’s show time in broadcasting class

In 1965, Marina High School traded in the Oilers for Vikings.

Surviving more than four decades, the image of the Northern European seafarer as the school’s mascot has seeped its way into the school newspaper, statues and so on, with Norse names and mythology popping up everywhere.

But who knows what half the references mean or what they have to do with a Viking?, Marina High senior Brendan Miller began to ask himself. This thought blossomed into a plot for the “Viking Variety Power Hour,” a 10-minute show using media spoofs and farce to explain the mythology behind the names as common on the tongue of Marina students as the words “cafeteria” and “study hall.”

The pilot episode opens with a cooking show, where Ymir, an ancient being cast as an Emeril Lagasse type, merges fire and ice, creating a cow, Miller said.

“He drinks the milk from the cow and gets all these crazy powers,” Miller said. “Out of the cow comes the first god.”

Along with partner Michael Grams, the duo have planned a script, introduction sequence — including theme song by Finnish metal band, Finntroll — and possible future episodes. Even better, Miller and Grams will receive course credit for their endeavors into school spirit and Scandinavian legends.

The two created the show for their broadcast journalism class, through the Central County Regional Occupation Program. The program, available for those 16 years and older, provides training and technical experience that prepares students to enter the workforce and gives them better chances when applying to college or trade-school.

Most learning comes from mistakes made through experience, class instructor Chris Weber said. He should know, having been on camera crews on a number of big-screen films and reality television shows such as “the Bachelor,” “the Mole,” “Real World San Diego” and the “X-Games.”

Owning and running his own production company called “Media Tube Productions” certainly helps add to Weber’s knowledge and is going to come in handy when stuff gets technical next semester. All the equipment used in producing the shows, from cameras to lighting and sound equipment, will be donated from the Long Beach company.

The first half of the school year was devoted to scripted and developing shows, the second to actual production, Weber said, adding that hopefully by next year the class will become a three-part deal.

But that all depends on who picks up the shows.

According to Weber, negotiations are on to get the shows on a basic cable channel or available as a Podcast. The students were given an option of what media to focus on and they chose both.

“I told them, ‘Hey it’s going to be more work,’ ” Weber said.

But this is one devoted group of teens.

“Probably half of the class will stay way past 5:30 p.m., sometimes until 7 p.m. or later; they’re really dedicated,” he said.

The project ideas illustrate the lengths these juniors and seniors are willing to go and the sense of humor they have. Aaron Kofahl and Michael Grams parodied one of the first reality shows, “Cops,” following campus supervisors on the rough walkways of Marina halls.

“We pretty much redesigned the whole intro. The hard part is finding an announcer with the same voice,” Kofahl said.

In another spoof, “The Gulls,” seniors Blake Kardashian, and Krista Heus have decided to approach the seagull problem on campus with their treatment of the famous Alfred Hitchcock film about birds attacking humans without reason. Of course, the two have further hopes for the film than just a laugh.

“We needed a way to connect with the school, promoting the pick-up of trash on campus,” Kardashian said.

Some shows have been easier to put together than others. Timothy Maloof and Eric Forman want to host a battle of the bands once a month, focusing on a different music genre each episode, but because of legal issues, the two might not have a show.

“We have a show, positions for everyone — what we can’t find is a venue,” Forman said. “We would need to hire extra security to do it on school grounds,” and that just costs too much money.

As for Grams and Miller, the boys of Valhalla, everything seems on track and ready to go. Casting auditions hopefully begin next week.

“That is if we get the show approved,” Miller said.

And once the course is complete, each student can boast experience with a camera, the editing board, sound and lighting boards, and even makeup.

“This class is all over the board,” Weber said. “They get exposed to so many types of production, it gives them a rounded sense of what they can do with the medium.”

“Find some slice you can enjoy.”