Implementations suggestions for content on front page
I'd use Panels to handle the layout.  Panels will allow you to create a customized front page without using any templates from within the Panels interface.  I can't describe in detail how to use Panels here but Node One has an excellent series of screencasts on Page Manager and Panels.

Using Panels will allow you to easily give the front page a unique look which you can change at any time by simply logging in to the site (as an admin) and opening up the Panels interface.

For the slideshow, try the Views Slideshow module.  It is well-documented (links on the module page) so you shouldn't have too hard of a time setting it up, and it is widely used (more than 100,000 sites).