Online Critique Assignment for Tuesday... Due by end of class 11/15

Take a look at this piece if it is still available. Not sure how long it will stay up online.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7387221n&tag=cbsnewsTwoColUpperPromoArea

Talk about the visuals, the tone and the pacing. Notice the last shot. Why do you think it is used there?
What do you think about the reporting of the "scenario" that might have happened after Bella's death?

Online Critique Assignment for Tuesday... Due by end of class 11/08

Here is a 3 minute piece that paints a profile of a person. No narration...just the voice of the person. What do you think? Is it compelling? Does it invite you in?

You might think about this approach for your last piece. Let the voice of your subject carry the piece.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/268435/cinelan-3-minute-stories-boy-in-a-dress

Online Critique Assignment Due by end of class 10/25

Please take a good look at this story and critique all things: storytelling, editing, camera work, composition, transitions, pacing. Would you approach this story differently?

http://www.hulu.com/watch/276831/abc-2020-the-smoking-baby

Online Assignment Due by end of class 10/11

Here is the next online critique assignment. It is a profile piece from 60 Minutes, produced by a former colleague of mine, Henry Schuster.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7381518n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

Henry has agreed to join us in a future class via Skype. So as part of this assignment, please critique the usual things: production techniques, editing techniques, storytelling...but also craft 3 good questions for the producer of this piece and include them in your critique post. We'll chat with Henry and pick his brain about how they come up with the stories and how they craft the storytelling.

Enjoy!

Project A

Project A is a compilation of your group's long form pieces from Project 2.

The teams are:
Matt, Olivia and Karen
Grace and Carrie
Janice and Candice

1. As a group you will need to come up with a show concept and a show title for your magazine program. You will need to make an animated open using Master Templates in Final Cut Pro (10/6 in class).

2. Each team member should write a short lead in to his or her piece (in class 10/6). We will record those in front of the blue screen on 10/20. You can choose one team member to read all the lead ins or you can each read your individual lead in.

3. As a group you will decide the order of the pieces and write a tease that will run before an (imaginary) commercial break (in class 10/6). You will record that on camera on 10/20

4. You will design a background for the on camera chroma key shot, using similar elements from the open.

5. Project 2 is due at the beginning of class on 10/27. 3:30 sharp!! No exceptions. Then you will work together to put all the pieces together for the magazine program.

This will be the drill with Project B as well.

Online Critique Assignment Due by end of class 10/4 Change from syllabus

This a change in the syllabus. Tuesday, Oct 4th is another ONLINE critique day. We'll look at the 2nd part of the Teen for Gospels 60 Minutes.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7361570n

As in the first part, you'll need to comment on the storytelling, the structure, the production techniques, and what parts struck a resonant chord with you.

Great job on the first part. Keep up the good work.

Online Assignment #4 Due by end of class 9/27

Tell me a story. That is how Don Hewitt, producer of 60 Minutes, described the charge to his troops while at the helm as Executive Producer of the venerable show for decades. They succeeded for a reason, they excelled at telling good stories.

Check this one out:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7361574n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

Talk about all the stories.  There are many quests here. Vy, the organizer. And each student too.

Talk about the resonant chords for you. What struck you? What made it happen? The story? The visuals? The audio? or all of the above?

Be specific. We can learn from the best.

CHANGE FROM SYLLABUS...ONLINE DAY TUESDAY, 9/20 ASSIGNMENT

This is a change from the syllabus. Tuesday, Sept 20th will be an online assignment day. Do not report to class. You will need to post your critique of the following piece by the end of the class period.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6929979

Please be specific about production techniques. Discuss:
depth of field
re-enactment scenes
interview shots
movement on stills
Did this piece strike a resonant chord with you?

Project 3

JOUR 4710  FALL 11 PROJECT 3

Raw Footage Due  11/17   3:30 pm

       Project Due 12/1  end of class

   Students will produce a 4 to 5-minute magazine package in the genre of their choice. 

Entertainment, sports, technology, medical, science etc. Students are encouraged to be 

very creative in this project. You should coordinate with your team members so you have 

a cohesive magazine program. No instructions for specific format will be given.

 However, I am expecting to see the various editing techniques that you learned throughout 

the semester. Your project will be evaluated using the following criteria:

--   Use of music 

---    Use of VO and natural sound

--    Use of text (simple text from FCP and/or graphic templates from Live Type). 

Your project should include a title, lower thirds to accompany sound bites, and rolling credits.

--    Proper use of B-roll. You will need lots!

--    Proper mix of various sound tracks’ levels. 

--    Use of video filters (the use of even one filter can satisfy requirement).

--    Use of audio and video transitions (no excessive use, use them properly to strengthen 

your project).

--    Stable and creative camera work (angles, framing, exposure, visual interest).

--    Editing Continuity (no cuts during a camera movement, no jump cuts, and no i

nconsistent audio) unless complexity editing is warranted.

--    Video leader that include bars, countdown, name, piece title, date, trt.

--    TRT should be between 4 to 5 minutes. Less than 4 min. or more than 5 min. is not acceptable. 

TRT starts from the first frame in your timeline (not from video leader).

--    If you have to use materials that are not filmed by you (e.g., from a video library), 

keep in mind that you can use no more than half of your total running time from previously recorded material.  

--    Is it a story worth telling and told well?

--    You will need to turn in a script.

--    Your project needs to be turned in on DVD

--    Did you meet all the benchmarks on the intermediary due dates? 

REMEMBER:

Get started early on shooting your story! Find that emotional spike! Have fun with it and get creative! Take advantage of the time you have in class to get my feedback.

Project 2

JOUR 4710

Project 2   News Magazine Piece

Raw Footage due 9/29

Rough cut Due 1020

Final Version due 10/22 11am sharp

Start shooting EARLY!

        Students will produce an edited television news magazine piece (similar to what you will watch in programs like 20/20, Dateline, 60 minutes, etc). The project should run at least 4 minutes but not more than 5 minutes in length. It is recommended that you do a story about a nonprofit organization because of easy access to these groups.

 The project will be due Thursday, Oct. 27th at 3:30 sharp! Then you will work in groups to produce news magazine complet shows.

Your grade will drop one letter grade per day late, starting immediately after the deadline. The project will comprise 15% of your final grade for the course.   

                                                             

Criteria for evaluating your project:

·      Variety in shots and camera angles.

·      Proper use of camera movements.

·      Introductory shot before sound bites.

·      Number of soundbites (You must include at least 4 SOT’s from at least 2 people directly affected or involved in the story. More is probably better! A reporter standup does not count as soundbite). 

·      The proper use of soundbites (length, framing).

·      Creative shot composition/ proper framing/exposure/white balance/focus.

·      The pace of editing (e.g., the same shot should not stay for too long on screen)

·      Quality of beginning and end of the piece (catching attention? visually appealing?)

·      Audio (VO quality and level, the use of music if any, the use of natural sound, and relative levels).

·      Narration—delivery and how well you tell the story. Also keeping a good mix with natural sound.

·      The use of graphics (e.g., titles, project’s title, etc) Please include at the very least lower third text graphics for the important SOT’s.

·      Editing techniques and continuity (e.g., the use of B-roll, any jump cuts?)

·      Editorial content—is it a story worth telling? And told well?

·      Use of transitions and effects—OK to use them, but make sure they are used well and are motivated. Not mandatory.

·      You will need to turn in a script. See examples from class.

Take advantage of the editing time we have in class to work on this project…I am happy to give you feedback or any help you may need. Get your footage shot way in advance and digitized so you can take the time to fine tune it in our editing lab. As always, email me or come visit me during office hours if you have any problems or questions!

Good luck!

ONLINE assignment #2 DUE 9/13

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/doctor-hotspot/

Your second online assignment is a piece done by PBS for Frontline, a long-running and well-respected program, featuring excellent documentary and long form journalism.

Please be specific in your observations about the production values and techniques used on the piece, as well as the storytelling and the story structure. Don't just do a synopsis of the story. What production techniques worked to resonate with you the viewer? What did you not like?

Please comment on the following:
--the b-roll or footage they used to cover parts of the narration
--interview setting for Dr. Brenner
--shots of Derek and Derek's story
--story structure
--tone of the narration

The objective is to learn from what works to communicate the story best. Enjoy!

Getting started with the camera in Jour 4710

Jour 4710 Getting started with the Panasonic AG-HMC 150 P

This is a great HD camera. Be careful and gentle with it. Never force anything, buttons, toggles and not cable inputs. Do not subject it to extreme hot or cold.

1. Recording Media – you must have a SD card of 8 GB or larger, Class 6 or higher. Make sure you only use your card for this camera. Not other projects! Make sure the camera is off to insert the  SD card.

Flip the viewfinder up to see the slot. Press to the left where it says open. Insert card teeth first and teeth down.

Insert battery. Turn camera on.

Then you must initialize the card. Press menu on the top left side of the camera with the LCD screen open.

Go to Card Functions>Card status>yes.

Then Card Format>yes

2. Set recording format—for our purposes we are using 1080/24P. Look in the menu selections for Rec Format.

3. Set zoom – choose servo to the left of the LCD screen. Set zoom speed on the top right of the handle where it says handle speed. Choose on.

4. Focus – choice of manual or auto. Choose manual at the top left in front of the LCD screen.

5. Auto/Manual for entire camera set up – bottom right on left side of camera. Choose Manual.

6. Iris – press button on the bottom left of the left side of the camera. Then use the scroll wheel to iris up or down. Toggle will choose manual or auto. Stick with manual.

7. Focus Assist – turn on if you want to see more detail to assist you in focusing. Make sure you turn it off and that you do not shoot your project in this mode. Totally optional!

8. Gain – keep it on L for low unless you are in extremely low light.

9. White balance – pick A or B ten press the AWB button in the front of the camera while aiming at a white object. Make sure pure white fills the screen in the type of light in which you will be shooting.

10. Ring choice – keep it on focus.

11. Scene file – in back by battery. Keep it on F1

12. Mode – camera or playback or PC. Keep it on camera to shoot.

13. Panel by battery – component out to hook camera to HDTV. Use top USB 2.0 for connecting camera to computer. Headset jack. USE HEADSETS!

14. Panel by LCD on left of camera:

Shuttle speed – push button. Then – or + to choose 1/48 sec

Zebra – on/off choose 75 or 80%

Audio – one channel for internal mic and one channel for external mic. Let’s standardize it to Channel 1 = internal mic. Channel 2=external mic. Then make sure you plug your external mic into channel 2. On front set line or mic to mic.

15. Above panel – headset volume

16. Below panel – audio levels

GOOD LUCK!

Project 1 Assignment

Jour 4710 / Fall 11

Project 1

You will produce a 2-minute piece that demonstrates a visually dynamic process. You should shoot with ambient sound only. Then you will add a soundtrack, e.g. narration, interview SOTs, and/or music. You may work in teams of two or individually.

You must videotape the demonstration process once as the master shot. Then you will need to go back and shoot close-ups of the salient parts of the process. Make sure the talent does the process exactly the same way each time so you can match and exactly cut the actions when you edit.

Pick something visual and big enough to be able to shoot various parts of it. Do not break the 180 degree rule. Aim for at least a little natural sound. Do not have your talent speak. See suggestions below. You must shoot and edit the entire piece. 2:00 trt.  Include a leader with color bars, slate and countdown (not counted in the 2:00 trt). Turn your project in on DVD.

Due dates: Raw footage due Thursday, 9/8

Final edited version due for viewing and critique

On 9/15 at 5pm sharp!

Suggestions:

• Mechanical processes: changing a tire, changing a bicycle tire
• Household projects: installing a ceiling fan, weatherstripping, installing a faucet.
• Google search on home improvement projects.
• Gardening projects: repotting a plant or two, landscape an area
• Cooking: making an omelette, making a stir fry dish, smoothie, etc
• Bartending: make an elaborate drink
• Crafts: stenciling, a simple sewing project, decorating projects, scrapbooking etc. Do a google search of craft projects or watch a show like Martha Stewart.

Course Schedule

Class Schedule

Note: This schedule provides a general plan for the course, changes may occur. Students will be informed of any changes in advance.

WEEK 1

8/23     Introduction to the course. Review Mac and Final Cut Pro basics.

                   

8/25     Review the camera, Tripod, Microphone. Introduce portable lights. 

                    Review: Shooting & Composition Tips   FCP Review if time permits.

     

Assign project #1: Matching actions/cut during motion editing. A 2-minute, visually dynamic process piece. View examples.

WEEK 2

8/30     Final Cut Pro: Review Lessons 1,2,3.

9/1    Linear vs. Nonlinear Editing. Matched Cut Editing

                    Final Cut Pro : Complete Lesson 4&5. **Mastery Required.

Assign Critique 1 ONLINE viewing.

WEEK 3

9/6      ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class time. Do not come to class! Post on class blog at:  http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

9/8       Final Cut Pro:  Review  Digitizing. Lesson 8.  ***Mastery recommended.

Project 1 raw footage DUE.  Editing in class.

WEEK 4

9/13     ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class. Post on class blog at:

            http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

.

9/15       Project 1 DUE 5 pm sharp!! Viewing and critique session

Assign Project 2 &3: A long form piece for a News Magazine; produce a 4 to 5-min news piece that is similar to 60 Minutes or Dateline’s styles. And a magazine piece in the genre of your team’s choosing.

WEEK 5

9/20     Final Cut Pro: More Editing and Mixing Audio Tracks

Lesson 10.  ***Mastery Required

             

9/22      The long form in TV news production. Storytelling.

Final Cut Pro: Lesson 6. Refining the Editing Process Lesson 7. (highlights only)

                                                                                                     

WEEK 6 

9/27     ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class. Post on class blog at:

            http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

9/29     Final Cut Pro: Lesson 9. Applying Transitions ***Mastery Required.  Work on Project 2. Raw footage due

WEEK 7

10/4   Lab editing and studio time for Group Project A. 

10/6   Lab editing and studio time for Group Project A.

 **Midpoint Oct 7th Last day to withdraw and possibly receive a W**

WEEK 8

10/11   ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class. Post on class blog at:

            http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

           

                    

10/13   Final Cut Pro: Lesson 13. Applying Filters and other Effects. ***Mastery Required. Final Cut Pro: Lesson 12. Changing Motion Properties

WEEK 9

10/18   Final Cut Pro: Lesson 11. Adding titles and graphics ***Mastery Required. 

10/20    Final Cut Pro: Lesson 14. Finishing and Outputting. Rough cut of Project 2 due.

WEEK 10

10/25     Work on Group Project A – attendance mandatory!

           

10/27      Project 2 DUE 3:30pm sharp. Finish Project A--DUE by end of class..

  

WEEK 11

11/1     ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class. Post on class blog at:

            http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

11/3     HD 101. Show Reels

WEEK 12

   

11/8     Group Project B. More time to work/refine project 3.  

11/10   Group Project B. More time to work/refine project 3. Attendance mandatory!           

  

WEEK 13

11/15   ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class. Post on class blog at:

            http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

   

11/17   Project 3 raw footage DUE! Troubleshooting help with projects

WEEK 14

 11/29   ONLINE viewing and critique due by end of class. Post on class blog at:

            http://gsujour4710.blogspot.com

12/1     Studio/editing time for Project B. Project 3 DUE end of class. 

WEEK 15

    .

12/5     Project B DUE. 4:40 pm sharp! Screening and Critique session

WEEK 16

12/     Final: Open book TEST