Communication 355

Video I: Principles and Practices

Richard Wood 443 Innovation Hall 993-3116    rwood@gmu.edu	Gina “Pizza and Pasta” Valvo gvalvo@gmu.edu	Susan Kehoe   445 Innovation Hall 993-3108 skehoe@gmu.edu

 

Objectives: To provide students with a basic understanding of camera operation, framing and composition, audio, editing, and lighting.

Materials:  Herb Zettl (2010).  Video Basics 6.  (REQUIRED) Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing.  Rick Young (2007) Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro 6.  (Recommended) Focal Press.  Six high-grade Mini-DV tapes.  Make sure it says “High Grade” or “Premium Grade” on the box.

Requirements:  Lecture material is contained in video modules that you are required to watch outside of lab time.  These modules are aired on various cable channels (check GMU-TV’s web site: www.gmutv.gmu.edu for times and channels.)  DVD’s are also available for viewing in the Johnson Center Library.  Ask the librarians for the video modules for COMM 355 by lecture name.

In-class lab time is spent working with the equipment and practicing basic video skills.  STAR also has open lab time for you to come in and practice newly learned skills and to ask questions.  Use this time wisely.

Learning Environment: The goals of this class include creating an equitable learning environment. We will uphold all published university policies regarding sexual harassment and equal opportunity. Appropriate adjustments will be made for students with special needs. Within two weeks of the start of the semester (or of diagnosis), please bring a letter from Disability Support Services, or have Disability Support Services write us directly, confirming and describing your special needs and identifying the kinds of adjustments you will need to succeed. This information will be kept confidential.

Grading:	Letter Grades:
Quizzes 20 Points Participation 10 Points Production Crew 5 Points Shot List 5 Points Project 1 10 Points Project 2 20 Points Project 3 30 Points Total Possible Points 100 Points	A 100-93 A- 92-90 B+ 89-87 B 86-83 B- 82-80 C+ 79-77 C 76-73 C- 72-70 D 69-60 F 59-0

Equipment Checkout – In order to complete your assignments, you will need to schedule time to check out equipment including cameras, tripods, microphones, edit bays. Please plan in advance. There are multiple classes that depend on this equipment.

 

 

Workload:

               

Quizzes – There are a total of 11 quizzes. One mandatory quiz, which is the practical editing quiz. Of the remaining 10 written quizzes, your lowest score will be dropped, giving you a total of 10 quizzes overall. This means you may take all 10 written quizzes and we will drop the lowest written quiz score or you may elect not to take one written quiz. There are no make-up quizzes.  Written quizzes are administered on the World Wide Web via Blackboard at: http:/courses.gmu.edu Quizzes must be completed prior to the start of your class.  Example: Quiz 1 must be completed prior to class on 9/8 for Tuesday students and on 9/10 for Thursday students. Quizzes include questions from class lectures, the modules, and reading assignments.

               

Participation – Students are expected to attend class on time and for the full class, participate in class discussions, be professional both in and outside of the class, and be careful with the video equipment.  All in-class assignments count toward participation grades.

               

Production Crew – Students are required to volunteer as crew for a video production group for 5 hours over the course of the semester. You may volunteer at STAR, Fairfax Public Access (FPA), GMU-TV, Arlington Independent Media, Falls Church Community Access Television etc. Volunteering for a student production does not count toward production crew hours.  Please talk with your instructor about where you'll be volunteering. You must complete your crew hours and submit verification (Contact name, phone number, location, and number of hours).   Crew hours will not be accepted after the last day of class.

               

Shot List - See Blackboard site for instructions (Assignments/Shot List)

                Projects: It is your responsibility to ensure that you are clear about the requirements for each assignment well before the due date.  (Due dates are listed in the syllabus.)  If you have questions, please contact your instructors. No projects will be accepted after the due date.

               

Project #1 – The Interview
Part One: Working in pairs, students will script and shoot two interviews on brand new videotape. Each student will serve as videographer and talent. Each interview is shot on its own tape.
Videographers are responsible for audio quality and properly framing and shooting the following:

·          Standard interview shot, over-the-shoulder/reaction shot, and question re-asks.

·          Preparing at least 8-10 open ended questions, booking the guest, preparing the guest, ensuring talent and guest are appropriately dressed and miced.

·          You must use a tripod.

·          As Videographer you may not appear on camera.

 

Talent is responsible for:

·          Showing up at the appropriate place/time, and wearing appropriate dress.

·           Reviewing the questions in advance to ensure the interview runs smoothly.

All footage included in your piece must be original, shot by you specifically for this project. It is your responsibility to ensure the equipment you check out from STAR is in proper working order before, during, and after the shoot.

 

Part Two: Working alone, and using the footage you shot, each student will edit the interview down to a 2-3 minute package. The production must be 2 to 3 minutes in length (Every 30 seconds under or over a production goes will result in a loss of a letter grade. Deductions start at 1:59 and 3:01 respectively.)

Packages must include:

·          The standard interview shot

·          The question re-asks(reversal shot)

·          At least one over-the-shoulder/reaction shot

·          30 seconds of black at the start and end (Does not count toward overall length of piece)

·          Additionally, your Final Cut Pro timeline must be uploaded to the Blackboard site.

Aspects that determine your grade include: Have you met the necessary requirements; the quality of shot composition and framing; audio quality - you must use an external microphone - using the on-camera mic will result in losing points; a general awareness of your lighting environment; is your production free of jump cuts and poor audio edits; did you cross the axis? Your project and timeline are due the day/time of your lab. Late projects will not be accepted. Blank tapes or dvd’s and late projects will not be accepted. You are expected to review your project before submitting.

 

Project #2 – The Training Video

Part One: Working in pairs, students will complete one well thought out, scripted production. Using a pre-approved theme, each team will create one original video with a storyboard outlining a "How To" process.

Your production must include:

·          An on or off-camera narrator.

·          You must also have 2 people speaking to each other, on camera, each framed in their own single shot.

·          There must be at least 6 different shots using a variety of tight, medium, and wide shots.

·          You must use a tripod.

·          You must use one brand new tape to acquire the footage and a second brand new tape to edit the master.

 

To stress the importance of pre-production planning, all footage must be shot entirely in sequence. As part of your pre-production planning, each team will turn in a treatment and storyboard prior to taping. All storyboards must be approved by the instructor before production begins. Groups will review each other's storyboards and offer critiques and suggestions. The pre-production will account for 20% of your grade, and the production and post-production will be the remaining 80%.

 

Part Two: Editing.  Each group will edit one master tape using the “best” take of every shot, maintaining the sequential order of the shots as they exist on the raw tape.  Beyond simple assembling of your piece, no additional editing is allowed (i.e. adding music, sound effects, titles, special effects, post production voice-overs, etc.) Each group must turn in their source tape with their master tape (each labeled correctly) as well as their Final Cut Pro timeline. You must have at least thirty seconds of black at the beginning and the end of your production, (this will not count towards the final length.) The production must be 3 to 5 minutes in length (Every 30 seconds under or over a production goes will result in a loss of a letter grade. Deductions start at 2:59 and 5:01 respectively.)

Aspects that will determine your grade include:

·          Have you met the necessary requirements? Beyond simple assembling of your piece, no additional editing is allowed.

·          The quality of shot composition and framing.

·          Audio quality - you must use an external microphone - using the on-camera mic will result in losing points.

·          A general awareness of your lighting environment.

·          Is your production free of jump cuts and poor audio edits?

·          Did you cross the axis?

All footage included in your piece must be original, shot by you specifically for this project.
It is your responsibility to ensure the equipment you check out from STAR is in proper working order before, during, and after the shoot. Your project and timeline is due the day/time of your lab. Blank tapes or dvd’s and late projects will not be accepted. You are expected to review your project before submitting.

 

Project #3 – The Narrative

Working solo, or in groups no greater than 4, you will produce a narrative retelling of a fairytale or children's song. The production must be 3 to 5 minutes long (Every 30 seconds under or over a production goes will result in a loss of a letter grade. Deductions start at 2:59 and 5:01 respectively.) Final product must be turned in on a brand new tape. In addition, your productions must include the following:

·          Two tracks of audio

·          Nat sound, music and dialogue

·          Five different locations including indoor and outdoor

·          You must use a tripod

·          Must have a variety of shots including tight, medium, and wide

·          Opening titles and closing credits

·          Complete Leader (15 seconds black, 10 seconds slate, 10 seconds countdown) Note: Slate does not count as opening titles nor does it count toward the final TRT

·          30 seconds of black at end (does not count toward final TRT)

·          Excellent shot composition and framing, as well as fluid and appropriate camera moves

·          Excellent audio and lighting

·          Treatment, storyboard and script

·          Judicious use of effects

All treatments and storyboards must be approved by the instructor before production begins.

This is a production class. You must be part of the production crew in order to receive a grade for this project. This is not an acting class. Therefore working as talent does not count toward your grade. If you choose to work alone, under no circumstances should you appear on camera.  It is critical that everyone on the production team participates in the pre-production, production, and post-production process.

Aspects that will determine your grade include:

·          Have you met the necessary requirements?

·          Projects will also be graded on the quality of shot composition, framing and camera moves

·          Use of axis, motion vectors

·          The quality of your lighting

·          The quality of your audio

·          Whether your production is free of jump cuts, flash frames, dropped frames and other render issues.

In addition, each group will submit a peer evaluation. Pre-production is worth 20%, final product is worth 70%, and the peer evaluations are worth 10% of your total grade. Peer evaluations are due the day the project is turned in. Peer evaluations may be handwritten or submitted via e-mail. All footage included in your piece must be original, shot by you specifically for this project. It is your responsibility to ensure the equipment you check out from STAR is in proper working order before, during, and after the shoot.  Blank tapes or dvd’s and late projects will not be accepted. You are expected to review your project before submitting.

 

Fall 2009 Tentative Schedule

© 2009 Richard, Susan, & Associates