Friday assignment

Read in Dotson’s book pages 55 thru 71. Then:

1. What do you find most interesting about what he says on these pages?
So I accidentally read the later pages and I thought the story about the San Fransisco earthquakes was really touching.  Just reading it I felt the impact of the earthquake.  It was really sad to read about the guy who was just trying to save people.
 What stands out as particularly useful to you as a storyteller?
 The way he uses his words was really touching.  Just the way he would talk about the issue that was going on had such an affect on the people.  Like in Union. 

2. What is the name of the story, and on what date did it first air?

Pianist loses fingers in snow blower, lives to play  January 21, 2013

3. List and describe four instances of natural sound.
The sound of the piano in the church
Sound of snow blower running
People clapping for Jim


4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting.
I loved the shot from above the piano from behind the person playing in the church (m)
The (m) shot of his cut off fingers
(w) of Jim's drive way
(t) of Jim's stub fingers


5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)
Man continues to play with less fingers.

6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. (100 words)

I read the wrong section.

Take a week off from Bob Dotson’s book. This week, we focus on camera shots (follow the link to the list if you need a refresher). Watch both of the videos embedded below.

Then, pick the one you find more interesting. For it, you’re going to write a shot-by-shot account of it (pausing so you can describe each shot). It will take a little while. (You can look at my sample for the Boyd Huppert story we watched in class). On your blog post, give the following information:
Story title: The Art of Violin Bow Making
Total Run Time: 2:28
Then, list (and number) each shot in sequence and describe each in 4 to 8 words.
1.  Tying apron, explaining who he is. (t)
2.  Rolling sleeves (t)
3.  His face.  explaining what he makes.
4.  Sanding the bow.  (cutaway) (t)
5.  His face (cutaway)
6.  (m) of his face explaining the bow is made in three parts
7.
What you noticed overall:
When I watch these videos i really start to notice the camera work.  I see the eyes on thirds and The depth of shots.  It's really weird when you start to really look for those things. But this video had a lot of great shots! They were a lot of really good depth shots, and a lot of shots you don't normally see.

-http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbcnews.com/49906045#49906045

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nbcnews.com/49548763#49548763

Interview Notes

FORMAL INTERVIEW:

1.  Show up early, set-up and put mic on chair
2.   Run Mic Up shirt
3.   Reporter should distract and make a connection
4.   Photographer is listening in headphones
5.   Frame up shot:  Eyes on Third, Talking Space/Nose Room, Cam Eye Level,
6.   Photographer gives signal:  Clears Throat... to signal he/she is ready for the interview to start
7.  1st Question is always  State your name and spell it...
8.  Open Ended Questions
9.  Last Question is always "Is there anything else you want to say"
10. Shoot Cut Aways of Hands or Reporter


Copy and paste the following questions and answer them on your blog:

Run and Gun Interviews:

1.  What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
It's in the moment. Usually a few questions.

2.  What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
ALWAYS check your equipment.

3.  Why do you think we should ask for permission?
Because sometimes they don't want to be interviewed.  Be polite.

4.  Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?

To use their name later when putting it on the air.

5.  Where should we place the microphone?
Out of Shot (hopefully),  Keeping the mic towards the bottom of the shot.

6.  Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
Never

7.  The photographer is responsible for the sound levels.  What are two things the photog should be aware of?
Make sure the sound meter is okay. Not in red
Watch the background noise.

8.  COMPOSITION:  How we should frame our interview shot:
a.  Eyes on Thirds
b.  2 Eyes One Ear
c.  Camera should be Even with the subject
d.  Talking space or Nose Room


BACKGROUNDS:
9. Avoid shooting in front of  window.

10.  Why should we keep signs out of the background?
So people aren't reading that or trying to.

11.  If we were doing an interview about the high cost of parking at EVHS where would a good place to interview be?
Out in the parking lot.

12.  What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?
 Doing something as you're interviewing them .

Interviewing

Start a conversation that has nothing to do nothing with the topic
 1:  Say your first and last name and spell it.
2:  Last thing, id there anything else they would like to add
3:  Avoid verbal respondses
4:  Let them fill the silence

The Components of a Broadcast Story

This is how a story is put together.

1st We come up with a Topic:
2nd We decide on a Focus Statement:
3rd:  We Conduct Interviews to get Sound Bites to use in the interview:
4th We Shoot B-Roll to complement the sound bites
5th  We Shoot our stand-up
6th:  We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Seques between interviews.


                                                                                                                                                                   
1: Cross Country Homecoming
2:  CC team runs ball far
3:  Kid in the beginning says" Our Cross Country team holds traditions very dear to us."
4: Helicopter following them down the highway.
5: The linking shot of the team mates handing off the ball.
6: He [the reporter] tells us that the opposing team is 168 miles away.

EASTVIEW MEAL TIME!

EASTVIEW MEAL TIME!
feat: Grace, Andrew, David.

Break In video questions

1.  What is the lead in this story?  Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
You never would think it could happen to you, but someone broke into your house through the doggy door.

2.  What are the 5W's of this story:  Who, What, Where, When, Why
Heather. Her house was broken into. Denver, CO. 2 weeks ago.

3.   Give an example of the reporters Voice over or segue (Write it down word for word)
In Heather's case, they got away with a computer and some other electronics.

4.  When do we see the reporter's stand-up?  Beginning, Middle, or End?
Middle.

5.  What is the purpose of this reporter's stand-up?
To put a voice to the face.

STAND-UPS

• Move the story forward
• Reporter becomes B-roll
• Takes me to the scene
• Use Props
• Be creative and surprise people

"Make It Memorable" by Bob Dotson - Reading/Questions

ASSIGNMENT FOR FRIDAY:

Regarding the book by Bob Dotson, Make It Memorable: Please read the introduction and Section One (pages 3-41). Then, answer the following questions and be sure to exceed the requested word counts:

o What do you notice about the way he writes?

I absolutely love the way Mr. Dotson writes. The way he writes makes it easy for almost anyone to relate too. He does a wonderfully job of building off of what he already has said.  It makes him a lot more credible and doesn't make me feel like I can’t trust this persons’ writings.  He also fleshes out what he writes and makes it a lot easier to understand what his point is.  I really admire that in a author of any kind.

o What did you learn from reading pages 9 to 27?

What I took away from reading this was if I remember a lot of what I hear then I can instantly tell a better story.  The way he would remember things made it better than bits and pieces from a story.  It was the whole thing.  His advice that he gave towards the beginning of the book (The rule of thirds, Filling the Silence and Non-question/Question) where really helpful in my opinion.  My favorite was the Non-question/Question, I loved the story about that prince and his dad.  

o With the scripts: What do suppose is described in each column? Why would it be split like that? What else is interesting about the scripts?

The way Dotson wrote was super unique.  He really doesn’t follow anyone’s rules.  Some parts of the book where really “by the book” kind of writing and others were what I would do to get more organized.  It makes me relate back to the intro where the guy talks about how Dotson really does do his own thing, and I think this book expresses that perfectly.

10 Steps to Great Camera Work

These are the 10 steps to great camera work!

1. Action
2. Reaction
3. Wide
4. Medium
5. Tight
6. Lighting
7. Background
8. Audio
9. The Nose Knows
10. Eyes on thirds

Changing Idenity

We will begin by watching a High School broadcast story titled Changing Identity

Answer the following questions on a blog post about the story:

1.  Identify and explain as many WALLDO shots as you can.
They have a lot of low shots. They have a lot of creative shots, such as behind the toaster.  Had a nice linking shot of the wind chimes, going down to Noah.  The toaster was depth.

2.  What is Natural Sound?
Natural sound is what you hear in the background.  The noise that is already there.

3.  Identify several examples of Natural Sound in this story?
The toaster, his piano, his dog, cars in the background.

4.  How does Natural Sound enhance the story?
It makes it sound more real.  The dog and he toaster, I feel as though this natural noise is kind of a comforting sound to show that Noah is just like everyone else and his gender doesn't make him any more different.

MAKE UP

If you were absent on Tuesday:

Watch a 1 to 2 minute news video from KARE11, WCCOTV, or KSTP
http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1023782/14/Strange-chandeliering-ice-phenomena-unfolds-at-Medicine-Lake

Answer the following 2 questions:

1.  What did you like/notice about the camera shots?
They link from the kids playing to the ice on the other size. They got a little low to see the ice splitting.

2.  What did you like/notice about the story?
I liked that the meteorologist  mentioned it and more people got involved and told stories about the ice doing this before.

WALLDO - 6 Camera Angles

WALLDO

6 Camera Angles

• Wide- Many subjects in one scene
• Angle- Shoot at an angle, not always staight on
• Low- Put the camera below the person, get down on the ground
• Linking- Can tell 2 stories with one shot, pan left to right
• Depth- Can show creativity, having something in the foreground and backgroung
• Opposite- Action/ reaction, get the action and then the reaction, film from a way you normally wouldn't

Madison's Story

The camera work in Madison's story is really great.  When ever they had interviews in place, the person being interviewed always had talking space.  They also did a really good job with having eyes on thirds.  They also did a really good job with transitions and cut away shots.

This story is really inspirational to anyone.  You don't need a disability to find something in this story.  Everyone has hardships and Madison proves that you don't need to let stop you from doing anything you put your mind to. 

A-Roll:  Anything in the story that you hear. (Interviews, reporter voice overs, natural sound)
B-Roll:  Video footage that compliments the story. 
Nat Sound: The natural sound you hear.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Opening Assignment: 

Watch the latest Land of 10,000 stories:  A Publishers Dream

Answer the following questions about the story:

1.  What is the focus statement of this story? 

Publisher's passion fueled by sun

2.  Give examples of W-M-T sequences





The angles on his new car were W-M-T

3.  Give examples of The Rule of Thirds




The computer screens were in the cross hair. The solar panels were on the top line.

4.  Give examples of Eyes on Third




My eyes where followed the top line when they were displaying the solar roof.

5.  Give examples of Talking Space


Whenever they interviewed him, He had talking space. Or when they asked other people questions they always had talking space.

6.  What did you like about story?


I like the guys passion for a green work space.  He was willing to shovel off his roof in the winder, that's awesome.

Notes

1.  What is a Focus Statement?  Define
a statement that gives you a central idea.

2.  Why do we need a Focus Statement?
it gives us a focus on a certain thing /person. also lets us stay on task.

3.  Give an example of a Focus Statement sentence.
girls making their homecoming dresses

4.  Give an example of a Focus Statement in 3 words: (Subject-Verb-Object)
girls make dresses

5.  What are the 6 Essential Equipment items you need with you when shooting an interview?
tripod, camera , microphone, batteries ,media ,headphones

6.  Why is a tripod important? 
it keeps it completely still

7.  The Tripod is my / friend/

8.  Define:  Pan
moving the shot left and right

9.  Define:  Tilt
moving the shot up and down

10.  Why are headphones important?  
so you can listen to the recording audio

11.  Why is it important to TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU GO ON SHOOT!
to make it work when you need it because you cant re-shoot sometimes nor do you want to.

12.  Define Wide shot:
a shot that takes in a lot of space overall feel

13.  Why do we need a wide shot?
they help us understand the environment

14.  Define Medium shot:
a shot that takes up space but not as much  adds detail

15.  Why do we need a medium shot?
adds more detail and info

16.  Define a tight shot.
a close up if you will of an object or person. lots of detail

17.  Why do we need a tight shot?
useful in the way of the detail is very good.

18.  What is a sequence?
A series of connected shots

19.  Why do we need a sequence?
they give us more understanding of the scene

Criteria of Newsworthiness

Today you will read pages 21,22, and 23 of "The News" packet. Copy the following questions on to your blog and answer.

1.  Identify, define, and give an example of the 6 criteria of newsworthiness.

Criteria 1: Unusualness.
Definition:  Different, unusual, out of the ordinary.  Unusual news is more often, bad news.
Example: A plane crashing.

Criteria 2: Significance.
Definition: An important event, something that effects many people.
Example: Taxes, elections, war, the economy.

Criteria 3: Timeliness
Definition: Something that is happening right now, not later.
Example: a developing bank robbery, or flood.

Criteria 4: Proximity
Definition: News that is local
Example: The school's budget, new ball park in town.

Criteria 5: Prominence
Definition: When well-known people, buildings, or places are involved.
Example: Movie-star being arrested.

Criteria 6: Human Interest
Definition: News with emotional and personal appeal.
Example: Minister running a drop-in center for troubled teens.

2. On page 23 it discusses the differences between print journalism and broadcast journalism.  Please describe 3 ways they are different and explain.  Print news is more in-depth coverage of multiple stories.
 Radio is broadcasted and usually the more timely of all others because it is in the moment. Televised news is the more dramatic because is uses music and visuals with its stories.

3.  List all the criteria the story we watched at the beginning of class fits under and why.

• Unusualness - There were pigs grazing after the accident.
• Timeliness - The story was covered that day.
• Prominence - happened on I-94

4.  List all the criteria the 2nd story we watched fits under and why.

• Unusualness - 1 deaf dog and 1 blind dog helping each other.
• Timeliness - Dogs that needed a home in that moment.
• Proximity - They were in the metro area.
• Human Interest - The dogs needed each other and couldn't be separated.

5.  List all the criteria the 3rd story we watched fits under and why.

•  Significance - The MTV Awards is well known by a lot of people.
• Timeliness - It happens every year.
• Prominence - Celebrities doing weird things.

Interview of a Classmate

Luis Morfin, is no first time traveler.  Since the age of 5, Morfin has been flying to Mexico City to see his mother and the back to Minnesota.  “I must have been really nervous because I threw up about 3 times” Morfin recalls.  He sometimes gets nervous now when he fly’s but nothing that bad he reassures me.

            Last year was the first year he traveled alone.  He was on his way home from a visit in Mexico City, and was now in the Huston Texas airport.  “A man approached me and I had no idea who he was.” Morfin says.  “He asked me where I was coming from and going to.  HE asked me about the terminals because the one to C was broken or something.  When we got on the train he sat by me and asked me for my Facebook name. I told him I didn’t have one.  He asked for and e-mail and finally my phone number.  I just told him my parent were very strict.  I locked myself in the bathrrom for about an hour.” Morfin says.  I asked him if he thinks he was following him, he said yes.  But that wasn’t the only strange occurrence that morning while waiting for his flight. He was also asked if he enjoyed the Bartz Mustapha.  

Even through all the weird happenings Morfin is still excited for his future travels.  HE plans on going to France for his dream vacation and then going to Spain where he hopes to live one day.

Interviewing a Classmate - Questions

1.       3 things you can’t live without.

 phone

 computer

 family

2.       Best thing to have happen to you this school year.

 Lunch with his friends all 4 quarters

3.       Favorite place to visit and why.

 Wisconsin Dells.  He really enjoyed it.

4.       Favorite teacher at Eastview.

 Mr. Sherwin

5.       Favorite thing to do on a rainy day.

 Watching TV

6.       If you could change the mascot, what would it be and why would it be that?

 No cats, there are to many of those.

7.       If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Spain

8.       If you could trade places with a celebrity, who would it be and why?

Jennifer Lowrance

9.       If you’re life were a movie, what movie would it be?

A very boring movie.

10.   Something not a lot of people know about you.

 He's Mexican

11.   Weirdest food you’ve ever tried.

Turtle Eggs.  He didn't like them.

12.   What spring sport teams do you think will go to state?

All of our teams.

13.   What’s something you want to do/achieve before you kick the bucket?

Sky diving.

14.   What’s your dream vacation?

France.

15.   What’s your summer 2013 playlist?

Anything on the radio right now.

16.   What board game can you beat anyone at?

Candy land.