Final Studio Project

Objective 

Working in teams, create an original studio production using 3-cameras that will last upwards of 5 minutes.

Teams of students will produce a show of some kind, but it can't be a reproduction of our previous assignments (no interview shows or newsbreaks). Your show can be a demonstration/instructional, musical, artistic, etc. Try to come up with a subject that can actually be useful as in a How To show. 

Each team will produce their own show, but each member will take turns directing – and each member records their version to their own DVD-R. The team will then decide which among their shows they want to turn in for a grade. Only one version will be evaluated and the same grade goes to everyone on the team.

Each team will be given one class day to execute the production, but you'll get time to do prep work. The first team to start will be decided by a coin toss. 

Required elements

  • A slate,  title and credits must appear in the show
  • At least one PSA break
  • Use music - for titles and credits especially. Can bring your own music if you want
  • At least 2 over-the-shoulder graphics - can make them in a Photoshop template
  • At least 1 full-screen graphic
  • A segment that uses the Green Screen - this gets pre-recorded and then rolled into the show
  • A written proposal for your show, 3 pages minimum
  • A list that describes what each people did on your team
  • Script - director must mark script appropriately, but can't write down the cues.
Optional elements

  • You are welcome to bring in your own video or pull it off the Internet or from CNN Newsource
  • Use of sound effects
  • Teams are welcome to invite friends or even family members to participate in the production
NOT ALLOWED - Director Cheat Sheets

By now, you should know your cues. Writing them down and trying to read them during the production adds an element of

distraction. Director's scripts must be marked with proper production sources, but no written cues will be allowed. 


On the Day of Production

  • The team will hold a production meeting at the beginning of class. Use the meeting to describe the show and what roles people can play
  • Polish script and load into prompter - add media into CG and server
  • Team directs and records Green Screen Element
  • Team directs their show

Evaluations
I will base my evaluations on your originality and creativity, its content and execution. I will note whether you actually challenged yourself and others in the class to expand upon your skills. Your grade is also determined on how well you are prepared.

How to Write a Proposal: 3-pages minimum
The best rule is simplicity, clarity, and brevity. Some proposals can be hundreds of pages long, but each section in your proposal can be as long or as short as two paragraphs.  To know more about your subject you may have to do some research, but it shouldn’t take long to get some simple facts. The idea here is to sell your project.

Many proposals come with a budget as well as biographies of each person working on the show. You will not be required to add these sections, but be aware of the differences between the proposal you write for class and the kind you may write for real shows in your future careers. If this is something that you're really interested in, then you can get some good information from a book titled Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos by Alan Rosenthal, available from Amazon.Com. 


Proposal Elements
Your proposal should be organised in the following fashion:

  1. Title
  2. Objective - this section declares the purpose of your show (also known as the Process Message)
  3. Background - a brief summary (2 paragraphs minimum) of why this show should be made. This section reviews briefly any information that is necessary to acquaint the reader with the subject of the show. Find out if similar programs exist and how your show is unique. 
  4. Approach, form and style - this encompasses the show format and production methods you will use. Write this section as if your proposal is for a real show. Is this a single show, a series, are there field elements...? Take a good stab at this.
  5. Audience - who is your target audience and what do you know about them? This section sets out the possible channels of distribution for your show. Indicate whether you think this is a show for PBS, commercial broadcast, cable, home video, educational (for museums, public libraries, etc.). Knowing your audience helps you identify ways to market your video.