FINAL PROJECT

Final Project due Tuesday!!!!
Don't forget.

List of items to include in final project

I may have missed a few, but here is most of it. Please include everything you have.

Movie scene
Character exercise
.Biography
Music video
PSA
Radio advertisement
Commercial
Lead exercise (Squirrel and Birthday cake)
Headline writing
3 news articles (one radio)
promo writing
Headline and Blurbs
VO/SOT's
wake up in the morning routine
Pitch project #1
Pitch project #2
Anti-smoking PSA (Group)
Press Release (group)
show pitch
student biography
Pitch for Gaston TV show

Biography Pitch

Hi everyone,

Please make sure that you hand in your biography pitches by this THURSDAY.  This only applies to a handful of you.

I will give some time in class for anyone that hasn't finished their music video to finish up.

Key Dates

Here are some key dates for the rest of the semester:

April 18th: Blog Closeout
April 27th: Project 2 due
May 4: Final Project due (complilation of in class work)
May 6: Final exam due (take home open book)

HOME STRETCH!!!

BLOG CLOSEOUT APRIL 18th

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is enjoying their break.  I am closing out the grades on all blogs, Sunday April 18th.  That means you have three more entries due before then.  After that date, no more blog entries will be accepted.  This will give you free time to wrap up the semester and one less thing to worry about.

See you Thursday!

Reminder: Blogs!

Don't forget to do one blog entry a week for the rest of this semester!

Also, as we are now into documentary writing, I wanted to point out some resources in your book that would be helpful.  Check out pgs. 135-155!

Have a great weekend!

Reminder: Pitch for Project #2

Due Thursday!

E-mail if you have questions. 

thanks!

Pitch for Project #2

Pitch for Project #2 is due next Thursday. Please tell me if you plan to work with someone, and your topic. The assignment is to write a 3 page talk show, documentary or screenplay on the topic of your choice. If you work with someone, please submit 6 pages.

The completed assignment will be due last week in April.

Extra credit assignment

For extra credit, if you want it.

Come up with an idea for our talk show, Table Talk With Gaston College.

Write an intro and a close for the host, plus come up with lists of questions for each guest.

Please list who the guests are and their contact information (must be REAL people willing to come on the show)

Show description: (a work in progress)

Get personal with Gaston students as they talk about everything important to them. From issues in their lives to what's going around on campus to current events, Table Talk is a comprehensive look into life at Gaston College: socially, academically and personally.  

Remember: Drafts!

If you want me to look at drafts of project #1, please e-mail them to me!

Assignment recap...

Thursday--Blog entry current event of your choice.

Tuesday--Extra assignment to make up for snow day. Write a radio show. 2 pages. Any topic of your choice. You are on the radio--what do you want to talk about? Have fun with this, you can write about anything! I will give you time on Thursday's class to start working on it.

Thursday 2/18--Project #1 due. This is a news package. Use the example I handed out in class as your guide. You need to do interviews, pick your best sound and write a news story from it. Try to include a reporter stand-up. This is pretty much the same as the VO/SOT, just use more soundbites and make it a full story. Should be around 2 pages. I will look at drafts, so please send drafts to me if you would like some help.

For next class..

Please do a blog entry on the current event topic of your choice.

Also, remember I will take a look at drafts of your projects if you like, so please send them to me if you want me to look at them.

Starting writing for radio on Tuesday!

For next class...

Please submit in writing questions for your interviewees for your package.
Do not put this in your blog.


Also, please do one blog entry about a current affair topic of your choice.

Package example

This is a good example of a package script, except the soundbites are not logged and it doesn't tell us what the video is.  But a decent example of how to put the story together...

THERE WERE MANY HAPPY HOMECOMINGS THIS AFTERNOON AT THE WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD HEADQUARTERS.

EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER KENNIE BASS WAS AT THE CELEBRATION. HE JOINS US LIVE FROM OUR CHARLESTON NEWSROOM WITH THE STORY.

THIS TYPE OF STORY NEVER GETS OLD.

AFTER A YEAR SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN IRAQ, THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE 150TH ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON AND 230TH FORWARD SUPPORT COMPANY ARE BACK HOME IN THE LOVING ARMS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

NAT SOT

Kennie Bass/Eyewitness News: Rachel Hossain leaps into the arms of her fiancee's Specialist John Warner.

He and his fellow soldiers have been gone for a year working in Iraq.

Spc. John Warner/W.Va. Army National Guard:

Rachel Hossain/Ashford:

Kennie Bass/Eyewitness News: During their year in Iraq, the 150th and 230th performed route security, patrols, guard duty, humanitarian work and infrastructure improvement.

These soldiers are based out of several locations in southern West Virginia.

Their commanding officer says he's proud of the way they handled their mission, which for many was a second deployment to Iraq.

General Allen Tackett says it's much more enjoyable welcoming his troops home than bidding them farewell.

General Allen Tackett/W.Va. National Guard:

Kennie Bass/Eyewitness News: Although these reunions were delayed a few hours because of bad weather it didn't appear to dampen the spirits of either the soldiers or those waiting for them to arrive.



NOT EVERY MEMBER OF THE SQUADRON IS HOME YET.

ABOUT ANOTHER 120 SOLDIERS ARE SCHEDULED TO RETURN ON WEDNESDAY.

A FINAL GROUP CONSISTING OF ABOUT 140 MORE TROOPS WILL ARRIVE IN WEST VIRGINIA THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.

REPORTING LIVE IN THE CHARLESTON NEWSROOM, KENNIE BASS EYEWITNESS NEWS.

VO/SOT example

POLICE IN PORTSMOUTH OHIO NEED YOUR HELP TONIGHT IN FINDING A MAN THEY SAY ROBBED A CREDIT UNION EARLIER TODAY.

EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER BRYANT SOMERVILLE WAS ON THE SCENE JUST AFTER IT ALL HAPPENED...HE JOINS US NOW LIVE IN HUNTINGTON WITH THE LATEST, BRYANT.

RICK, WITH TEN BRANCHES, THE ATOMIC CREDIT UNION HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS OVER 55 YEARS...BUT TODAY PROVED...THERES A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

PORTSMOUTH POLICE SAY THIS ATOMIC CREDIT UNION, LOCATED NEAR 27TH STREET AND SCIOTO TRAIL, WAS ROBBED AROUND 1030 THIS MORNING.

THE WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN CARRYING SOME SORT OF WEAPON AT THE TIME OF THE ROBBERY...AS OF NOW ITS UNDETERMINED IF HE MADE OFF WITH ANY CASH.

AARON MICHAEL, WHO IS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE CREDIT UNION SAYS LUCKILY NO CUSTOMERS WERE INSIDE AT THE TIME...HOWEVER THERE WERE SEVEN EMPLOYEES, BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED.

"this is one of our busiest branches, ten branches we've been open for 55 eyars and this is the first time we've experienced anything like this."

POLICE NEED YOUR HELP TONIGHT IN FINDING WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BANK ROBBERY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP POLICE IN THEIR SEARCH, YOU'RE ASKED TO GIVE THEM A CALL AT 740.354.5268

REPORTING LIVE IN HUNTINGTON; BSO; EYEWITNESS NEWS.

Tips on writing good news scripts

I found this, I thought it might be helpful with your projects.  Tips for writing the best news story!

Step One: Evaluate your footage..find the five best Sound bites and actuality segments  It just makes sense to use the best material you have.  Don't get tied down by WORDS..think best experiences...strongest Interview bites...Just watch your footage and take notes..The best material needs no rationalization. It just works Find approximately 5-6 pieces, short Interviews, exciting clips of your product in action and customer testimonials (a must).  It used to be that 3D graphics with cool music would always grab the viewer in a promo video..but how authentic is that?  Is Authenticity important to your final product?  Customer Testimonials are some of the best ways to connect with a viewer.  If you don't have these as part of your promo...go out and shoot some!!!

Don't be trapped to a script...write around the best elements you have.  To some the concept of having no script , and working around your best material is so scary that they will terrify you with tales of projects gone awry.. But for basic short reality, documentary, news or promotional video....working around the material..instead of fitting the material into the script. will make you look like a genius even if you are not. That is why it is best to first select the best elements you have..than work the script/narration around these pre-existing sound bites and actualities. Arrange your elements on 3X7 cards and create the organization, flow of information or story line. Then start brainstorming the connections between these elements.

Scripting a promo or news piece is just like connecting the dots...  Once you have an idea of the flow of your main elements.  You can begin to script...this is easier and more fun than trying to be an Einstein and create a script out of thin air. The elements tell you what to write. Look at your sound bites and actualities ..the best five things....organized in a rough order ...These elements are like the dots in the above image. Start connecting the dots.. Instead of creating the narration out of thin air..these "dots" help tell you what to write. For instance in a promo video you may have an Interview with a customer as your second 3X7 Card....that means you need to write a set up that introduces this person and what they are going to say. example "How do school teachers feel about our science DVDs?" then edit in customer testimony. This technique of finding the best stuff..organizing a rough order, than using these as a guide to writing your script is common in newsrooms across the globe. The connections we are discussing can be narration, on-camera reporter, voice over, TEXT on screen, or even the realization that NO SCRIPTED NARRATION IS NEEDED..the piece works fine with the people in it telling the story. Remember to keep the attention of your viewer, you must change the modality of the their video experience...mix up the interviews with the live action material...

Pitches for Project #1 and assignment for Thursday

To be clear...
Here is the assignment for Thursday.
If you misunderstoood the pitch assignment for Thursday, here it is. You can hand in Thursday without penalty due to the confusion.

Write a pitch for project #1, the news package.

Tell me your idea---who you will interview, what is your topic. Always better to write about what you know!

You are creating this news story, it can be about something on campus or someone in your lives.

You will need to interview at least 2 people for the final assignment.

For your blogs...
Watch 2 news packages from a newscast and reflect on the content and writing. Good use of sound? interesting topic? Compelling video? Clear and easy to understand?

Logline examples from popular movies

Some examples of loglines from famous movies...


When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by an insane and corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge. (Gladiator)

In a future where criminals are arrested before the crime occurs, a cop struggles on the lam to prove his innocence for a murder he has not yet committed. (Minority Report)

A 17th Century tale of adventure on the Caribbean Sea where the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow joins forces with a young blacksmith in a gallant attempt to rescue the Governor of England's daughter and reclaim his ship. (Pirates of the Caribbean)

A young man and woman from different social classes fall in love, must outwit her abusive fiancé, and find a way to survive aboard an ill-fated voyage at sea. (Titanic)

A comedic portrayal of a young and broke Shakespeare who falls in love with a woman, inspiring him to write "Romeo and Juliet. (Shakespeare in Love)

An archeologist is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis. (Raiders of the Lost Ark)

Next class--Pitch for Project #1 due!

For next class:
write a pitch for your first project, the news package. What is the logline? The NABC?
Tell me who you are going to interview, your topic, etc.
Sell the idea to me!

Please check revised syllabus for new project due dates.

***There will be no blog entry due next class. I want you to spend extra time thinking about the plan for your first project.

Blogs

I'll go over this in class, but I started reviewing your blogs, and I wanted to stress how important your blogs will be to your grade in this class. You will be not be graded on each individual blog, but the blog as a whole. However, late entries and entries where no effort has been put into them will hurt your grade.

Here is your how your grade will be broken down for the class.

Project 1 15%
Project 2 15%
Project 3 30%
Blog 30%
Participation 10%

Just something to keep in mind as we continue the semester!

Assignments for Thursday

Hello!

Here is a recap of the assignments for Thursday.

1) Write (in word not on your blog) a description of your morning routine. Put it in script format as we discussed in the class, with the video on the left and writing on the right. Please describe for me how you would describe this if you were writing a scene about this.

2) One blog entry about a current affair topic of your choice,

Remember, assignments must be turned in on time or they will be considered late!

Tuesday Assignment and Project Info

Hello everybody!

I started looking at the writing exercise today, and you guys really did a great job for the first stab at it!

Here is the project info we discussed today.

Project #1:
Write a 1:30 news package. You must include 2 interviews and visually describe for me what you would include for video if you were to produce it. I will give you a template to fill out for your script. Please start thinking about ideas, because I want to approve them before you start.

Project #2:
Write a 10 minute documentary, radio show or TV pilot. Please talk to me when you have an idea, as I want to approve the idea before you start!

Final Project:
A portfolio of all your work this semester. Save all returned assignments and put them in a neat binder to hand into me at the end of the semester.


Tuesday's assignment:
Watch a local newscast between 5-7pm before Tuesday. Please write on your blog which newscast you watched and when you watched it. Please watch the 1st 15 minutes of the newscast and log all the stories that you saw. Please blog for me what you noticed about the writing in relation to the handout I gave you today. Did the writing capture your attention? Was it timely and active? Was it confusing at all?

PLEASE REMEMBER TO EMAIL ME YOUR BLOG INFORMATION ASAP SO I CAN TRACK YOUR PROGRESS.

Thanks and have a great long weekend!

Assignment for Thursday

Just a reminder that the assignment for Thursday is to write a 100 word biography about yourself. If you write it on your blog, please remember to print it out.

Please email me the title of your blog so I can check it when entries are due. If you emailed my Gaston account and it got sent back, it's because my e-mail is not set up yet. Please e-mail my personal email carmody_kate@hotmail.com in the meantime.

Also, I forgot to mention in class that I will need the back page of the syllabus returned with your signature by next Tuesday's class.

You may want to subscribe to this blog, so you get my updates. Just click "subscribe" on this page.

Thanks!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Broadcast Writing class at Gaston College!

Here I will post all pertinent information for assignments and any important information for the class. You'll want to check this blog frequently.

You'll be creating a blog just like this one to comment on TV and radio news stories. It's a great way to express yourself so have fun with it!

If have questions or need to set up an appointment, I can be reached always at carmody_kate@hotmail.com

I look forward to this semester. Broadcast Writing can be a lot of fun!