Reading

I liked how he talked a lot about natural sound to tell the stories and accent the dramatic build in the story. I thought it was very interesting how he said silence can be so powerful and it is worth to have in a story even though it is so hard to write it. I liked how he said you should pick a good scene or soundbite in your story and use the entire story to build up to that moment to make it the most important and relevant.

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

Breast cancer fundraiser gains relevance in Austin February 4, 2013

3. List and describe four instances of natural sound. 

1. the wind outside
2. the talking in the nail room
3. background noise in the interviews
4. the hugs

4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting.

1. the picture of her family is like a rotating tight shot
2. the tight shot of the flag flapping in the wind
3. the depth shot of women getting their nails painted during the interviews
4. tight shot of painting the nails

5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)
Fundraiser leader's breast cancer story
6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. (100 words)
The story "Breast cancer fundraiser gains relevance in Austin" uses Dotson's "Building Blocks" in several ways throughout the story. The reporter picked a scene, when the women reveals she has cancer once again, and builds the rest of the story around that. The beginning talks about the fundraiser and what a large part she plays in it and then reveals how much more of a personal matter it truly is for her and the rest of the community. Silence is used fittingly when she talks about not only her own cancer but her husbands as well. the silence between her words and phrases shows her emotion as she chooses her words and what all to tell. 

Interviewing Notes

Run and Gun Interviews:

1.  What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
When youre just shooting a bunch of informal interviews

2.  What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
Ask their permission

3.  Why do you think we should ask for permission?
Its polite, and legal stuff

4.  Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?
So that we can pronounce and spell the name correctly

5.  Where should we place the microphone?
"Hang loose" away

6.  Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
NO

7.  The photographer is responsible for the sound levels.  What are two things the photographer should be aware of?
1. The sound meter, making sure its at the proper level.
2. Background noise

8.  COMPOSITION:  How we should frame our interview shot:
a.  Eyes on _____third______
b.  2 Eyes One _____ear_____
c.  Camera should be Higher, Even, or Lower than subject? Even
d.  Talking space or ____nose ____ Room


BACKGROUNDS:
9. Avoid shooting in front of  _____windows_______.

10.  Why should we keep signs out of the background?
Distractions

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

12.  What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?
It gives the person being interviewed something to focus on and show off a point the story is trying to make. (requires a wireless mic)

Mudhouse Skrip

shot of coffee grinder	Grinding sounds
people standing in line shot of sign ‘Pick Up Drinks Here’ girl restocking the creamers	“everybody knows to come downtown to the Mudhouse for a great cup of coffee; but nobody wants coffee when its a hundred and five degrees.”
shot of flash reporter in front of the counter	“For coffee shops like the Mudhouse there is one way to beat the heat. And thats to offer refreshing, cold drinks.”
depth shot of girl working girl scooping ice	“You know during the summer months, we ice most of our drinks. A lot of our customers still need their caffeine fix. So you know if they usually get a latte, they'll come in and get an iced latte instead.”
Tom Mattox sitting at a table	“Pretty typically i like a nice hot cup of coffee, but ah in the summer its just really nice to come in and get a cool drink.”
Jenny Grier calling out an order and handing it to the customer and him walking away	Jenny Grier: “the double peanut butter puddle” Customer: “that’s mine”

Criss Country Runners

1st We come up with a Topic:
celebrate cross country homecoming

2nd We decide on a Focus Statement:
cross country team runs ball far

3rd:  We Conduct Interviews to get Sound Bites to use in the interview:
"our cross country team holds traditions very dear to us"

4th We Shoot B-Roll to complement the sound bites
the overhead shot of them running down the highway

5th  We Shoot our stand-up
linking shot of the girls passing the football to the guys and then the camera stopping on the reporter

6th:  We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Seques between interviews.
talking about the distance between schools, shot of the map

WALLDO Video

Break In Video and Stand-Ups

Answer the following questions on your blog:
1.  What is the lead in this story?  Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
"Its hard to imagine that something like this could happen in a quiet neighborhood." it intreaded me because it makes me think, "okay so what happened?"
2.  What are the 5W's of this story:  Who, What, Where, When, Why

• Heather Burg
• someone breaking into her house through the doggy door
• in a nice quiet neighborhood
• to steal her electronics
• after 4 years of living there

3.   Give an example of the reporters Voice over or seque (Write it down word for word)
The beginning of the video "Its hard to imagine that something like this could happen in a quiet neighborhood."
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 take us to another spot where there was a break in of the same sort.


Write in your blog the purposes of stand-ups from the following video:

High School Reporter Stand-Ups Examples

Discuss the purposes of Stand-UPS:

• Moves the story forward
• Reporter becomes b-roll
• Take me to the scene
• Use props
• Be creative and surprise us

Make It Memorable by Bob Dostson Assignment

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? Use specific examples, please. (75 words)
The way that Bob writes flows very smoothly and encouragingly. He tells us how he started out and learned things himself, before applying them to his own work and pointing out every step in the examples. Like when he is talking about his story on Ruby Bridges. Bob fist shows us his entire story as a whole them breaks down all of the steps and pulls out the part of his story that uses that step.

o What did you learn from reading pages 9 to 27? (75 words)
I learned about the rule of threes and filling the silence. The non-question question is the best way to get a unique soundbite. By talking to someone just about what they are doing and steering the conversation in the direction you want it to go and let the silence go on after they have answered so that they say more to fill it. Don't throw away thoughts, because they might not be useful for your current story but they could help you out on future ones.


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? (50 words)
In the scripts, on the right side is directions of what is going to be shown on screen, or the video parts of the story. On the left side of the script is all of the words that will be spoken. I think it would be split that way to better show the difference of what will be in the story.

o On Page 34 (and to the end of the section), Dotson writes about a long-form feature. Find one of these (a story at least 4 minutes long) on a TV news magazine such as Rock Center, 20/20 or 60 Minutes. Then, give and explain examples of how the storyteller uses the five bulleted traits Dotson gives on Page 34. (200 words)
In the story, 'Revenge porn' victim: 'My life was ruined' the scene setting was done by explaining what revenge porn is and saying what happened to the girl in the story. Foreshadowing is done by talking about the laws that the country currently has against revenge porn, which isn't much. The conflict in the story is suing her ex boy friend for posting this revenge porn all over the internet. Sometimes the pictures even had her contact information or her work information attached to them. The boyfriend claims that he never posted the pictures and that instead that his computer was hacked and someone stole the pictures and then posted them. He states that he is also a victim and not responsible for any of this. She had character growth as she learned the consequences of what she did and also working to establish a law to protect futurevictims of revenge porn. The resolution is that she believes that this should not be okay and she encourages other revenge porn victims to stand up for what they think is right. That people trying to take advantage of them in that way is wrong and there should be laws protecting them.

Changing Identity

1.  Identify and explain as many WALLDO shots as you can.

• when he was walking with his dog there were low shots
• a tight shot of his hands playing the piano at an angle
• making a sandwich angle shot
• low shot when making the toast
• linking shot the wind chime to his face
• the toaster had depth
• opposite when hes getting the bread and all the toast stuff

2.  What is Natural Sound?
It is the sound that you would normally hear in that environment.

3.  Identify several examples of Natural Sound in this story?

• When he is playing the piano
• his dog barking
• walking in the leaves
• cars driving in the background and wind
• making a sandwich, toaster, jelly jar

4.  How does Natural Sound enhance the story?
Natural sound seems to just keep the story personal and as if you were there with him while he was telling it. It breaks down the barrier a bit of being a viewer on the other side of the screen some so you can just focus on what Noah had to say. It was his story to tell.

Walldo Notes

Wide shot

• sets up the scene
• shows location

Angled shot

• depth, 3D effect

Low shot

• Get down
• different perspective
• make people taller, more powerful
• avoid shooting into the light though

Linking shot

• connect using a pan
• tell more than one story
• use as an entrance 

Depth shot

• keep something in the shot close to the camera (foreground)

Opposite shot

• opposite of how you would normally shoot
• action reaction
• other side of a person
• football payer scoring a touch down, film the audience, cheerleaders
• up to interpretation

Madison's Story

The camera work was good. when ever someone was being interviewed they have talking room. They used wide medium tight shots on Madison working in class and then again when she was playing volleyball. In the interview shots their eyes were on third.
The story was touching and inspiring. I loved how Madison was never down on herself and never thought that she was any different. I think that she is an inspiration to anyone who feels down on themselves.
A-Roll
-Interviews
-Reporter voice overs
-Natural sound
B-Roll
-Video footage that compliments the story

Answer the following questions about the story:

1.  What is the focus statement of this story?
Green Powered Publisher

2.  Give examples of W-M-T sequences
when the solar panels are shown
when his care is shown

3.  Give examples of The Rule of Thirds
When the lobby is shown, he is on the left line and the girls are on the top
when he is in the mirror of his car he is in the top left corner

4.  Give examples of Eyes on Third
whenever John is on screen

5.  Give examples of Talking Space
When he is showing them all his green energy stuff

6.  What did you like about story?
He was really passionate about using solar energy instead of  standard fuel.

Rule of Thirds: divide the shot into nine boxes like a tick tack toe board, keep the important stuff on the lines
Eyes on Third: keep eyes on top third
Talking space: have room in front of the person talking

Today you will be taking notes on Focus Statements and Camera Techniques


1.  What is a Focus Statement?  Define
A short sentence that gives you a direction for your story.

2.  Why do we need a Focus Statement?
To keep the story from jumping all over the place.

3.  Give an example of a Focus Statement sentence.
Some girls are 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?
Camara
Tripod
Microphone
Headphones
Batteries
Media



6.  Why is a tripod important? 
It keeps the footage form being shaky.

7.  The Tripod is my ___________Friend

8.  Define:  Pan: a moving shot

9.  Define:  Tilt: an angled thought

10.  Why are headphones important?  
To make sure that your mic's are working.

11.  Why is it important to TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU GO ON SHOOT!

So that you know that everything is working before you go and you dont have a problem at the shoot or worse, days later in the editing room.

12.  Define Wide shot: show setting and surroundings establish location


13.  Why do we need a wide shot?
establish the location.


14.  Define Medium shot: less setting, more detail focus on specific area


15.  Why do we need a medium shot?
 to show a closer shot with more detail


16.  Define a tight shot: aka: close up, lots of detail

17.  Why do we need a tight shot?
to show lots of detail of the focus of the scene

18.  What is a sequence?

19.  Why do we need a sequence?

Criteria or news worthiness

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

Criteria 1: Unusualness
Definition: News is the different, the unusual, the out-of-the ordinary
Example: a plane crashing

Criteria 2: Significance
Definition: Important events that affect many people
Example: taxes, elections, wars, scientific discovers, the economy

Criteria 3: Timeliness
Definition: old news isnt news, its history
Example: a flood happening now

Criteria 4: Proximity
Definition: nearby events
Example: the new state tax law, the proposed regional highway

Criteria 5: Prominence
Definition: when well known people, buildings, or places are involved
Example: a movie star arrested for shoplifting

Criteria 6: Human interest
Definition: humorous or dramatic stories, heartwarming or heart-wrenching stories,an emotional and personal appeal that draws out attention
Example: a minister who rums a drop-in center for troubled teenagers, a veterinarian who specializes in elephants, a sand castle compition

2. On page 23 it discusses the differences between print journalism and broadcast journlism.  Please describe 3 ways they are different and explain. 
Newspapers have fuller coverage of more stories than other media.
Magasines store easier.
Radio is the most timely and up to date.
Tv can be the most impactful because people can see what is happening with their own eyes.


3.  List all the criteria the story we watched at the beginning of class fits under and why.
Unusualness because it is rare for pigs to be walking around on the highway.
Timeliness because it had happened recently.
Significance because the crach could affect all the people planning to drive on that road.
Proximity because it is close by to people that use that road often.
Human interest because pigs walking around on the highway is funny.

4.  List all the criteria the 2nd story we watched fits under and why.
Human intrest because the dogs are heartwarming that they stick together.
Unusualness because one cant see and one cant hear.
Timeliness because they are looking for a home now.

5.  List all the criteria the 3rd story we watched fits under and why.
Prominence because it was awards to movie stars.
Human interest because people want to know whats happening in Hollywood.
Timeliness because its the awards for this year.

Classmate Story

What is your favorite thing to do? There are lots of answers to this question but would any of you say jumping off a cliff? If you were Jon Veness, a senior about to graduate, that's exactly what you would say.
Last summer Jon tried it for the very first time. With five of his best bros after a forty-five minute drive up to Canon Falls they had a choice to make. Do they jump off the thirty foot cliff or the fifty foot? As first time jumpers, the boys started with the lower jump to get used to the fall. After a few times to get a feel for it they moved up to the fifty. Now that's the only one Jon jumps from. "Its a total rush." He told me that the best part of the experience is the fall itself. "You're falling through the air and your arms and legs are flailing and reaching out, trying to grab hold of anything to stop the fall but you know they wont find anything. Then you hit the water like a stone and it swirls up around you before you swim back up and break the surface. I've never done anything more thrilling."
Jon went to the falls a total of five times last summer and intends to keep going back for a long time.

Interview of a Classmate

1. Whats your name? Jon Veness
2. How old are you and what grade are you in? 18, senior
3. What is a day in the life of being you? Get up, dressed, breakfast, coffee, school, go to the gym every other day, go to work at pizza ranch, come home and do homework,sleep
4. What do you typically do with your friends? Cliff jumping, rock climbing, chill
5. What is and event in your life that has changed or affected you? Maybe my grandpa passing he taught me how to fish and we were close. Other than that nothing really.
6. What are your hobbies and talents? I love playing video games my favorite is modern warfare 2; and i snowboard in the winter
7. Who is your favorite person to be with and why? Annie
8. What is your favorite place to be and why? Alaska, its sick. there are lots of things to do and the weather is awesome. i can visit a friend, skateboard, fish, and go on adventures in the woods.
9.  Sorry I'm really not a morning person.