Team Video Project

Description:

You will work closely with a partner to script, shoot, edit, and produce a short video on an issue you feel passionately about.  The purpose of the video should be to inspire others to want to get involved and help your cause.  Utilize what you learned from the book, The Secret Language of Leadership, to help you formulate your video.

  • Points will be assigned based on:
    • Completion
    • Conviction of message
    • Adherence to the concepts from the book.
  • Videos should be no less than 2 minutes, but no longer than 5 minutes.
  • You will upload your video to the Class YouTube web channel for everyone in the class to see.
  • Teams will present their video during our Finals period for review, critique, and grading.
  • Classmates will assist in grading team videos.

Suggested Timeline:

  • Brainstorming: Begin to toss around ideas with each other.
  • Scripting: Author a 200-300 word script that will become the audio for their stories. You can send this to Alex or Todd to ask questions and provide feedback on the script as well.
  • Storyboarding: Using a comic strip format, show how the words in your scripts will sync up with the images you plan to use in your story. Time permitting; this may be another opportunity for feedback.
  • Recording and Editing: This is where the piece comes together
  • Fine Tuning and Titling: Add transitions, titles, and credits. It’s important 
for this to come last, as transitions can change the timing of a piece.
  • Uploading: Export your project to the course YouTube Channel.  Set the video as Private.
  • Sharing: We will all watch the videos together during the final class.

Outlining Your Story:

“Storyboarding and script-writing are the steps that students most frequently give short shrift, or even skip altogether” (Matthews-DeNatale, 2008). Storyboarding is a simple strategy that allows you the time and space to critically think through what exactly you want to see in your video.  This is the most common way to ensure that your video goes in the order and progresses in a way that is most compelling.  According to Matthews-DeNatale (2008), “Storyboards can be presented in a range of formats: rough sketches, 3×5 cards, presentation slides (e.g., Keynote or PowerPoint), or word-processed (e.g., Word or Rich Text Format)”.

Video Project Storyboard Template

Here is a video on what storyboarding is about:  http://www.reelseo.com/storyboarding-tips/

Interviewing:

Six experienced interviewers from Elon University’s Interactive Media master’s program share some of their favorite pointers on conducting journalistic interviews.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_wnV7AS-Ws&feature=youtu.be

Recording the voice over:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7hb-9FckHA&feature=youtu.be

Here is a great Slideshare Slide on Setting up the Interview Shot:  http://www.slideshare.net/fuzheado/checklist-video-interviews

Equipment and Resources:

Digital Cameras:  Use these to take still shots of what your video is about.

  • The Student Involvement Center (BSC 319) has 2 point-and-shoot cameras as well as 1 DSLR camera for your use.
  • Most students have digital cameras or smartphones capable of taking good still shots.
  • Make sure to have a megapixel count of at least 8.

Video Cameras:  This will be a pretty important component of your shoot.

  • The Student Involvement Center (BSC 319) has 2 HD Flipcams and 1 HD/HD Audio video camera for your use.
    • The HD Flipcams can be good for stock footage
    • The HD/HD Audio Camera is great for interviews

Software:  For creating/editing images and video.

  • Video Editing:
    • iMovie (Mac)
    • Movie Editor (Windows)
  • Instructional Media Center:
    • Video Editing
      • Though both the Instructional Media Centers (IMC) North and South have tools for recording DVDs, the IMC North has a number of more advanced video editing resources available. Please keep in mind that powerful and versatile equipment offers more options – but also requires more time to learn how to operate.
    • The options available at the IMC North include:
      • Non-Linear Digital Editing – If you need to modify a video beyond simply copying it, the IMC North and South have resources for this. Adobe Premiere Pro is installed on all graphic workstations. These computers also have Firewire cards to interface with digital camcorders and external hard drives. MiniDV decks are available in both labs.
      • Be prepared to invest some time in learning non-linear editing. These systems can edit a variety of video formats and enable you to create professional fades, cross-dissolves, superimposed titling, rolling credits, music, and sound effects with voiceovers.
    • Reservations:
      • To reserve any of these resources in advance, call 314-977-2919 and press 1 at the voice menu. For more information, contact the IT Service Desk at 314-977-4000 or visit the IT Service Desk page for a complete listing of service desk locations and contact information.
      • Manuals and online help are available. Though staff may be consulted for specific questions, in-depth training is not provided.

Free Open Source/Other Software:

This is a great web resource on other tools of the trade:

“Open” Sources for Music and Images (From Matthews-DeNatale, 2008)

In seeking out images and audio to use in their digital storytelling projects, students are often tempted to use material for which they have not sought permission. While this can present a challenge, it is also a great opportunity to increase student understanding of fair use, intellectual property, copyright, and the open access movement.

We have found that copyright compliance increases dramatically if the teacher provides her students with links to “open” resources for images and audio. In addition, students can be encouraged to license their own work through the Creative Commons, thereby increasing their understanding of the process and its value.

Reverse Engineering a Video:

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