This course is designed to teach students the basics of filming and video production. Throughout the semester, students will be introduced to the proper handling of cameras/tripods, microphones, lighting, sound mixing, storyboard creation, and editing (pre-production, production, and post production). Additionally, television production concepts are also included resulting in a weekly video announcement program which will be broadcast school-wide. Students will participate in both group and individual activities.
Due to the design of the class, much of the workload for this course is completed during class time. As such, good attendance and a strong work ethic are both crucial elements for student success. Students who utilize class time well have the greatest likelihood of producing quality work and achieving an “A” in the course.
Since this is a production course, some of the assigned projects are extremely time-sensitive hence the need for the adherence of deadlines. At the same time, all students are continuing to learn the intricacies of our software and equipment which requires a degree of flexibility. All video projects will have “proposed due dates”. If a student is unready by the “proposed due date”, he/she will receive a temporary “missing” score in the gradebook until the project is submitted for a grade. However, while working on a late project, it must be understood that a new project will likely be introduced for the class. Therefore, students who are turning in work late run the risk of playing a perpetual “catch up” with their projects (past & current) until they are back on track. Per district policy, students may submit any “missing” work until two weeks prior to the end of each quarter.
Due to our district’s adoption of new grading requirements, I will use the BSD Total Points Scale (50-100%) with three grading categories: Tier 1 Video Projects & Video Announcements (40% of grade), Tier 2 Video Projects (40% of grade), and Project Planning Components (20% of grade). I do not round at the quarter break, but do use classroom participation to decide whether or not to round at the end of the semester. Rubrics are posted on the webpage for all projects.
There will be three categories within Infinite Campus.
Project Planning Components – 20% of the grade. This category will include completion scores for project scripts, storyboards, and any other assignments related to the planning portion of a video project. Students are not allowed to just “begin filming”. Instead, they are expected to develop their project vision prior to getting anywhere near a camera.
Tier 1 Video Projects & Video Announcements – 55% of the grade. This category will contain video projects that are shorter in duration and/or less complex in design. Many of these projects will occur early in the semester as students develop proficiency with the equipment and video editing software. Additionally, while not required, students can earn points for participating in our video announcement productions.
Tier 2 Video Projects – 25% of grade. This category will contain major projects that are longer in duration and more complex in design. Proficiency established with Tier 1 projects will prepare students for Tier 2 work.
SIX Steps to Immediately Improve the Quality of Your Present & Future Videos:
1. Give your actors a break! - Let's face it, we aren't dealing with professionals who can memorize on the spot. Knowing and understanding this truth, create shorter lines that an actor can look at, memorize, and deliver without needing a sneak peek at the script. BTW - it is a HUGE taboo to have actors holding their scripts in frame!
2. Properly capture actor volume - It is a must to get your actors to speak louder than a discreet conversation but not so loud that they shout. Also - the proximity of your camera to the actor is equally important. If you need a long monologue, how about doing a voice-over with some B-Roll instead?
3. When using pictures & graphics, be choosey! - Graphics can definitely enhance a project, however when you add graphics or pictures of low quality (low resolution), it weakens your overall video. When you use graphics, be sure you go to the original source and save from there. And PLEASE don't use any graphics or pictures that contain watermarks ... doing so really cheapens your work.
4. Use background music, but use it wisely - The perfect background music can really benefit a video, but a skilled editor knows that this music should not "compete" with an actor's lines or a voice-over. Using audio envelopes, you can raise or lower the background music to fit your project. The other important note is that if you choose a song that has lyrics (vs. instrumental), it is essential that you lower the volume during video portions with spoken word.
5. Location, location, location! - Choose your filming location wisely! If outside, is the weather cooperative? Wind and other elements can really damage the quality of a good set. If inside, are you in a location where others might walk through your set? Will you be picking up random conversations or outbursts which will take away from your scene? A quiet, element-controlled spot is the optimal condition for an ideal set.
6. Give proper credit in credits! - This is a very simple task, but some of you aren't doing it correctly. Any actors who are featured in your video must be in your credit roll ... and they must be listed with their full name (first and last). Also - if you used music, the artist and song title is required. Lastly, if you used facts/data (especially for PSA assignments), you must list the websites (not URL) where you found your information. Failure to take these necessary steps does not dole out proper credit to the resources you used and could put you at risk for plagiarism.
CONTEST CELEBRATIONS!
Junior Kate Raley
Magz Schernthanner and Kieran Eames were special guests on KTVB's Idaho Today for their CapEd Movie Trailers!
Sophomore Halle Lowman - Grand Prize Winner ($2,000)
Senior Charlie Johnson - First Place Winner ($500)
Sophomore Lauren Pollari - Third Place Winner ($150)
CONGRATULATIONS TO TWO BOISE HIGH STUDENTS FOR THEIR RECENT ACCOLADES IN THE 12TH ANNUAL CAPED MOVIE TRAILER CONTEST. ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16TH, JUNIOR FYNN ERMAN'S TRAILER ENTITLED "THE FOREST CALLED HIS NAME" WON 2ND PLACE AND A $400 CASH PRIZE. SENIOR OWEN DOERR WON 1ST PLACE AND $500 WITH HIS TRAILER ENTITLED "LAST IN THE JAR". KTVB'S IDAHO TODAY EMCEED THE EVENT AND DID A FEATURE ON THE CAPED FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS.
"Michelle" was nominated for "Best Atlantic Records Music Video" in the All-American Film Festival held in New York City.
"Pizza is Worth Waiting For" won "Best Film Invitational" in the All-American Film Festival held in New York City.
Congratulations to sophomores Fynn Erman and Charlie Johnson who won 3rd Place in the Suez Water Idaho Conservation Video Contest. For the contest, Fynn and Charlie made a 25-second and a 10-second video encouraging water conservation. Starting on May 29th, their 25-second video will air on KTVB, and their 10-second video will air on Idaho Public Television. Fynn and Charlie's winning videos resulted in a $500 donation to the Boise High School Video Broadcasting Program and both of them were also invited to tour the Idaho Public Television studios where they recorded a tagline for their videos. Way to go, guys!
Senior Wylie Hansen - No Heroes / Sophomore Ethan Carnahan - Hindsight
SENIOR ADAM BASS - 1ST PLACE ($100) / JUNIOR SAM HERBOLD - 2ND PLACE ($50)
Pictured, left to right: Colin Hickman (City of Boise), Sam Herbold, Curtis Bohlsheid, Mason Standal, Caden Reynolds, and Catherine Chertudi (City of Boise)
KTVB's Kim Fields Surprises Ronsard Mwembo with $100!