Project Intro – The Mundane Task

Not every story needs to be epic to be interesting. In filmmaking, even the simplest action — sharpening a pencil, opening a locker, or plugging in a charger — can become engaging when it’s broken down into a sequence of shots and edited with intention.

The Mundane Task Project challenges you to take an ordinary classroom activity and transform it into a short, polished video. You’ll work with a partner to film, but you’ll each edit and storyboard your own version. The key is variety: filming each shot in three different ways so you have choices when you cut the final edit.

It’s important to break a longer action (like a 30-second task) into a series of short 2–5 second clips. Shorter shots give the editor more flexibility, keep the pace moving, and let you highlight the most important parts of the action from different perspectives. This is how professional filmmakers make even simple actions feel dynamic and purposeful.

By the end of this project, you’ll see how camera angles, shot types, and editing decisions can completely change how a simple task feels — turning the everyday into storytelling.

Video Production Assignment: The Mundane Task

This assignment shows how shot variety and editing choices can make even the simplest task visually engaging. You’ll work with a partner to film, but each of you will complete your own edit and own storyboard.

By completing this assignment, you will:

Reinforce your understanding of camera composition, shot types, angles, and movements.
Learn how to break down an action into a sequence of shots.
Edit a precise 30-second video using coverage and variety.
Create a storyboard that documents your sequence and choices.

Task Instructions

1. Pick a Partner & a Mundane Task

Select a partner to work with for filming.
Choose a simple, everyday activity that can be completed in about 30 seconds.

Examples (classroom-friendly):

Sharpening a pencil
Writing your name on the board
Packing up a backpack
Opening and closing a locker
Erasing something from the whiteboard
Putting away supplies
Making a paper airplane
Sitting down and opening a notebook
Plugging in a charger
Turning on/off lights

(You may choose your own simple task as long as it is appropriate and safe for the classroom.)

2. Plan Your Sequence

Think about how to break the task into a minimum of SIX distinct shots.
Decide which shot types and angles (WS, CU, POV, OSS, etc.) will best tell the story.
Record your sequence plan with notes on intended framing, angle, and type.

3. Film Your Task

For each of the planned shots, film it three different ways (change the angle, shot type, or camera movement).
This will give you at least 18 clips total to work with.
Remember:

You and your partner may share filming duties.
Each student must copy the footage to their own computer.
Each student must edit their own final video and create their own storyboard.

4. Edit Your Video

Import your clips into Premiere Pro.
Create a final cut of your sequence using the strongest shots.
The runtime must be exactly 30 seconds.
Optional: Add sound effects or music to enhance storytelling.

5. Storyboard (After Editing)

Use screenshots from your final video to create your storyboard.
Each panel should include:

Shot number
Shot type & angle
Duration
Camera movement (if any)
Sound/dialogue (if any)
Brief notes on why you chose this shot

6. Submit Your Work

Upload to Google Classroom:

Final exported video (LastName_MundaneTask.mp4 or .mov) — exactly 30 seconds
Completed storyboard (PDF, JPG, or Google Doc)

Resources

Shot Types: Media College Guide
Camera Angles & Movements: See class notes/resources
Storyboard Notes & Templates: Google Site & handout folder

By the end of this project, you’ll understand how to use multiple shot variations to create editing choices, and why planning + precision are key to professional video storytelling.

References:

Types of Shot: https://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots

Camera movement: See the following notes, file:///X:/Handout/McMann/Old/TGJ/Notes/CH4_VideoCamerasAndStyles.pdf

Storyboard notes.

Template for storyboards - https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YSoNBiALK0fyL9_472rf8QCjvprufSR5

Storyboard templates: see attached or https://www.printablepaper.net/category/storyboard