Narration Podcast

Part A: Idea

Objective

To learn the importance of audio on film by creating a podcast, which is simply a voice audio recording, of a story using appropriate background music, sound effects, and a strong narration by yourself of the story. The audience is a general audience.

Directions

Go and sign up (read the sign up directions before making your choice) for one of the story topics. Then in a new email to Posterous, number and describe three different ideas that you have for the category that you signed up for (later you will do one of them). Your story needs to show at least two of the following three mood tones which you will use background music and effects to emphasis:

• fear or suspense
• sad or sorrow
• happy or joy

Comment

Then have a friend comment before the due date of this assignment which idea sounds the most interesting and has the best potential to apply creative sounds to the story. Make sure they explain why this choice would be the best and they must add two ideas to the one they chose that could make it really good.

Summer students: Mr. Heil will comment on your idea for approval the day after. If he does not or you submit it late, email the Posterous link to him for comment.

Post

After the article is posted on Posterous paste the link to the spreadsheet.

Part B: Text

Directions

After your idea has been approved by Mr. Heil via a Posterous comment, you may research and find the story which you will put into a new Google Doc named Narration Podcast. You can copy and past the text of the story but you may need to edit a little and paraphrase it because the time requirement is 1-2:30 minutes (quality over quantity of min) and one point deduction for each second above or below this time. So make sure you read it out loud at a good pacing to make sure you have the correct text.

Sounds

Using the colors that coordinate with the parts below, make suggestions on what and where you will put the various parts of audio in your Google Doc story:

• Blue: Background music
• Green: Sound Effects

Example: Jack was so tired that he fell asleep (snoring) when suddenly (dramatic music) a giant goose came flying at him!

There are no minimum or maximum music or sound effect number but you will be graded on how appropriately you use or should have used background music and sound effects based on the scene and text of the story. There is a good balance of not too many and not too little sounds.

Hint: the beginning of the story almost always has a very short music intro before the narration begins.

Comment

Then have a friend insert a couple comments in the Google Doc before the due date of this assignment on your story text. They should read it a few times and make sure it flows well and there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. Ask them to make two suggestions for changes as well. After they have made the comments, take a screenshot of the Google Doc page(s) and comments and post to Posterous along with the link to the Google Doc (make it a public Doc).

Part C: Record

Directions

Now you will record your narration of your story while pausing to give time for the sound effects. Background music will also be inserted that you will now search for online and download so you know how long each and can pause appropriately. Make sure you articulate and your voice is clear and pleasant.