In this course, students create digitally edited videos using Final Cut Express software. They learn the necessary skills to create professional quality videos, including how to storyboard and present ideas, how to use the camcorder, employing a variety of camera angles and shots, and digital editing techniques.

Prerequisite: Media Arts

 

Student Expectations

• Bring something to write with and your class folder EVERYDAY
• Arrive to class on time, using your own time for locker and lav
• Show respect for others and their work
• Stay on task and do not distract others
• Use all equipment, tools and materials responsibly
• Never download anything – including music – to the computers
• Maintain a high attendance rate
• Stay away from the door
• Keep a positive attitude and put forth your best effort at all times
• Adhere to the WCS Computer Rules AT ALL TIMES – there will be a zero tolerance policy for breaking those rules and any behavior that could jeopardize the safety of yourself, others in the classroom or the equipment. Check your e-mail, download music, play games and surf the web at home – NEVER during class time – even if your project is “done”.

Materials Needed

• Something to write with (everyday)
• Hardcover 3-hole binder (everyday – this may be kept in class)
• DVD-Rs for digital storage of videos (these are optional until June when 1 is required for burning your portfolio)
• OPTIONAL BUT HIGHLY SUGGESTED: Camcorder to use off school grounds (there are some available to borrow if you do not have one)
  
• IF YOU BORROW A SCHOOL CAMCORDER: your own personal miniDV tape

Software (subject to change)

• Final Cut Express
• iDVD
• Adobe Flash
• Adobe Photoshop
  

Grading Policy

50% Videos
Projects will always have clearly defined criteria and a final due date, and there will always be a class critique on the day a project is due. You will be involved in self and peer evaluations on those days. Everyday that a project is late results in a drop of a letter grade, and a project will not be accepted at all after 1 week past the due date. Your video must be FULLY RENDERED in time for the critique or it will be considered late.

25% Current Events/Quizzes/Binder Organization/Pre-production Work
There are very few quizzes, but they will always be announced in advance. Your folder will contain all important handouts and pre-production work – stay organized. Pre-production work will include things like storyboards, proposals, scripts, etc. See Pre-Pro handout for details (detailed below).

Current Events

• Mandatory every other Friday (click here for 2010/2011 schedule)
• Cut from newspaper or news magazine ONLY – not accepted from on-line sources
• Must contain a minimum of 3 paragraphs
• Give a brief oral summary of your article to the class
• Prepared = 100%, unprepared = 0% and a writing assignment on the spot
• Must have a direct connection to technology (computers, medical technology, tech companies, cell phones, NASA, the internet, etc. etc.)
• Must be cut from the newspaper BEFORE you get to my room

WHEN YOU ARE ABSENT: you must write out a 1/2 page summary of your article before you get to my class and hand in both the article and the summary to me on the day you return to class. It is your responsibility to remember this.

OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT: on the alternate weeks only, you may choose to write out a 1/2 page summary of a technology-related current event and submit the summary and the article to me. Each time you do that, a 110% will be added to this segment of your average – it does NOT erase any zeros, it only “softens the impact” by adding more numbers to average together.

25% Class Participation
Class Participation refers to your overall conduct in the class – meeting the expectations outlined on this sheet, peer and adult relations, attitude, cooperation, motivation, effort, maturity and respect.

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PRE-PRODUCTION SPECIFICS for STUDENTS

Planning is an important part of any good piece of art, and it is especially true when it comes to video. Ultimately, planning your video before you even begin shooting will save you time and frustration, and the quality of your final product will be far better. Can spontaneous things still happen? Of course, but you still need a solid, well-thought-out foundation to begin with. Your pre-production work will always have 3 parts: the Storyboard, the Script, and Clips. You may not begin working on your video until your Storyboard and Script are completed.

Storyboards

Storyboards use both images and words to explain what your video will be about. Ideally, each shot and camera angle will be included so that one could actually “see” the video and how it will progress just by looking at your storyboard. Coming up with a storyboard forces you to visualize what your video will look like, and therefore help you plan the shots you need and where you need to shoot as well as who you need to have help you. Here are the specifics:

• Use only the form provided
• Submit in your binder
• Images/text drawn in either black ink or pencil (no blue ink, please)
• Inclusion of all major scenes/camera angles/titles
• Inclusion of music/narration/important script segments and where they fall in relation to the images
• Stick figures are okay – storyboards are not graded on drawing quality but rather

CLARITY, EFFORT, and THE ABOVE CRITERIA.

• Although you must complete your storyboard before working on your video, you will not receive credit for it if is not completed by the deadline. You will be presenting your Storyboard to the class on its due date.

Scripts

Scripts should coordinate with the storyboard (obviously) and contain more details on dialogue than the storyboard. Here are the specifics:

• Use only the form provided
• Submit in your binder
• Form must be fully completed
• Grading is based on CLARITY, EFFORT, and THE ABOVE CRITERIA
• Although you must complete your Script before working on your video, you will not receive credit for it if is not completed by the deadline.

Clips

Obviously, you cannot do much editing of your video without footage. Always take more footage than you think you will need, and think about your camera skills: steady shots, and a variety of shots, and clear sound. Having your footage early in the game allows for time to deal with technical difficulties – because you are guaranteed to have those with every video. You will receive a zero for every day you cannot work on your video project!

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