Module 3: Making Video Projects – Pre-Production Identify a Topic: Before you start recording your video, you need to decide what it is you’re going to record. Start your pre-production process by choosing a topic on which to base your project. Let your imagination work for you—the possibilities for a topic are endless.[JG- but try to keep your production ideas to within the limits of you can actually do, given available time and resources. (example here)]
Conduct Research: After you identify your topic, do some research into it. Take a position on the topic and find ways to support that position. Help!: “KY Academic Expectation of using references for research; possible tie-in to video production as student research and the steps students are supposed to take to gather useful data for a project.” That’s copied from the outline but I’m not sure what to do with it. [cw - Kentucky's Academic Expectations are no longer relevant. With the new reform, AE's are no longer significant to the standards. What we need to do is tie this to the common core standards - cross-curricular. I think the KDE lady is going to help with this. Refer the participants to Module 6. Just my thoughts.] [JG-Correct! She's Melissa Ferrell, and she told me recently that she's more able to look at the project now.]
Choose an Objective: Once you’ve researched your topic you’ll be ready to form a statement of purpose for your project. You might use your project to inform your audience of a particular subject. Maybe you’ll use it to persuade them to feel or act a certain way. You may even use it just to tell a simple narrative story. It’s up to you. Ultimately, in considering the objective of your project, you will want to define what you hope your audience learns or takes away from your project. [JG: Add example classroom projects here, all levels.]
Develop a Treatment (New Heading TBA?):Now it’s time to put words to what your audience is going to experience with your project. When you write a detailed description of your project, this is called writing a treatment. [cw-I would change the previous sentence to: "
A detailed description of a project is known as writing a treatment. Your treatment should read like a present-tense short story and tell the reader what they can expect to see. In the outline there is a mention of comparing and contrasting scripts and storyboards. Reading over this section it seems to make more sense to include that in the Write a Script section. However, that section will run longer. What do you think? [cw - I agree] [JG: not sure about that...should list easy steps for all levels somehow. See more, below]
Pitch Your Idea:[I say drop it entirely as not appropriate, unless voc-ed., or upper-level projects which require that step (e.g., student projects at Elkhorn HS, Scott Co.?]This was the section we were on the fence about. I think we were 50/50 on keep it or lose it. I’ll write a little something here, but again, I’m lost when it comes to covering the KY Academic Expectations. If we end up keeping this section, could someone else fill in that gap?After writing a detailed treatment, it’s time to go Hollywood. Develop a pitch, or presentation, for your treatment to give to a person or group as if you were trying to secure money to produce your project. This aspect of your project may be used to demonstrate productive collaboration or effective communication. [cw - I like the idea of keeping this, but again think it should be aligned to common core (persuasive techniques for Language Arts and possibly Program Reviews) - Module 6?]
[JG: (I prefer to list making a storyboard, then a script, as needed -- some school productions don't need either, but rather an outline (early-learner morning announcements, for example!). With complexity comes the need for more planning.]
[JG: Make a Storyboard: A great way to visualize how you want to tell your video story is to make a "storyboard" of pictures that represent shots in scenes of your video, as they progress over time. They don't have to be complicated drawings -- stick figures will do -- just some sketches that indicate what you want your audience to see in your video as you tell your story. Make your own story board pages by simply using a ruler to draw lines on a piece of paper that divide the paper into sections. A basic storyboard, like the one below, has a column to list the scene number and shot number, with description of the shot type, place, and action; and a column for the shot's representative drawing.
Your production team should brainstorm and design the storyboard together. Take turns drawing and writing if you like. You'll find that using a storyboard will help you decide what shots need to be recorded in order. And while you'll have fun imagining various -- and possibly wild -- scenes, you'll realize what shots are really possible to get for your production, saving you lots of time and effort.
Example storyboard (make one on PDF for download as well from link. Use dif pics, offer alternative grids?):
SCENE/SHOT: 1/1
Exterior WS: At sea.
Student records video while riding shark.
(use better example, something more realistic, eh?)
SCENE/SHOT: 1/2
more description here...
SCENE/SHOT: 1/3
more description here...
SCENE/SHOT: 1/4
more description here...
Kid Records Video Riding Shark
Write a Script: Before you start filming [JG: use "recording" throughout for "filming, videotaping, etc., for consistency? term covers video and audio recording references], you will need a completed script. How you write your script will rely upon the objective you chose—will you be informing your audience of something? Maybe you’ll be trying to persuade them, or perhaps you’ll simply be trying to entertain them. Whatever the goal of your project, your script will be one of the first steps to obtaining it. Maybe this is where we should put a comparison of scripts and storyboards, maybe as a PDF or slideshow? [cw - yes] Also the KY Academic Expectation of writing using appropriate forms? And do we want to keep character development/analysis and bias in writing? [cw - Common Core - I can help with this, but think the KDE lady has agreed to help, as well. I don't think you will need to worry about it, Brett.] [jg- That's Melissa Ferrell, everyone...she's going to be able to work on that soon, she told me 02/07/12 or thereabouts. Also, Cynthia: you may want to jump in here with the idea(s) you had for this section. I copy/pasted into the discussion a while back, and I’m kind of lost on it. I think I know what you mean but I don’t want to screw it up and lose everybody. [cw - I don't remember. Where in the discussion would this be? Is it in the outline with green font? So sorry. It's been a while. I also hope I haven't taken us backward in these comments. If so, please disregard.]
[JG: (more scripting content, for consideration) Depending upon what type of video project you're doing, you should write a script for any spoken narrative or dialogue to help build your video's scenes and tell your story (emphasize story-building throughout?). If, for example, you're planning a documentary video on the Belle of Louisville paddlewheel ship, located in Louisville, KY, you might want to describe the pictures and video in your production with recorded descriptions. For that, a script is important, as you'll be able to include more accurate information about the subject. And, if you 'll be introducing someone you want to interview for the project, you might want to write out a short introduction so you'll be prepared to describe the person accurately, along with an outline of notes of the questions you'll be asking so you won't have to memorize them!]
Create a Timeline: A timeline is very important in keeping your project moving forward. It’s a simple and easy way to keep everyone on task and working together on schedule. Your timeline will be based primarily on the needs of your script[JG add:, plan, or outline].
Schedule the Shoot: One last step before the cameras start rolling: scheduling your shoot. Equipment requirements and info interactive/PDF. Sometimes your schedule can be broken down into a shot list. Making a shot list/shot list PDF. [cw - Add something about location and efficiency: When scheduling, consider shooting all footage within the script at each respective location to save time. Don't know if that's the clearest wording.]
Module 3. Making Video Projects -- Pre-Production
Module 3: Making Video Projects – Pre-Production
Identify a Topic: Before you start recording your video, you need to decide what it is you’re going to record. Start your pre-production process by choosing a topic on which to base your project. Let your imagination work for you—the possibilities for a topic are endless. [JG- but try to keep your production ideas to within the limits of you can actually do, given available time and resources. (example here)]
Conduct Research: After you identify your topic, do some research into it. Take a position on the topic and find ways to support that position. Help!: “KY Academic Expectation of using references for research; possible tie-in to video production as student research and the steps students are supposed to take to gather useful data for a project.” That’s copied from the outline but I’m not sure what to do with it. [cw - Kentucky's Academic Expectations are no longer relevant. With the new reform, AE's are no longer significant to the standards. What we need to do is tie this to the common core standards - cross-curricular. I think the KDE lady is going to help with this. Refer the participants to Module 6. Just my thoughts.] [JG-Correct! She's Melissa Ferrell, and she told me recently that she's more able to look at the project now.]
Choose an Objective: Once you’ve researched your topic you’ll be ready to form a statement of purpose for your project. You might use your project to inform your audience of a particular subject. Maybe you’ll use it to persuade them to feel or act a certain way. You may even use it just to tell a simple narrative story. It’s up to you. Ultimately, in considering the objective of your project, you will want to define what you hope your audience learns or takes away from your project. [JG: Add example classroom projects here, all levels.]
Develop a Treatment (New Heading TBA?):Now it’s time to put words to what your audience is going to experience with your project. When you write a detailed description of your project, this is called writing a treatment. [cw-I would change the previous sentence to: "
A detailed description of a project is known as writing a treatment. Your treatment should read like a present-tense short story and tell the reader what they can expect to see. In the outline there is a mention of comparing and contrasting scripts and storyboards. Reading over this section it seems to make more sense to include that in the Write a Script section. However, that section will run longer. What do you think? [cw - I agree] [JG: not sure about that...should list easy steps for all levels somehow. See more, below]
Pitch Your Idea: [I say drop it entirely as not appropriate, unless voc-ed., or upper-level projects which require that step (e.g., student projects at Elkhorn HS, Scott Co.?] This was the section we were on the fence about. I think we were 50/50 on keep it or lose it. I’ll write a little something here, but again, I’m lost when it comes to covering the KY Academic Expectations. If we end up keeping this section, could someone else fill in that gap?After writing a detailed treatment, it’s time to go Hollywood. Develop a pitch, or presentation, for your treatment to give to a person or group as if you were trying to secure money to produce your project. This aspect of your project may be used to demonstrate productive collaboration or effective communication. [cw - I like the idea of keeping this, but again think it should be aligned to common core (persuasive techniques for Language Arts and possibly Program Reviews) - Module 6?]
[JG: (I prefer to list making a storyboard, then a script, as needed -- some school productions don't need either, but rather an outline (early-learner morning announcements, for example!). With complexity comes the need for more planning.]
[JG: Make a Storyboard: A great way to visualize how you want to tell your video story is to make a "storyboard" of pictures that represent shots in scenes of your video, as they progress over time. They don't have to be complicated drawings -- stick figures will do -- just some sketches that indicate what you want your audience to see in your video as you tell your story. Make your own story board pages by simply using a ruler to draw lines on a piece of paper that divide the paper into sections. A basic storyboard, like the one below, has a column to list the scene number and shot number, with description of the shot type, place, and action; and a column for the shot's representative drawing.
Your production team should brainstorm and design the storyboard together. Take turns drawing and writing if you like. You'll find that using a storyboard will help you decide what shots need to be recorded in order. And while you'll have fun imagining various -- and possibly wild -- scenes, you'll realize what shots are really possible to get for your production, saving you lots of time and effort.
Example storyboard (make one on PDF for download as well from link. Use dif pics, offer alternative grids?):
Exterior WS: At sea.
Student records video while riding shark.
(use better example, something more realistic, eh?)
more description here...
more description here...
more description here...
Write a Script: Before you start filming [JG: use "recording" throughout for "filming, videotaping, etc., for consistency? term covers video and audio recording references], you will need a completed script. How you write your script will rely upon the objective you chose—will you be informing your audience of something? Maybe you’ll be trying to persuade them, or perhaps you’ll simply be trying to entertain them. Whatever the goal of your project, your script will be one of the first steps to obtaining it. Maybe this is where we should put a comparison of scripts and storyboards, maybe as a PDF or slideshow? [cw - yes]
Also the KY Academic Expectation of writing using appropriate forms? And do we want to keep character development/analysis and bias in writing? [cw - Common Core - I can help with this, but think the KDE lady has agreed to help, as well. I don't think you will need to worry about it, Brett.]
[jg- That's Melissa Ferrell, everyone...she's going to be able to work on that soon, she told me 02/07/12 or thereabouts.
Also, Cynthia: you may want to jump in here with the idea(s) you had for this section. I copy/pasted into the discussion a while back, and I’m kind of lost on it. I think I know what you mean but I don’t want to screw it up and lose everybody. [cw - I don't remember. Where in the discussion would this be? Is it in the outline with green font? So sorry. It's been a while. I also hope I haven't taken us backward in these comments. If so, please disregard.]
[JG: (more scripting content, for consideration) Depending upon what type of video project you're doing, you should write a script for any spoken narrative or dialogue to help build your video's scenes and tell your story (emphasize story-building throughout?). If, for example, you're planning a documentary video on the Belle of Louisville paddlewheel ship, located in Louisville, KY, you might want to describe the pictures and video in your production with recorded descriptions. For that, a script is important, as you'll be able to include more accurate information about the subject. And, if you 'll be introducing someone you want to interview for the project, you might want to write out a short introduction so you'll be prepared to describe the person accurately, along with an outline of notes of the questions you'll be asking so you won't have to memorize them!]
Create a Timeline: A timeline is very important in keeping your project moving forward. It’s a simple and easy way to keep everyone on task and working together on schedule. Your timeline will be based primarily on the needs of your script[JG add:, plan, or outline].
Schedule the Shoot: One last step before the cameras start rolling: scheduling your shoot. Equipment requirements and info interactive/PDF. Sometimes your schedule can be broken down into a shot list. Making a shot list/shot list PDF. [cw - Add something about location and efficiency: When scheduling, consider shooting all footage within the script at each respective location to save time. Don't know if that's the clearest wording.]