Great Basin College s30

Great Basin College

JOUR 205

Television Field Production I

Fall, 2010

Syllabus – 3 Credits

Location: Section: Course Call Number:

Elko E01 10896

Instructor: Wyoming Rossett

Class Meets: Tuesdays @ 9:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Location: TV1 (KENV-TV Building)

Instructor Phone: 753-2119

Instructor Fax: 777-7758

Instructor Email:

Office Hours: Mon: 11:00 – 1:00

Wed: 11:00 – 2:00

Other times by appointment

Catalog Description:

Techniques of shooting video and television programs and segments single-camera-film-style, on location, rather than in a multi-camera studio. Students learn the necessary preproduction planning steps, including location scouting, storyboarding and budgeting; then progress to digital video field production, including camera, audio and lighting practices. Projects will be edited using Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium non-linear editing software.

Course Description:

This course is designed to teach you the basics of television production out on-location in field situations. The terms “television,” “video” and sometimes “film” will for the most part be used interchangeably, as today’s technology has brought the three closer than ever before. At one time, only television was televised. But today video is not only televised, but it is recorded on to tape, burnt on to CDs and DVDs, stored on chips and servers, web-streamed, digitally manipulated and played back in countless formats and situations. High Definition Digital Cinema Cameras further blur the once clearly defined lines between the mediums, as they can completely imitate the look of 35mm film. And digital non-linear software is now being used to make both film and video edit decisions as well as conduct complete final online editing sessions themselves. And now, enter the worlds of cinematic wide-screen television as well as 3D-TV.

The television production process is a hybrid of both art and science. To create successful programs, you don’t have to be an electronic engineer, but you need to understand how the equipment works and the basics about what a video signal is and how it can be controlled. But, at the same time, you need to learn the aesthetic side of television. How to compose shots that are pleasing to look at, how to properly use transitions and how to choose from scores of production variables and manipulate them to achieve the desired emotions and response from your audience.

Electronic Field Production (EFP) introduces yet another dimension into the television production process. Shooting with one camera requires that an important set of additional skills be mastered beyond multiple-camera studio shooting. You must become proficient in standard industry practices that involve the use of hardware, storytelling techniques, visualization, “auralization,” and continuity shooting, also known as “shooting for editing.” Once you have your raw footage shot, your job is only half-done. You must then demonstrate your fluency with state-of-the art digital editing software to complete your production.

Course Format:

This course will be a combination of lecture and hands-on practice. During lectures, students will gain knowledge in industry-standard television production procedures and methodology. This will include technical as well as aesthetic considerations. During the beginning of the course they will also receive intensive training in the proper use and care of the equipment that they will be using to complete their productions. This information must be mastered fairly quickly in order for students to complete the required three productions for the course. The next phase of the course will focus on instruction in Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium editing software. There will be several in-class practice sessions. The last phase of the course will focus on shooting and editing situations that are totally unique to single-camera field video production.

Goals/Objectives/Learner Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

Understand the preproduction planning necessary for a successful field video production including program conceptualization, scripting, storyboarding and budgeting.
Demonstrate knowledge of the basic functions, choices, operation and proper care of field television production equipment to include:

· Professional digital camcorders

· Microphones and audio equipment

· Lighting fixtures

· Tripods, batteries and accessories

3. Demonstrate working knowledge of the technical aspects involved in creating digital video production.

4. Utilize good aesthetic sense in picture composition and editing decisions.

5. Understand and utilize different visual storytelling techniques.

6. Become proficient with Adobe Creative Suite Production Premium non-linear digital video editing software.

7. Demonstrate awareness of key legal and ethical issues associated with field video production.

Measurements of Learner Outcomes:

Students will receive a letter grade for each one of the three projects, along with the instructor’s evaluation and comments. There will be one Mid-Term Exam and one Final Exam.

Assessment Method / Learner Outcomes
Project #1 / 1, 2, 4, 5
Project #2 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Project #3 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Mid-Term Exam / 1, 2, 4, 5
Final Exam / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7

Instructional Methods:

Each week lecture topics will be coordinated with assigned readings from the text. Video excerpts from professionals will be screened to serve as models of production concepts. After completion of each of the three projects, there will be a student screening and critique. Class discussion will focus on positive aspects for improvement.

During equipment instruction periods in the beginning of the course, the instructor will demonstrate proper operation of the equipment and students will practice this operation until they pass a basic skill test on each piece. Passing this basic skills test is a prerequisite to checking out production gear.

Students will be working on their projects in teams of two. (In the case that there are an odd number of students in the class, there will be one team of three). No student will be permitted to work on a project individually. This is necessary for the safety of the equipment and because of the limited amount of equipment units available for check-out. Students will also be team-editing their projects. Students may change team partners from project-to-project, and in fact, they are encouraged to do so, in order to gain experience in cooperation and in looking at things from different points of view. All team members must contribute equal time to each project, so team up with someone that has a similar schedule to you.

The three projects to be completed are as follows:

“The Stolen Item” (following a shooting script)
1 – 2 minute TV Commercial (you write the script)
3 – 5 minute Music Video (freestyle)

A written description of each project along with grading criteria will be distributed when each assignment is given.

Students enrolled in this course should be prepared to spend the majority of their time working on their projects outside the course hours. Approximately 75% of the time you devote to this course will be shooting and editing your class projects outside of class time.

Some of the fundamental concepts, especially those covered early on in the course, may be similar or the same as those covered in other Journalism/Communication courses. Since there are no prerequisites to this course, if you are an advanced video user, your patience while reviewing this material is appreciated.

Required Texts:

*Note: This textbook comes bundled with a DVD that we will be using in class. Students purchasing the text outside the GBC Bookstore should make sure that the DVD is included.

*Note: This textbook comes bundled with a DVD that we with exercises. Students purchasing the text outside the GBC Bookstore should make extra sure that the DVD is included.

· We will only be covering about half of the chapters in both textbooks. The remaining chapters are covered in the sequel to this course, JOUR 298: Advanced Video Production and Editing. If you take that course, you won’t have to buy any additional textbooks.

· You will be provided with a copy of the camera’s instruction manual.

Required Materials:

· One set of professional quality computer headphones. Bring these to every class and every time you edit outside of class time.

· One to two 60-minute Mini DV (Digital Video) tape cassettes. They can be purchased locally at Walmart, Officemax and CVS. (They usually are sold in packages of two and are fairly inexpensive.)

· Three blank DVDs to burn your finished projects on. They will be returned after grading, but you may wish to make additional copies for your subjects or to keep as a demo reel when applying for jobs.

· Your College Computing User Name and Password to log on to the classroom computers

Grading Criteria:

1) EXAM GRADES

There will be a Mid-Term and a Final Exam. Your percent of correct answers on these exams will be converted to a letter grade and its corresponding value on a 4.0 scale according to the following table:

% Correct Letter Grade 4.0 Scale

90 – 100 A 4.0

87 – 89 A- 3.7

84 – 86 B+ 3.3

80 – 83 B 3.0

77 – 79 B- 2.7

74 – 76 C+ 2.3

70 – 73 C 2.0

67 – 69 C- 1.7

64 – 66 D+ 1.3

60 – 63 D 1.0

57 – 59 D- 0.7

0 – 56 F 0.0

2) PROJECT GRADES

Your productions will be evaluated in several areas and will receive a numerical grade of 0 – 4 in .1 increments in each area. These numerical grades will then be averaged to determine your Project Grade according to the same table above.

The evaluation areas are as follows:

Preproduction Elements (script, storyboard)
Video Quality Aesthetics and Technique
Audio Quality Aesthetics and Technique
Editing
Overall Creativity

Late projects will be penalized one full letter grade from the grade that normally would have been earned.

FINAL GRADE CALCULATION

The following table represents your final grade calculation:

Component Percentage Weight

Project #1 15% 3X

Project #2 20% 4X

Project #3 25% 5X

Midterm 15% 3X

Final 15% 3X

Attendance 10% 2X

Attendance Policy:

Attendance in this class is MANDATORY, and will be calculated as part of your grade as indicated above. If you miss equipment instruction or editing software instruction you will not have the knowledge necessary to complete your projects for this course. In such a case, the instructor will recommend that you withdraw from the course.

Equipment Check-Out:

· All students must sign a Financial Liability Agreement in advance of checking out any equipment. The agreement will be kept on file and is only valid for the current semester.

· A GBC Television Production Equipment Check-Out form must be completed by the Instructor at the time the gear is checked out. It will indicate the type of equipment loaned and the Unit # of each piece of equipment. It will be signed by all students borrowing the listed equipment.

· Before being allowed to check-out production gear, students will be required to pass a “Field Gear Road Test.” It is a “GO/NO GO” (pass/fail test) with 85% as the cutoff. Students and demonstrate how to set up, dismantle, and properly repack the following equipment components:

· Camcorder

· Tripod

· Microphones

· Lights

· Cables

· Batteries

A student failing the test may take the test again at a later date. The test may be repeated until the student passes it. The test grade will not become part of the student’s final grade.

· The normal check-out period for gear is 2 days, or over the weekend (Friday – Monday). The instructor may grant exceptions for certain situations.

· Certain accessories, such as advanced lighting kits, may only be available in limited quantities. In such cases, equipment will be awarded by request on a first-come-first-served basis.

· Production gear is loaned for CLASS PROJECT USE ONLY. RECREATIONAL OR COMMERCIAL USE OF THE EQUIPMENT IS PROHIBITED.

· All equipment must be borrowed and returned during the time frame agreed upon during when reserving it with the instructor. If your plans must change, call me!

· All camera batteries must be returned recharged. Failure to do so will result in one week suspension from borrowing equipment.

· All damaged equipment must be noted at the time of check-out or reported at the time of check-in.

· Any violations of equipment check-out policies will result in the involved student being suspended from check-out for a period of one week, regardless of project deadlines.

Editing Time:

There will be a limited amount of time allotted during class time for editing. This time will mostly consist of step-by-step instruction to get you oriented to the software and to get you started on your projects. Class time alone will not be sufficient time to completely edit your course projects. The classroom will be available as an unsupervised open lab for you to edit your projects Monday – Friday during regular daytime business hours when the classroom is not in use as a live-instruction classroom. A schedule of open hours will be posted on the classroom and building entrance. Use of the computers is restricted to editing class projects.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. The Director of Services for Students with Disabilities (Julie G. Byrnes) will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services. For more information or further assistance, please call 775.753.2271.

Academic Honesty

Misconduct

Misconduct, as defined and established in NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.2 (q) is as follows:

· Acts of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, falsifying research data or results, or assisting others to do the same.

Plagiarism