January 30 -- Sonic ID Rubric (due at end of block period)

Here is your Sonic ID Rubric.

You are responsible for 5 of them. This is what the individual rubric looks like for each one.

They should be loaded in your appropriate period on the Buffalo Server. If you are stuck, please just ask me for feedback or to help you.

Sonic ID Rubric (10 pts formative EACH)

______ ID was the proper length (:30 or :60 exactly)

______ Weird breath sounds were taken out

______ Tells a good story (value added in that listener learned or was entertained)

______ Has identifying tag of the person speaking (“I’m Bill and I’m in the 10th grade.”)

______ Appropriate use of sound effects (nothing weird that didn’t belong)

_____/10 pts each ID

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 29 -- Warm-up

Ira Glass is an innovator in public radio. Many people think he is one of the best storytellers in our country right now. Whatever you think, he has a message to you guys. Check it out here. Before you do so, think also about how they built this presentation. (Yes, I know his voice can be annoying, but remember, you don't have to have a great voice to be in media).

Continue to work on your Sonic IDs. They are due at end of block day.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

January 28 - Continue cutting your sonic IDs

Remember, they are :30 or :60 seconds long. Cut interviewer's voice out of the mix. Don't be afraid of silence in your piece. We are constant blabbing machines in our conversations. You will have to make a judgment call about how you want it to sound.

You can add other sound or music (but it is always best if it is real sound and it is related to the subject speaking).But music must be copyright free (check Creative Commons or Incompetech.com.

Check out these videos when you get a chance. No, not during class. In other words, don't squander or waste your available time to edit the IDs.

Bug out bag.

Rockaways High missing school

Public defender

Sumo!

Beasts of the Southern Wild movie

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

January 25 - Making your first Sonic ID and current events quiz

So, today you need to go to the Buffalo server (new people, I will show you how). Look for the Sonic ID file and find at least five you like.

You will be editing those five down to 30 sec. OR 60 sec (exactly) in Hindenburg.

They are due on Tuesday at the end of the period and loaded into the Buffalo for your period. Be thinking of adding music or sound effects if you think it is needed.

Each project is worth 10 pts and will be added together for a 50 pt. formative grade. New people, do not freak out. You will have time to learn Hindenburg.

Aim for excellence AND airtime on the morning announcements.

It is Friday. Also, a current events quiz (like every Friday). If you are out on a Friday, you must make it up the first day you are back or it is a zero. This way, you will continue to add to your current events knowledge by keeping up with what is going on in the world.

Ms. Greer Silver Spring, Md.

January 24 - Sonic Ids (continued)

Today we are going to look at Hindenburg (sound editing software used by radio professionals) AND our recording equipment. If you are new to TV Production, do not fear. This is easily picked up.

Below are 20 questions that will not fail when you are interviewing.

CREATIVE INTERVIEWING FOR SONIC IDs

1. What were the best times of your life (or of your involvement with the topic under discussion) and the worst?

2. What things, circumstances, etc. make you angry? Sad? Happy? Frightened?

3. What make you laugh? Or cry?

4. What were the major events of your childhood? What childhood experiences explain what you are today – your successes, failures, your beliefs, opinions, your personality, your character?

5. What are you best character traits?

6. What are your worst faults? Make a list. (One time after an interview a woman wrote down her “ten worst faults” and mailed them to me. The list started with “As you know, I talk too much. Your worst fault is listening too eagerly!”)

7. What kinds of material goods do you surround yourself with? What meaning can you attach to them? If your house caught on fire, what would you try to save? (Ancient love letters, old photos, and computer disks are commonly mentioned.)

8. What do you read (books on your shelf and magazines)?

9. Who are your heroes, your “ten most admired people,” and why?

10. What are your major goals and problems, both professionally and personally, and what are you doing about them?

11. What kinds of people do you surround yourself with – from your spouse or significant other to friends colleagues, subordinates?

12. Where and how do you spend leisure time?

13. What issues concepts, philosophies really matter to you, both personally and professionally? What would you fight for, die for? Why? What actions have you taken (or will you take) to support your beliefs?

14. What’s a typical day like for you?

15. What do you dream or fantasize about?

16. How do you react to common problems? If somebody insults you do you fight back, ignore it, or what? How do you behave at a party where you don’t know anyone? What happens if somebody pushes ahead of you in the cafeteria line?

17. What have been significant mileposts in your life? (The usual response covers marriage, childbirth, divorce, changes of location and employment, but ask about unexpected events, chance encounters, inspiring teachers, and so on.)

18. What do you regret in your life; what are you proudest of?

19. If you could erect a billboard to explain the essence of your character, what would it say?

20. How would you like to be remembered?

From Creative Interviewing by Ken Metzler

January 23 - Sonic IDs

Please listen to the Sonic ID Podcast #2.
Click here for the Sonic Ids.

We are going to experiment with doing Sonic IDs before we run The Morning Announcements picture ID (being built now) and the flag in the morning. We are looking for a glimpse of the different people here in this school and things they think about. Some people call it "putting a there there."

You are going to be responsible for one or more of these in the next week. (Due next Friday for formative 20 pints)

You can record on your phones.

Edit in Hindenburg.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring

Jan. 10 -- Check out these student winners!!

As you know, we will have a media competition next semester with four other schools. These videos are from a media competition in the schools in Orange County, California.

COMMERCIAL ENTRIES

Click here for commercial winner.

Here is another commercial entry.

And last commercial entry is HERE.

SPOT FEATURE Entries

Click here for entry in this category.

Click here for next entry.

Click here for next entry.

Click here for last entry.

Love this one, too.

Wow, the bar is high . . . we got work to do.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 9 - Hindenburg tutorial

Click here for one-hour tutorial on Hindenburg. You will be quizzed on this at some point early next semester, so learn it. Answer the questions as you listen.

This is an awesome tool.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 9 -- Look at these videos

Videos to check out for your media-making education.

Click here for a great story with animation. Notice how they are trying to teach the viewer.

Click here for beautiful video with amazing attention to small details and a bigger message. This is about a community in Chicago that is struggling to remain just that.

Click here for a video on how to do something. All vegetarians, prepare yourself.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 8 - Catch-up day

You should do your homework that is due Friday OR redo audio OR whatever else you need to do to catch up in this class today.

I will be conferencing with students.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan 4 Class Assignment - Listen to "If" on Buffalo server

You must listen to an award-winning audio piece that I have loaded onto the server. It is in the Audio/Radio folder. The title is "If."

Get a sheet of paper. Close your eyes and listen. You are going to write up your reactions to it and thoughts on how it was made.

You will be confused at first. Give it time.

Listen twice.

First time to figure out what is going on.
Second time to see how they built it.

Write up a thoughtful piece. Turn in at end of period.
(8 pts. Formative)

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 3 - Today's work

Listen to this Lost and Found from RadioLab and specifically listen to the way they use sound behind the voices. Listen to the way the story takes time to set it all up.

Write up your observations. Notice the tension in the piece. What are the conflicts? Remember this is an important part of any story. How can you make your piece better with sound? How about adding any conflict? Is that possible? Turn in at end of class.

(10 pts. Formative)

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 2, 2013 - What do you think about this?

You have now done an audio piece. Here is a very good piece of work done by students just like you. Check it out by clicking here.

Compare and contrast with your own work and note the use of music (it is called "The Words of our Parents"). Write it up and turn in today. 5 pts.

I think you should be proud of yourselves for your first time making audio.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 2, 2013 - Videos online you need to see!

Check out this link with Radio Rookies.

Click here for a really cool animation with string.

Check this out. How can we encourage the students at JFK to save paper? How would you explain this phenomena to the general school population? This is a great green tip and will save forest use and disposal issues.

Click here for more on ethical fashion. You have heard about the fire that killed over 100 workers in a plant in Bangladesh. Here is another angle.

January 2 -- Homework Assignments (Final Due Date is Jan. 18)

Sydney, Beverly, and Kathy interviewd the wheelchair jumper at Bridge Day on October 20, 2012. Look for their story soon.

You have the following assignment due on January 18. These are questions designed to make you think. I want to see your ideas about the questions I posed, not something cut and pasted from the web. Don't be afraid to say what you think, as it is a life skill and you might be surprised that you have great ideas when you take the time to formulate your thoughts on paper. If you lose the assignment paper, here is a copy.

Name: ______________________________________

Five different homework assignments. They must be TYPED. Turn them in as a hard copy as soon as you can. Deadline is January 18.

1. What makes something funny? Give some thought to this and write up your answer in two paragraphs with examples that back up your point. 10 pts.

2. What is news and why should we care? Explain and give some examples using recent events. For example, how will the Dream Act affect you or your peers? Or, how will the fiscal cliff avoidance help you? Or gun laws, mental health and Newtown. 10 pts.

3. In the spring we will have a competition with at other schools in a short film . The genre will be selected for us. What are film genres? Give at least three film genres with some examples of films and why they are in that genre. For example, Scream is in the horror genre and that genre usually has creeping threat that you don’t see for awhile, built up tension, etc. 10 pts.

4. Explain what a news show should look like at Kennedy High School. 10 pts.

5. You are producing a show on saving the environment aimed at children. What subject would you pick and how would you produce it? Two-paragraph pitch is in order here with selling points on why your vision should be the one we choose to produce for the competition. 10 pts.