Feb 27 Check this out

This is from a group of high school students who used a singing number from the Broadway hit, Sunday in the Park with George, and re-wrote the words to sell their film fest. Check it out here.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb 26 - Competition

Today you are going to talk to Ms. Greer about how you plan to do your video in the next week.

Deadline for these packages is end of day next Thursday, March 7. We will view them and decide our best picks next Friday, March 8.

What is your subject?

Where do you need to shoot?

When do you plan to edit?

There is no better feeling than watching your video or film in a room full of competitors when you are really proud of your work. That is why I implore you to figure out what your are doing for both the competition and making your school proud, getting a good grade, AND most importantly, being proud of yourself for doing a job well. You have an amazingly powerful communication tool at your fingertips. Use it.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb. 25 -- Listen

What are your plans for your news package? They are due very soon. Friday is a good day. Listen to this as soon as you can. Write up your reaction to it for homework on Friday. (20 pts)

HOMEWORK: Piano Projects - Copy and Past URL to see

Write up a defense of what are the TWO best from a musician's perspective. Remember you were hired to support their creative process. Why are they the best? How do they help the creative of the composer? What video imagery helps with writing a lyric?

Due on Monday so you have time to check out everyone's work.(20 pts)

No. 1. Click here.

No. 2 Click here

No. 3 click here

No. 4 click here

No. 5 click here

No.6 click here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkVoL9Hh0Cc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08iRuojCbXA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDii0dQxEUo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRjwx6r_yg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkVoL9Hh0Cc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08iRuojCbXA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vKkQYwAJCA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1uS4sHp3Mc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3UCGnBz970

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EGIkbxjfe0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWPec6fEEAE

https://vimeo.com/60091471

https://vimeo.com/60089864

https://vimeo.com/60088419

https://vimeo.com/60088291

Feb 20 -Quick Fire Challenge/Collaboration

Today you are going to do the video portion of a music video. You will be paired with 2 other people and you are doing to shoot a video for the piano students who are going to score your video. Think like this: YOu have shot a movie and now the composer is going to take your footage and write and perform the musical score. So your job today is to go out and shoot in the building a video that has some kind of simple story with some kind of mood that makes sense. You are to do a quick edit and we will send it to You Tube where it will be picked up by the piano kids tomorrow. Write a storyboard quickly so you can work efficiently outside. Run by me before you get permission to go. Go quietly to the location to shoot. Do not get security or other teachers mad at you or your team will fail. Return and upload your footage AND edit in Final Cut. We will upload to YouTube before the end of class.(35 pts Summative) Rubric: Footage is not shaky Footage is without words Footage is interesting and varied Footage tells a story that isn't exactly explicit Storyboard is required and was shown to Ms. Greer You must describe the TONE of your video: Sad, happy, angry, etc. Footage was edited and ready for YouTube before the end of class. 35 pts total

Feb. 18 - Cool videos to check out

It is time to super-saturate with good videos to get ideas for competition. Here is a cool one that uses a child to voice a story. Neat concept. Click here.

Here is one about how to make videos for non-profits. This is a great way to get into the business and try to make the world a better place. Click here for video.

Here is another link to a stop-motion. Watch for details.

Shoes . . . did he say shoes? Click here.

Here is another video by the same filmmaker. What do you notice that is similar? This is a cool product, but watch the camera work.

Another animation with cool little story. AND how it was done here.

Ms.Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Animations to check out

Check out these animated shorts. They are nominees for an Oscar this year. Click here.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

February 13 and 14 - Quick Fire Assignment (Block Day)

Your news package pitches are due today. Three sentences for your objective. (15 pts formative)

A good example is the following: Liberty's Promise is without an adviser and I will shoot them talking about moving to this country while visiting the Smithsonian. This footage will add more to their commentary about this country, democracy and what they miss about their old country. I will get their personal stories and hopes.

You see that there is a direction to the story and you have thought about visuals.

Maybe they will get a new adviser when they see how cool these students are. That good change is what journalism is all about.

Today's assignment: Make a 1:00 min. musical intro tape for the announcements using the tape provided in the Buffalo server folder(Quick Fire _hallway footage).

Follow-up on the editing insights we gleaned yesterday during our critique session and practice cutting videotape with a musical selection you choose from www.incompetech.com (required source of your music on this project).

The tape is just one hallway after the AMP bell rings. Feel free to speed up and slow down as you see fit. Experiment. Label with your name. Have fun with this.

You must finish and upload before the end of class. (20 pts. formative)

We will critique these quickly on Friday. You will also have a current events quiz on Friday (like every Friday).

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb 12 - Three Assignments

Today we will critique Bocce Ball commercials. (20 pts. summative)

Tonight you will come up with a news package that will run no longer that 1:30-2:00 for the show. The pitch is due on your block day this week written up in three sentences (that will help you formulate what you are trying to do). YOu must get an approval before you can start your project. Remember, we are looking at competition, too.(15 pts Homework grade)

The news package (50 pts summative -- Due Feb 26):

It must be on a school activity or a profile of someone who is doing something interesting (they must be student or staff).
You will be graded on all technical aspects of the video. Your shots must be steady. Your audio awesome. Voice overs well-written. No stand-up reporter thing either.
Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb 5 - Commercial Assignment

Now that we have analyzed some Super Bowl commercials, I want you to do a commercial about our Bocce Ball team. You will be given the program from the tournament last Saturday that gives you relevant information, including the rules of the game. Today, you need to go over the photos and tape in the Bocce Ball folder on the Buffalo server.

DO not move the files out of the folder. You can only drag the files you want to your desktop. THEN, and only THEN, do you import them into Final Cut.

Some of the footage is shaky, some out of focus. Do the best you can. I was using a camera I don't know very well(which tells you to remember the rule about knowing your equipment).

Listen to the comments from the Paint Branch crowd.

You are going to make a 60-second commercial with your main purpose to boost the team (so they feel great and can recruit more members). Watch and mark footage today. On block, you will start your edit.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb. 4 - Critique Super Bowl ads

So, USA Today ran a contest of the Super Bowl ads and you can see the winner and other contestants HERE.

Watch them without sound. Look at all the cuts. The storyboard was very expensive so every shot had to tell what the sponsors wanted the audience to see.

How did they build tension?

Now play again and listen to the sound with the visuals.

How is it different now?

Write up your analysis of five of these ads. At least 10 notable things each.

25 pts. formative

Heads up: YOu will be doing a commercial this week with footage shot of the Bocce Ball team. So watch techniques. Copying other successful videos is a great place for beginners.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb. 1 - Current Event Quiz and Critiques today

I have downloaded all the Sonic Ids that were due yesterday. Deadlines are serious (I will give slack to the new students, however.) I will grade them over the weekend. Meanwhile, you are to give feedback to the five you like the best TODAY during class. This does not mean that because you like it, you will only give love notes to the ID maker. Constructive feedback is an act of respect. We are all learners here, and like Ira Glass from my Jan.29 blog post, we are going to make a lot of bad work so we can break on out to the other side.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.