Friday Assignment

Friday Assignment

pick the one you find more interesting. For it, you’re going to write a shot-by-shot account of it (pausing so you can describe each shot). It will take a little while. (You can look at my sample for the Boyd Huppert story we watched in class). On your blog post, give the following information:

Story title: Disapearring Jobs: Video Store Closes Shop
Total Run Time: 2:58

1. Close up of "All- Dvd Video Verite" Store name
2. Depth of inside of store
3. Medium shot of owner checking dvds

4. Medium shot of owner talking
5. Opposite/ depth shot of person walking into store  

6. Angled shot of Customers in the store
7.Close up of lady picking out dvds
8. Super Close up of a dvd
9.Super close up of another dvd
10.Close up of dvd rental sign
11.Close up of women examing dvd titles

12.Medium shot of owner of store talking
13. Close up of Open sign
14. Medium of owner checking out dvd's
15. Depth shot of several people looking at dvds

16.Wide shot of dvd selection choices
17. Close up "Suggestions, comments" box
18. Medium shot of owner talking 
19. Tracking shot of customers looking through selections 

20. Close up of little puppy in store

21. Medium shot of people picking up dvd
22. low shot of women examing dvd choices

23. Medium shot of womens interview 
24. Angled shot of women walking away 
25. Depth shot of women paying at cashier
26. Medium shot of women talking in interview 
27. Low, angled shot of women looking at dvds
28. Close up of exit of store
29. Close up of dvd price
30. Angled Close up of owner looking at computer screen 
31. Medium shot of owner talking 
32. Close up of advertising candy price in store 
33. Close up of Owner scanning dvds 
34. Medium shot of owner talking 
35. Medium shot of people stacking dvds 
36. Low shot of customer at counter 
37. Medium/ depth  shot of workers rearranging dvds 

38. Medium shot of owners talking
39. Medium/ opposite shot of store window
40. Medium shot of lights turning off, owner leaving

What you noticed overall: Finally, write a summary section of at least 100 words

All the varieties of shot included in the b-roll of the news story  make it interesting to watch. Otherwise it would be very not engaging to watch solely the person being interviews talking the whole time or just B-roll the whole time as well. I noticed that when the people are being interviewed in the video it is usually a Medium shot. The The Opening and end shots should be more engaging, especially the opening to draw the audience in. I learned that the main  subject (a person) or object of the story should appear in a close up shot somewhere in the video. In this case the object of the dvd and the owner both showed up in close ups a lot, throughout the video. 

Read in Dotson’s book pages 55 thru 71. Then:
1. What do you find most interesting about what he says on these pages? What stands out as particularly useful to you as a storyteller? (75 words)

I found it interesting when Bob Dotson states that one should find a strong visual to close the story whenever possible. something that the audience won't forget. But most of the newstories I've seen, have 90% of the time closed with a stand up from the reporter. Leaving the viewer with a very strong closing statement regarding their report. I liked the the statement he made about silence. That "For the writer, nothing is more difficult to write than silence. For the viewers, sometimes, nothing is more moving than that moment of silence". Which is so true because most very impacting stories have a moment of silent within them. Makes the message dawn upon the reader. I think Dotson statement he made regarding silence could also come in very useful to an individual as a storyteller. 
 
To answer the rest, you must visit the site for Boyd Huppert’s Land of 10,000 Stories(http://www.kare11.com/news/investigative/extras/stories.aspx). Pick two that look interesting. Watch them. Then, pick one of those and answer the following prompts about it, please: 2. What is the name of the story, and on what date did it first air?
        Pianist loses fingers in snow blower, lives to play

3. List and describe four instances of natural sound. 
         Sound of snow blower running when they brought how he got his finger cut off.
Sound of audience clapping after her was finished playing the piano
Sound of piano playing by the little boy at the beginning, and Jim playing
Sound of nature Backyard sign when Jim was standing where the incident happened telling his story

4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting.
        They did a really tight shot of a kid playing the piano, in the beginning, showing just his fingers, This was intering t me because it looked like his fingers dancing on the keys, by the way they positioned it.
They did a wide shot when Jim was sharing his story and this was interesting to me, you would of imaged them doing a medium shot. But a wide shot really showed the setting of which the incident happened.
An opposite shot of when Jim was playing the piano the shot of the keys moving inside the piano.
A Depth shot of Jim performing in front of an audience showing the audience through showing him playing.
5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)
             Pianist looses fingers still plays

6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. (100 words)
            Pictures: Towards the beginning it was compelling when they showed a shot of Bill's finger when he states "In case you didn't notice the pinky is supposed to be the shortest finger" when really it was the tallest. Also the shot of him at the piano telling the viewer the names of his fingers.
Natural Sounds: Like the ones I listed on question 3.
Soundbites: Jim says "There's no point, because it's a waste of energy, and I have a limited amount of that, and I try to use it to strengthen and improve what I can do," This soundbites shows the moral of the Jim's story. Why his story is so unique, taking such a time of adversity using it to succeed. The placement of this statement is also very profound. As for Graphics this particular story did not have any.

Run and Gun Interviews:

1. What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
Not planned, informal, one or two questions

2. What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
 always test the equipment

3. Why do you think we should ask for permission?
To be polite and respectful
4. Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?
so we can aknowledge their name in the credits, and therefore we have the correct spelling of it on tape

5. Where should we place the microphone?
Hang loose

6. Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
Never
7. The photographer is responsible for the sound levels. What are two things the photog should be aware of?

8. COMPOSITION: How we should frame our interview shot:
a. Eyes on _____third______
b. 2 Eyes One __________
c. Camera should be Higher, Even, or Lower than subject?
d. Talking space or ________ Room


BACKGROUNDS:
9. Avoid shooting in front of ______window______.

10. Why should we keep signs out of the background?
The viewer will focus on that more than the subject

11. If we were doing an interview about the high cost of parking at EVHS where would a good place to interview be?

12. What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?

The Components of a Broadcast Story
1st Topic: Cross country running football to homecoming
2nd  Focus Statement: Cross Country team runs ball far.
3rd:  Sound Bites to use in the interview: "Our cross country teams holds tradition very dear to us"
4th B-Roll to complement the sound bites: An overhead shot, of the team running with the ball
5th stand-up: The linking shot of the groups switching the football
6th: We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Seques between interviews: Adds more information with the voice overs.

Walldo Video

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

Reading response Dotson pages 43 thru 55

Read, in Dotson’s book, pages 43 thru 55. Respond to what you read
In this section, I learned techniques of how to engage the reader. I found it interesting how Dotson states not to just collect information but to appeal to the audience. I found his coverage of the Pearl Harbor's Untold Story very interesting, I liked how it highlighted emotions throughout the telling of the story. I agreed with him when he says "don't overwhelm the viewers with information". Because I feel like that's why in this technology age a lot of people, especially young ones don't watch the news anymore, or read the newspaper, because it's so much information people get bored and don't want to watch it. A good advice, That you shouldn't just throw a bunch of information at your audience its overwhelming.
So, Dotson highlights the following:
- How to defeat the TV remote control -
- Be conversational
- Gobbledygook and clichés
- Active voice
- Write in threes
- Surprises
Read this story and watch this one (a bit of a sports theme this week). Write two paragraphs (one about each) that explains how the story uses/handles at least three of these aspects. Give specific examples (100 words in each paragraph, so at least 200 total words).

The story certainly has an active voice all the way through, up until the end when it ends with a question. The writer of this piece was also conversational and the tone was as if the writer was talking conversationally to the reader. Since he wrote like he would speak it made the piece interesting and appealing to the reader. This piece also included surprises within. The outcome was unpredictable and riveted the viewer's attention. It lured me somebody who is not interested in sports to feel something for the events occurred in the story. While reading I never would of guessed that the boys and family would of told the officials what really happened and was surprised by the great treatment and response they received from it afterwards. 

This news piece definitely defeated the TV remote control. There was a lot of emotions showcased in this piece. Since Dotson writes "People want something from your writing. Happiness.Understanding. Insight." This piece did exactly that. Parts in this piece created vivid images for the audience such as when the mother states that when they bought their house it had a green carpet a natural playing ground for their 12 boys.The narrator of this story had an active voice and it made the story more homie, and intimate.The writer also probably the narrator wrote in threes. example, "Twelve boys -- twelve football players -- spaced out just so that at least one of them has been on every team in Cokato -- every year -- since 1989." The dashes created a natural pause as he was narrating the story. It made the couples story more dramatic to hear about.

Watch: Break In Video

Answer the following questions on your blog:
1. What is the lead in this story? Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
Its hard to image something such as that could happen in a quiet neighboorhood. You keep wactching to find out what happenned and what could be so unusual to happen in their neighborhood.

2. What are the 5W's of this story: Who, What, Where, When, Why
Who: This woman and fellow surrountding neighbors
What: A person used the back doggie door to break in and steal things in the house
Where: 33rd and Julian, in Colorado
When: One Weekday afternoon
Why: The person wants to steal things, and its an unusual way to do go about it using the doogie door.

3. Give an example of the reporters Voice over or seque (Write it down word for word)
"Heather says she's going to keep a closer eye on her back doggie door and what crawls in"

4. When do we see the reporter's stand-up? Beginning, Middle, or End?
The Middle

5. What is the purpose of this reporter's stand-up?
Taking the viewer to another spot in the neighborhood when there was a break-in. It gives the audience a chance to see a face of the reporter.
Move the story forward
Reporter becomes B-Roll
Take me to the scene
Use Props
Be creative