Floor Director Hand Signals
Hand Cues or Hand Signals given by the Floor Manager, are the standard method of cueing to start or stop. Make sure that your signals can be seen by the talent and are understood. If necessary, explain the basic cues to them before the broadcast. Do not assume they know what you are doing-especially with inexperienced talent.
Writing Scripts for Broadcast News
With current demands placed on broadcast instructors and the limited time available for you to prepare your students, the best way to ensure a well-established news gathering and production process is to implement a Newsroom Computer System (NRCS). In fact, an NRCS is the only choice of serious and competitive broadcast programs because these productions require a uniquely efficient, effective and structured workflow that cannot be well performed by unconnected tools.
Writing Compelling Leads for Broadcast News
While there are few "perfect" leads, some are better than most. As you pursue a career in journalism, you'll encounter those leads that are memorable, those leads that are acceptable, and those that are simply not very good. And because all news stories are different from one another, you'll also learn that different methods can solve the challenges in writing good leads.
5 Tips for Video Editing Beginners
Just because all of us have a video camera does not mean we can professionally record events. It is not as easy as it looks and it is a craft that takes years to become proficient at. Especially video editing. Once you record that great video, how do you make it look good and entertaining.
Piracy in Education
Illegally copying and distributing music CD’s or selling bootlegged DVD’s are no different than students using Limewire to share music files or teachers publishing free resources online that are licensed commodities of companies or publishers. It is important to bring awareness to this topic of piracy in education so that other teachers, students, parents and administrators can prevent piracy in their organizations.
Lesson Plan - Interviewing
In this mini-lesson, your students will work on their interviewing skills, and possibly move away from the question and answer interrogation, to a conversation in which their character tells stories from which great soundbites are born.
Interviewing Tactics and Techniques
Drawing people out - getting them to speak from the heart - is one of the journalist's most challenging tasks. Interviewing is both an art and a science. Good interviewers get better material because they are able to put the people they interview at ease, establish a rapport, and win their trust.
Audio for Video
Audio is possibly the most overlooked element in video production. That's too bad because audio quality can make or break any video project, regardless of budget. You may be able to fix some things in post-production, but why go to all the trouble when you can get it right the first time? This article explores 10 tips for gathering the best possible audio on your next shoot. Some are common sense tips, but many are hard-earned lessons from the field.
5 Back to School Video Ideas
Start the new semester off right with a friendly Welcome Video featuring staff, facilities, and exciting upcoming events. This would be a great opportunity to showcase your school’s distinct personality and mission statement as well as welcoming new students to your campus. Since filming on an iPad is simple and user-friendly, students and staff will have no trouble creating a friendly and unique video message.
How to be a Film Critic and Learn From It
This lesson plan is all about applying what you see by watching existing films to your own screenwriting projects. Let’s say you're an aspiring movie critic or you're assigned to write an essay for a film appreciation class. Understanding the elements inherent in this medium is as important as being able to articulate what you liked and didn’t like about a movie or television show’s content.
Two-Column, Split-Page Script Format
The two-column, split-page script format is used for multiple-camera productions, as well as for advertisements and corporate and instructional videos. Here’s how to lay it out, from characters to dialogue to scenes.
Recording Sound with DSLR Cameras
Sound recording is possible with the DSLR camera's built-in monaural microphone or a commercially available external stereo microphone connected to the camera via its 3.5 mm diameter stereo mini plug jack. Here’s how you can do it.
Teleprompter Operation Techniques
Basic teleprompter operation is a mission critical part of your student newscast and other video productions. Your teleprompter operator should thoroughly practice running the teleprompter software, should communicate with on-camera talent and thoroughly practice running the software with their on-camera talent prior to the production.
Building Flats: Step-by-Step Guide
A step-by-step guide to building muslin flats for your school theatre productions. The advantages to muslin are that it is light-weight, cheap (when bought in bulk), and has a very nice finished surface that tends to absorb stage-lighting more.
8 Tips for Beginning Videographers
Avoid these beginner mistakes that nearly everyone makes when they pick up a video camera. The worst offender is the constant zooming and panning that pervades every shot. Do you really need to get a closer look at your subject?
How Do I Get Music Copyright Permission?
If the video you are creating is not to be shown anywhere other than in your own school classroom as part of a class project, you may use the music if your teacher approves. However, if the video will be played outside of your classroom, you must obtain “copyright licenses” for the program.
Lesson Plan - Creating a Student-Produced Weather Forecast
In this lesson plan, I will be walking you through the process of implementing a weather forecast video broadcast for your student run television production class.
Running Out of Project Ideas? Unique Broadcast Education Lessons
I feel strongly that different styles of production should be taught in the beginning along with camera and editing basics so when they make it to the advanced classes, they are well prepared to take on a variety of projects as they improve their technical skills. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Copyright Issues When Using Music in Videos
Regardless of the possibility of “getting away with it,” it is our responsibility to teach students legal and ethical practices when using technology in this digital age. And, as students begin to create their own works, they will understand the importance of ownership and copyright laws, especially as they seek credit and payment for their own creations.
When is it Legal to Film People Without Their Permission?
The First Amendment is very protective of the rights of filmmakers, documentarians, and news crews. However, several areas can and do trip up unsuspecting filmmakers.