How to Make a Podcast
There is an abundance of podcasts out there, but don’t let your fear of not being original hinder this brainstorming process. You can and will come up with something spectacular if you just take these crucial steps.
Waterman Broadcasting Studio Gets a PTZ Makeover
Waterman Broadcasting was a 12-year-old ABC studio that needed a fresh face for local viewers, who have come to regard the station as their news and weather information fountain. Bob Hannon, Senior Production Engineer, was tasked with making it happen.
Ready For Your Close-Up? How To Look Great On Camera
The bright lights of the stage when the curtain goes up are not the same as the light that turns on when your HD webcam tells you your event has begun and that other people are now watching. It is as different an experience for you as it is for your audience. But following some basic steps can make the digital stage as rewarding as the theatre you stood upon a year ago.
Tech to Make Remote Learning Feel More Connected
HoverCam, an innovative technology leader in the education market has a handful of new products to streamline learning in remote and traditional classroom environments!
What is Dogme 95 and Does It Still Matter?
Raising above all other film manifestos, the lasting effects of this infamous dogme can still be seen today. Dogme 95 was a manifesto brought forth by Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. This Danish film movement based on a manifesto also known as the “Vows of Chastity” caused quite a stir in the filmmaking community.
How Video Teachers Define Industry Standard Equipment
The following message is a call to arms for video production educators throughout the world. It may be a wake-up call for some. It may be a shot in the arm for others. It may upset some yet put some at ease. The following message is to be used as the surfboard to help you crest the wave of 2021 and beyond because frankly —nothing will ever be the same for you.
How To Teach a Successful Video Production Class
Each year, I work on creating a pacing guide for my courses. It’s my one-stop-shop for what I think we need to cover and when we should cover it. The biggest key to setting up the pacing for my courses is that I am 100% flexible in my expectations. In recent talks about the pacing of his animation course, Jamie Chuven at John’s Creek HS in Atlanta put it perfectly “students take 6 weeks on something that should take 3.” That’s the hardest part, trying to figure out/remember how long it takes students to receive the lesson, comprehend the lesson, and build the product to an acceptable level.
Sample Rubric for Grading Video Production Students
The senior level of our Video Productions program is strictly a production class so students are working on different projects from the moment they walk in the door. This can be a grading nightmare, so I developed a portfolio sheet they are required to complete on a weekly basis.
Project Packet Template for Your Video Production Class
This project packet for students can be tailored to any type of major long-term assignment. Matched with a grading rubric, it is a great tool to help organize each phase of production and track milestones along the way.
3D Printing Camera Gear & Accessories
Camera gear and accessories have a tendency to break the bank. As a teacher or student, working within a small budget forces you to compromise on the type of gear you afford. When you’re working with a tight budget, you can 3D print camera gear and accessories instead!
Streaming is Now a Felony
Sunday, Congress passed the newest stimulus package and I’ll admit my understanding of politics isn’t much than being a bill on capitol hill and the research I do about 2 weeks before I vote. I do know that with every “package” there are things you don’t want… unless it’s bubble wrap.
How To Archive and Keep Your Projects Searchable
There was a time I would archive all raw footage and an uncompressed MOV file, but the reality is that 99 percent of the time, I never need to access all of that. We mainly archive in an MP4 format, so that helps reduce the size of our storage needs.
How To Name Your Files To Streamline Your Video Project
Are you looking for a suitable method of tracking projects for grading and archiving? Here is a standard of practice I developed for our students about ten years ago that drastically improved our workflow process. With hundreds of projects, shows, and events being produced each year, we needed a better system in place, and it had to start with project naming.
How to Find the Perfect Monologue
While school drama departments and community theaters across the country are currently on hiatus, what better time to hone your acting chops than by identifying and practicing monologues you can use for future auditions and sizzle reels?
7 Easy-to-Follow Steps for Writing a Video Script
Writing a video script that will meet your goals and convey your vision into reality is a challenging process. What can ease up is that the whole process is a step-by-step organization that will eliminate the stress and help you take on this assignment strategically.
Veteran Documentary - The Best Production Project
You get to do so many great projects with students when you run a video productions and broadcast journalism program. News packages highlight some of the exciting things happening in your school and community, music videos bring out everyone's creative side, short films generate some unique narratives, and live sports provide a rush that is hard to beat. We have all of these forms of production going on at Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, in what we call our NCtv Media program, and it makes for an excellent comprehensive education.
What Student Filmmakers Can Learn From Watching Horror Films
As a starting filmmaker, horror is a scary genre to get right (pun intended). In this article, I am listing five movies that are great to introduce yourself to the horror/thriller genre. These five movies combine storytelling, aesthetics, and filmmaking in order to complement the horror genre. I’m also not trying to spoil anything about these films, so I apologize in advance if my comments are vague in this article.
Coffee, Tea, or Earbuds?
Half the job of an editor is working with sound. If you have students editing in a computer lab, you are probably having them use headphones when they are at their computer. We decided to eliminate the over-the-ear cans that students were sharing (yuck) and opted for earbuds.
What Does 5G Mean for Your Stream?
Overall, 5G is set to enhance the way students and teachers interact online regardless of the industry. What with the pandemic bringing everyone online, educators need to find ways to easily engage with their students.
How To Make the Fake Blood From The Evil Dead!
The Evil Dead is one of the best horror films of the 20th century. It is iconic, campy, and filled with blood. The 1981 American supernatural classic was written and directed by Sam Raimi and it stars the most famous B movie actor of all time --Bruce Campbell. If you are interested in making a short horror movie this is a great place to start. Bruce Campbell spills it all and shows us how to make his infamous fake blood that actually shows up well on camera.