Project #1: GVTV Nonfiction Project

Working in GROUPS OF 5 or 6, you and your partners will create a nonfiction video that either a) examines multiple sides of a significant campus issue or b) informs the student body about an important topic on campus. This project will air on GVTV, so keep in mind an audience of GVSU studentswho live on campus – both Allendale and Pew, primarily freshmen and sophomores.  Because this project will air on GVTV, we will be coordinating with the other Media II section to avoid duplication of topic.  Also keep in mind the importance of “shelf life” – we’d like to see these pieces used on GVTV for several semesters.

The goal of this project is to advance your skills in nonfiction video production, including interviewing, lighting for interviews, complex editing strategies, and layered sound mixing. Perhaps more importantly, though, your task is to create a vivid and engaging nonfiction story that conveys information clearly and accurately. Thus, considerations of structure, script, and editing will be paramount in crafting your video.

Your interviews, then, should serve to draw out the key information you need to explore your topic. In addition, your use of sound and b-roll should serve to draw us into the environment under investigation. Create a vivid portrait of place, enriched by the use of interviews and/or voice-overs.

Music is also essential to this project as a means of conveying mood and energy. You may use music as appropriate throughout the piece, but you must use it to open and close the video. All music must be copyright-legal or used by permission with proper attribution in the closing credits! (See handout for sources of open copyright music).

Each group assigns the following positions: Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Sound Designer, Editor – all group members must be present at all shoots to provide production assistance. All group members are expected to assist with post-production (transcribing, VTR logs, etc.)

Parameters

• Shoot in 4:3 aspect ratio
• 3-5 minutes in length
• Must be turned in on miniDV
• Release forms must be obtained (anyone who speaks on camera or is present on camera when shooting in a private – not public – location)
• Soundtrack must include interview track, ambient track, and music. Do not use only an interview track for any part of the video; all portions should have at least an ambient track. You may include a voice-over of your own recording/scripting (optional).
• Video must make use of “J” and “L” edits (audio-lead and audio-trail split edits)
• Interviews must be properly and effectively lit (no available-light-only interview shots) in appropriate locations
• Video must use graphically consistent titles and lower-thirds created in Final Cut’s Boris and/or Photoshop
• End credits include interviewees, crew, and music (or other) credits
• Output in following format:

:60 Bars & Tone | :10 Black | :10 Slate | :05 Black | Countdown | Video w/ title & credits (3-5 min.) | :30 Black

Proposal/treatment due: January 25th 

Based on your research into your topic, type a synopsis and treatment that details the question your project will answer, the planned structure of the video, and the style. The treatment, in particularly, should read like a description of the final product – what will we see and hear? Be vivid and descriptive. Include your crew list/positions, production schedule (interviewees, b-roll, locations), and post-production schedule in this proposal.

Post materials due: February 8th

Transcripts, VTR logs, EDLs (keep copies for yourselves if needed)

Projects due at the start of class:  February 10th

Revised projects due at the start of class: February 17th  

Turn in written materials on this day:

Typed self/peer evaluation; release forms

Note: COMPLETED projects are due February 10th. Failure to complete any area of the project by this date will result in reduction of your grade. This is not a rough cut.

Back to Teaching Resources