Reading Due Friday

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)

What I found most interesting in these pages was the "Graphics" section.  It explained the how beneficial adding in little amounts of graphics that could potentially improve your story and help tell it.  What you don't want to do is overuse them; no "spinning numbers".  Keep it "low-tech, yet instantly clear" in order for these graphics to be beneficial rather than overbearing. I found this interesting because I do like graphics and I think they are best when you almost don't even notice them because you think they are naturally in the story.

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?

Race for the Cure, May 13th
3. List and describe four instances of natural sound. 

Crowd cheering before race, people walking, people talking while walking, drummers in a band that played while they were walking
4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting.

birds eye view of the crowd cheering, WS from the ground up of people starting the run, CU of the shoes of the walking people, from the back of someone (their race number)
5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)

Getting the most out of what you have, do what you can
6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. (100 words)

This story utilizes Dotson's building blocks specifically in it's pictures, silence, natural sound, and soundbites.  However, it doesn't use much graphics, not that it is needed.  With the pictures, this story does a good job of switching off between the big group of people walking and a few interviewed that in some way have been affected by breast cancer.  There are occasional silent parts throughout the story also that are filled with natural sound such as the drums that are being played as walkers walk past, or the sound of the crowd cheering while starting the walk.

Interviewing Notes

FORMAL INTERVIEW:

1. Show up early, set-up and put mic on chair
2. Run Mic Up shirt
3. Reporter should distract and make a connection
4. Photographer is listening in headphones
5. Frame up shot: Eyes on Third, Talking Space/Nose Room, Cam Eye Level,
6. Photographer gives signal: Clears Throat... to signal he/she is ready for the interview to start
7. 1st Question is always State your name and spell it...
8. Open Ended Questions
9. Last Question is always "Is there anything else you want to say"
10. Shoot Cut Aways of Hands or Reporter


Copy and paste the following questions and answer them on your blog:

Run and Gun Interviews:

1. What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
1/2 questions, unplanned
2. What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
test equipment and making sure you have everything
3. Why do you think we should ask for permission?
polite, may be legal aspects, make sure they want to
4. Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?
so we can write it and spell it correctly at the bottom
5. Where should we place the microphone?
clipped on their shirt by their mouth, chord up their shirt (hang loose)
6. Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
no because it creates distraction and they dont know the right spot to put it
7. The photographer is responsible for the sound levels. What are two things the photog should be aware of?
making sure theyre at the proper level (sound meters) & background noise
8. COMPOSITION: How we should frame our interview shot:
a. Eyes on _____third______
b. 2 Eyes One ____ear______
c. Camera should be Higher, Even, or Lower than subject? even
d. Talking space or __nose______ Room


BACKGROUNDS:
9. Avoid shooting in front of ___a_window_______.

10. Why should we keep signs out of the background?
causes people to look/read the sign
11. If we were doing an interview about the high cost of parking at EVHS where would a good place to interview be?
in the parking lot
12. What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?
have them working while youre interviewing them, shows how to do something and keeps it interesting

Interview Process

1. start with conversation, nothing to do with topic
2. tell them to say first & last name, then spell it
3. ask them if there is anything else they would like to add
4. avoid verbal responses in interview
5. let them fill in the silence

Friday Assignment

Story Title: Disappearing jobs: Video store closes shop
Total run time: 2:58

1. CU sign of store
2. WS view of hallway in store
3. CU owner talking
4. WS outside shop
5. pan of the whole store
6. CU person choosing movie
7. CU movie shelfs
8. CU sign in shop
9. CU owner talking
10. CU from side, open sign
11. WS owner checking movies
12. pan of person looking at movies
13. CU of movie drop box
14. CU owner talking
15. WS looking for movies
16. side shot looking at movies
17. floor shop dog walking
18. WS people checking out movies
19. CU interviewer
20. WS person talking to desk worker
21. WS person getting movie
22. floor shot person looking at movies
23. WS inside store outside to rain
24. CU of movies being checked
25. CU of sign for movie selling
26. CU of movies sitting on desk
27. WS of behind desk
28. WS of people putting away movies
29. WS outside of shop looking in
30. WS of inside shop looking out while dark

Although it was shot from many different angles, the story itself I thought wasn't exciting and didn't do a good job at keeping my attention.  Throughout the film it did constantly switch views from all over the store but it did show the owner's face while talking more than probably preferred. The story also had some interesting ways to show different views of the store- for example it showed from the floor up and it also focused on the movies while they were being taken to scan.

"It's too hot for coffee"

B-Roll

Camera shot breakdown of Boyd Huppert's story

Story title: "It’s too hot for coffee"

Air date: summer

Total run time (of story, not anchor lead-in and out): 5:54

Shot-by-shot breakdown:

1.   MS man sitting in coffee shot
2.     MCU man typing on computer
3.    CA people waiting in line
4.   CU coffee menu/sign
5. ECU coffee menu
6.   CU coffee beans
7.   CU ceiling fan
8.    CU creamer being carried
9.     MS creamer being put away
10.  MS preparing smoothie
11.    CU pick up drinks sign
12.    CU different coffee choices
13.    MS coffee being filled
14. CU toilet art
15. MS toiled art
16. CU inside toilet art
17. CU menu
18. CU menu choices
19. MS workers making coffee
20. pan of coffee shop
21. MS toilet art
22. CU opening toilet art
23. MS drinking coffee
24. MS sitting down
25. CU cold drink
26. CU grinding coffee
27. MS scooping in coffee
28. MS pressing coffee
29. MS making espresso
30. CU watching coffee pour
31. MS waiting for coffee
32. MS making frappe
33. CU inside of blender
34. MS adding ingredients
35. MS getting ice
36. CU blending
37. ECU blender screen
38. MS pouring frappe
39. MS giving away frappe
40. WS man walking away with drink

 

"It's too hot for coffee"

Stand-ups

“Everybody knows to come down town to the Mud House for a great cup of coffee, but no one wants coffee when it’s 105 degrees.”

B-roll: medium shot

“For coffee shops like the Mud House, there is one way to beat the heat, and that’s to offer refreshing, cold drinks.”

B-roll: medium shot

“Another great thing about the Mud House is that once you get your drink and sit down, there’s a lot of great artwork.”

B-roll: medium shot

"It's too hot for coffee"

Sound Bites

“During the summer months we ice most of our drinks. A lot of our customers still need their caffeine fix so if they usually get a latte they will come in and get an ice latte instead.”

B-roll: Tight shot

 

“I think I probably come in here two to three times a week, usually. Maybe less but max three times a week.”

“Well typically I like a hot cup of coffee, but in the summer it’s really nice to just come in and get a cool drink.”

B-roll: medium/tight shot

 

“I’ve got the ice Mud Puddle right here, one of their classics. It’s got vanilla, and mocha, A little bit of chocolate mixed in there, and mix it all up with some ice and it’s a good, good drink. A little bit of cream and it tops it all off.”

B-roll: tight shot & links to tight shot of coffee

                                                       

“We read a lot of medical books and herb books and they said drinking coffee can actually cool you down than drinking cold sodas and stuff. It has something to do to reduce the heat of the body, and it seems to do okay.”

B-roll: medium shot

Components of a Sound Story

This is how a story is put together.
1st We come up with a Topic:

cross country homecoming
2nd We decide on a Focus Statement:

CC team runs ball far

3rd: We Conduct Interviews to get Sound Bites to use in the interview:

"our cc team holds tradition very dear to us"
4th We Shoot B-Roll to complement the sound bites

helicopter overhead shot

leaving the highschoo
5th We Shoot our stand-up

low/deep shot of school from under car
6th: We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Seques between interviews.

reporter adds info about the length of the run

linking shot of football hand off

Reading 2

Read, in Dotson’s book, pages 43 thru 55. Respond to what you read, and use these questions if you get stuck: What strikes you as interesting? In what ways do you agree or disagree with him? How does this fit where you are as a writer, and how will it help you become a better one? 
(100 words minimum)

   What I found interesting about this section of reading is that when news stations tell a story or give information, instead of having words all over the screen for the viewers to read themselves, they keep them interested and tell the story with images and videos.  I agree that this would keep viewers watching for a longer time because it doesn't take effort on their part to know the story they're telling.  It's also important to get a wide variety of viewers connected; the story or the way it's told shouldn't draw the attention of one culture more than another.  Keep the viewer interested by using an active voice, group everything in threes, and add in little surprises.  But at the same time, it's important not to overwhelm the viewer with information.

So, Dotson highlights the following:
- How to defeat the TV remote control
- Be conversational
- Gobbledygook and clichés
- Active voice
- Write in threes
- Surprises

Doing the right thing

         This story uses the strategy of being conversational throughout the writing.  Towards the beginning of the story after the writer had talked about hockey for a little bit, he added in a short story of a past memory between the twins that relates to the story.  This story also includes a surprise.  Not only did Nate win the prize by making an impressive shot with an injured arm, he ended up giving all the money back because he didn’t feel it was right to keep it.  The rule of threes also shows up all throughout the story.  For example when the Vikings heard about what the family did, they (one) “brought the whole family to a game”, (two) “let them hang out on the field”, and (three) “put them in a VIP box.”

End of a 12-son football dynasty for Minn. Family

         This video, as well as the story, has a lot of conversation in it.  Whenever the interviewer would ask a question, they would continue talking about things that wouldn’t directly relate to the question.  The surprise tactic was used when they talked about how long the mom and dad has been going to the games because of their 12 sons.  The video also has an active voice and keeping things interesting throughout the story.  When they showed all the sons, they made it humorous by talking about past stories (also conversational) that resulted from having 12 boys in a house.

Wheres My Keys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYWFuqXC-EI

Robber Story

1. What is the lead in this story? Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
Something unusual happening in a quiet neighborhood. Yes

2. What are the 5W's of this story: Who, What, Where, When, Why
Who- woman (interviewee) and other neighbors
What- robber breaking in and stealing (through doggie door)
When- all robberies happening close to eachother
Where- quiet neighborhood, block away of 31st and Julian
Why- to raise awareness to be extra cautious

3. Give an example of the reporters Voice over or seque (Write it down word for word)
Gives information after every sentence the interviewee says about the story

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

5. What is the purpose of this reporter's stand-up?
-move story forward
-reporter becomes B-Roll
-take me to the scene
-use props
-be creative and surprise us

Make It Memorable by Bob Dotson

Regarding the book by Bob Dotson, Make It Memorable: Please read the introduction and Section One (pages 3-41). Then, answer the following questions and be sure to exceed the requested word counts:

o What do you notice about the way he writes? Use specific examples, please. (75 words)
Bob Dotson writes stories to benefit others and to influence his readers.  He wants to help his readers become better at what they want to do by being creative and doing things differently.  Throughout his writing, he explains in detail how to improve yourself and your stories.  He gives off little pieces of advice that work together to make your story that much better.  For example, he gives the idea to "look for things that the audience cannot see or hear for themselves... Tell them what they might have missed even standing next to you" (p. 27).

o What did you learn from reading pages 9 to 27? (75 words)
Do all that you can in order to make your story engaging and different from others.  Take the information that you have and make it interesting if it isn't.  You can do this by focusing on a small topic that listeners might be interested in and get as in depth as possible with details.  Rather than hearing the same things all over again repeatedly, listers want to hear something different; a story they have never heard before or anything like it.

o With the scripts: What do suppose is described in each column? Why would it be split like that? What else is interesting about the scripts? (50 words)
In the scripts: in each column, he uses examples to demonstrate what he taught you in the previous pages.  These examples are meant to help you fully understand what he meant when he was explaining it.  Its split to make it easier for the reader to understand and read.  I thought that the scripts were interesting because they all give little details of information that you may not get from a broader told story on the subject.

o On Page 34 (and to the end of the section), Dotson writes about a long-form feature. Find one of these (a story at least 4 minutes long) on a TV news magazine such as Rock Center, 20/20 or 60 Minutes. Then, give and explain examples of how the storyteller uses the five bulleted traits Dotson gives on Page 34. (200 words)

I watched Jackie Hance thought sister-in-law was 'good mom' before Taconic crash, a 9 minute story, off of Rock Center.  It was about a mom who trusted her sister-in-law to bring her 3 daughters on a safe camping trip that was meant to be a good experience for all of them.  Bob Dotson first talked about the setting.  The scene was set in an interview room with the mother of the girls and the interviewer, Brian Williams.  They talked about where the crash took place, which was on the Taconic Parkway.  Videos of the girls playing and sounds from the highway were used as natural sound while she was being interviewed. Foreshadowing was used when they showed the mother's book in the begging called "I'll See You Again" with a picture of her daughters on it. The conflict was the mother putting trust in a seemingly reliable sister-in-law but it turns out to be otherwise when she gets an alarming call from her oldest daughter crying over the phone "somethings wrong with her" as she was driving down the street onto oncoming traffic. The character growth was at first she talked about how the sister-in-law seemed trustworthy even as a friend, but later goes into further detail how she never really knew much about her.  The Resolution ended with police finding marijuana and high alcohol levels in her blood from her body and the mother talking about all she finds herself doing is blaming herself for trusting a stranger.

Changing Identity

1. Identify and explain as many WALLDO shots as you can.
W-
A-piano playing, making toast
L-playing with dog on deck and yard
L-wind chimes to face
D-sitting on deck talking, toaster
O-front of toaster, back of toaster

2. What is Natural Sound?
The background noise/environmental sound that adds to the story

3. Identify several examples of Natural Sound in this story?
Piano playing, making toast, outside noises

4. How does Natural Sound enhance the story?
Adds normal day sounds and makes the story more interesting

Walldo

Wide shot: shows the full scenery with background (zoomed out) sets scene
Angle shot: shot at an angle, goal is to get the eyes to move across the screen
Low shot: gives a different perspective by shooting low from the ground
Linking: tells two stories within one shot; linking two things into one
Depth shot: shows creativity and details; looks 3D
Opposite shot: gives depth; shows two sides of a shot- opposite sides. Action/reaction.