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