Book Work #2

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? Using surprises to one's advantage seems like a very useful tool, as is using images to enhance the story.  
2. What is the name of the story, and on what date did it first air?
Remembering Tonka Toys, it aired on May 20th, 2013
3. List and describe four instances of natural sound. 
The shot of the the toy crane's crank being used, The old sepia footage, The Tonka Truck comercial, and the kid with life size cars commercial.
4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting. The shot showing the inside of the Tonka museum from above, the shot of the shelves full of Tonka toys, the shot the made the hundreds of toys look life-size, and 
5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)
The History in a Tonka truck
6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. The pictures are in the shots of the toys themselves, and the soundbites are the subject, a previous owner of Tonka, talking. Natural sound is in the noise of the toy in use.

Interviewing

First thing: Ask them to say their first and last name and spell it.

Last Thing: Ask them what else to add.

Of Note: Avoid verbal responses. Do not be afraid to leave some silence, let the interviewee fill it for you.

During equipment set up: Talk about something unrelated.

Run and Gun Interviews:

 1.  What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
One or two questions, used when interviewing many in a short time
2.  What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
Test equipment.
3.  Why do you think we should ask for permission?
To be polite
4.  Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?
For the lower third
5.  Where should we place the microphone?
Hang loose
6.  Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
No.
7.  The photographer is responsible for the sound levels.  What are two things the photographer  should be aware of?
Background noise and sound meters
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  window.
10.  Why should we keep signs out of the background?
Causes people to read the signs
11.  If we were doing an interview about the high cost of parking at EVHS where would a good place to interview be?
The parking lot
12.  What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?
It is an interview that demonstrates the topic and shows exactly what is being talked about.

Cross Country Story components

1st We come up with a Topic: Cross Country running the football to the homecoming game

2nd We decide on a Focus Statement: Cross Country Team runs ball far

3rd:  We Conduct Interviews to get Sound Bites to use in the interview: "Our cross country team holds traditions very dear to us."

4th We Shoot B-Roll to complement the sound bites: The overhead shot of the team running

5th  We Shoot our stand-up: The runners passing the ball leads into the reporter

6th:  We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Segues between interviews: Interviewing a runner

Book assignment #1

ASSIGNMENT FOR FRIDAY:
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.
With how Bob Dotson writes, He writes with a personal standpoint. He relates with the reader by telling of his own experiences with the topic he is writing about. Right the beginning, he describes a moment in the beginning of his career involving his grandmother, which he relates to the topic.

o What did you learn from reading pages 9 to 27?
I learned of the rule of Threes, the way people almost always answer questions. The first third is the immediate, expected answer, the second is the explanation of the answer, and the last is filling the silence the reporter wants to leave open.

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?
The column is describing the story and how it'll be laid out in editing the sound and film.  The split keeps the "title" of each sequence and the details of each separated to make it easier to understand.

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.

1. Dotson sets the scene of the "Ruby Bridges" story by placing the subject that named the story in the very room that she is interviewed about.
2. The same room foreshadows the story.
3. Conflict is the story told of how Ruby was the only colored child in her school, and was faced by fear from the anger of the parents of other children who did not want school integration.
4. Character growth becomes evident in how her present day self answers each question given to her.  She has lived to see how far the world has come.
5. That in turn is the resolution, the complete integration of white and colored students into schools.

Meeting with a Friendly Person

David Ilko

Hr. 1 Broadcast Journalism

A man named Chris Cook

Chris Cook is who I met with and interviewed, and he is a pretty nice guy.  Chris normally does chores and homework after a long school day, with Football and basketball taking up time on occasion.  Chris says his mother had significant effect on his life, but also mentions the time his cousin moved to Chicago.  Interaction with his mother has made him the man he is today, and that was enough for him to get over the distance between him and his cousin.  A Mother is a mother, and a good mother leaves a lasting impact on their child.
In life, He likes to be friendly, so he enjoys spending time with friends, and meeting new people and doing new things.  Everyday he tries to meet new people, try new things, and eventually bring them into his normal routine. According to him, because of God and his mother, he is who he is, Chris Cook.

Purpose of stand ups

• Move story forward
• Reporter becomes B-Roll
• Take me to the scene
• Use props
• Be Creative & Surprise us

Break in Video Questions

1.  What is the lead in this story?  Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
The Close-ups of the ravaged home
2.  What are the 5W's of this story:  Who, What, Where, When, Why
Who: Heather Burg
What: A Break in through doggy door
Where: her home
When: when no one was home
Why: Not
3.   Give an example of the reporters Voice over or segue (Write it down word for word)
"It's hard to imagine something like this could happen in a quiet neighborhood."
4.  When do we see the reporter's stand-up?  Beginning, Middle, or End?
Middle
5.  What is the purpose of this reporter's stand-up?
To show another spot of a break in

WALLDO in "Changing Identity"

1.  Identify and explain as many WALLDO shots as you can.
The piano shots were angled to show more of the keys, a low shot was the shot of the back porch stairs, depth was in the shot of the toaster and the shots of the subject in question, Noah, talking. An opposite shot was in the bread shot.
2.  What is Natural Sound?
The background sound outside and in the scene.
3.  Identify several examples of Natural Sound in this story?
The piano shots, the dog, and again the shots of Noah
4.  How does Natural Sound enhance the story?
It adds ambience to the story.

WALLDO Filming Technique

Wide: Sets the scene; shows the general setting; Many subjects in one shot
Angled: Lets the viewers' eyes wander; makes for an interesting view and a "3-D" feel
Low: Get Down, gives a different perspective
Linking: Connect two points of interest together; Use of panning
Depth: Gives a 3-dimensional perspective; Object in Foreground and another in the background
Opposite: Shooting from another angle rather than the other; Action/Reaction