How to Shoot an Interview with A Roll and B Roll

Objectives

• Interview someone about what they do for a job
• Gather footage that highlights the context of the location(s)
• Edit the A Roll answers with your B Roll footage

Challenge 

Your challenge is to create a 60 to 90-second video, by asking someone about the work that they do. Think of an on-the-street reporter that asks random people about their job. Develop interesting, follow-up questions and record their response. Make it look as authentic as possible, using their work location, and gathering contextual footage.

Considerations

• Does the location have adequate lighting?
• Does the location allow quality audio recording?
• How can you compose your A Roll shot?
• What kinds of B Roll footage can you capture (think audio as well as video)?

Instructions

Shoot your interview in close-up , no more than shoulders of the body should be visible beyond the face. Try to get your respondent talking and sharing their thoughts and opinions about their work in some detail. You can edit later. Pay attention to the environment and look for potential B Roll footage. Be creative and use the five shot sequence method of gathering footage. Also, consider recording some footage during your informal chatter, as you let your subject know the question and prepare to capture their answer.

Tools

Use your smartphone to capture the video footage. Be sure to get close to the action when using the five shot method, especially because it will provide you with greater audio.

There are a number of video editing apps which are free, and everyone with an iPhone likely has access to iOS iMovie with a recent purchase of the phone. Feel free to choose the one that best suits your needs. It might be worth exploring some of the options before making a decision, and don't feel compelled to buy anything.

Requirements

• Shoot all of your own video footage
• Shoot at least three takes of each shot in the five shot sequence

Pre-Production: Storyboarding the Door Scene

Objectives

• Create visual storytelling that communicates ideas in relation to the media and techniques used. 
• Identify and synthesize principles, both synthesized and analytical, and visual storytelling techniques.

Challenge

Storyboard a scripted scenario for the Door Scene in the most visually effective way you can conceive. However, when you create your storyboard, think of a creative, entertaining or surprising new ending for the scenario. The entire film must follow the original script until the character opens the door. From that point on, you are on your to create a new ending within the limitations. Also, write a detailed description of your new ending.

Scripted Scenario

A person is about to open a door. The person hears a sound and becomes mildly concerned. The person finds the door locked and searches for his or her keys. The person hears the sound again and becomes visibly apprehensive. As the filmmaker, your goal is to build tension and growing panic, using any visual element or device that you can think of. The film closes with the person finally opening the door and getting to the other side safely. Here, you want to communicate to the audience the character’s feeling of relief and safety.

Limitations

• Original script parameters and limitations.
• Neither the character nor the audience ever sees the source of the sound
• The film can have only one actor
• The film cannot exceed 90 seconds
• The entire film must take place within five feet of either side of the door.
• You must storyboard and use at least five different shots.
• Every detail must be included in your storyboard. It must be so visually clear that a stranger, unfamiliar with the scenario, could take your storyboard and shoot the film exactly as you visualized it when creating your storyboard.
• You may write descriptions for each storyboard panel to help with your screen direction. However, as much as you can, try to communicate the information visually. Use your written descriptions to scaffold your visuals, not replace them.

Instructions

Complete a storyboard of the Door Scene independently. Be prepared to defend your creative choices. Be ready to submit your storyboard with written description, at the end of class.

Resources

• Storyboard Template
• Pixar Storyboarding Mini Doc
• Storyboarding For People Who Can't Draw

Sequences to Consider (Progress One Step at a Time)

• Step Forward
• Establishing/Wide > Full > Medium > Close Up  (camera - far to near)
• Tease
• Close Up > Truck/Zoom to Full (camera - near to far)
• Inserts
• Medium > Close Up [thematic cutaway connection] > Medium (camera - far to close to far)
• Corresponding
• Medium > Medium [size, angles, relationships stay consistent] (camera - remains consistent and paired)
• Documentary
• Close Up [hands] > Close Up [face] > Wide > Over the Shoulder > Unusual Angle (camera - near to far)

Reference

This lesson has been adapted from The 21st Century Educator's Handbook by American Film Institute Screen Education, 2006.

Challenge 8 - Multimedia Digital Story

The Shoemaker from Dustin Cohen on Vimeo.

Challenge

Your challenge is to develop a short digital story, using the various techniques that you have learned to best tell your story in the best way you can. Consider how the way in which you tell the story can enhance and enrich the story itself. You may need to digitize analog material for this, but it is not necessary. The complete piece should be approximately 2-3 minutes in length.

Objectives

• Create an original digital story
• design and develop the necessary audio and video
• shoot or record all required footage
• Edit a video together that tells a personal story
• Experiment and explore video and audio storytelling tools

Rationale

This task requires you to develop an original short, personal non-fiction story, making use of all the techniques learned and more. It requires addressing all phases of pre-production, production, and post-production. Identifying a subject and structuring a story, shooting and recording video and audio, as well as editing and layering production elements are all parts of the process.

Instructions

You must develop a story structure that you can produce. Consider reviewing some resources like the Digital Storytelling Cookbook, from the Center for Digital Storytelling, and Visual Storytelling, form the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. These short booklets will offer plenty of advice on how to find and compose a piece for this assignment.

Here is a list of shot possibilities for you to consider and use in pre-production planning.

Documenting Material

While you are highly encouraged to create and use all original material, make sure that in your write-up for your work that you use the question tool provided should you use any copyrighted material (Copyright IV: Documenting Your Fair Use Claims), as well as include a MLA Works Cited list.

Requirements

• Be sure to attribute and cite all found visuals and audio.
• Add value and repurpose your audio and visuals, transforming them into new creative work.
• Select safe material, both audio and video, avoiding anything questionable and explicit in nature.

Exemplars

Here is a short example from a CDS Workshop, 7th Word by Tate Francisco BlackBear, a Native American teen.




7th Word is a good short example of the many layers that are at work in a multimedia digital story. As the Digital Storytelling Cookbook explains:

Digital stories contain multiple visual and audio layers.
The visual layers are:

• The composition of a single image
• The combination of multiple images within a single frame, either through collage or fading over time
• The juxtaposition of a series of images over time
• Movement applied to a single image, either by panning or zooming or the juxtaposition of a series of cropped details from the whole image
• The use of text on screen in relation to visuals, spoken narration, or sound

The audio layers are:

• Recorded voice-over
• Recorded voice-over in relation to sound, either music or ambient sound
• Music alone or in contrast to another piece of music

Student Exemplars

Challenge 7 - Music Video Movie Mashup

Challenge 

Your challenge is to create a music video movie (or television show) mashup for a song of your choice. If you have ever thought that a particular song would have worked perfectly in a particular movie, here is your chance to make it a reality. You can either use clips from the film to tell the song's entire story or intercut it with the original music video. Either way, you decide. Try to make it look as authentic as possible and tell a story of some kind.

Objectives

• Create a music video montage from a movie
• Select a song or music video as foundational audio or video
• Find and select video footage from one or more movies, even a television show
• Edit a video together that gives the music a visual dimension
• Experiment and explore video and audio storytelling tools

Rationale

This task requires you to use copyrighted material in a transformative way, making your own new creative work from selections of copyrighted material. Identify video and audio and then repurpose and remix them into a montage music video based on the song of your choosing. It also provides a platform for structuring and telling a story arc, incorporating specific effects, as well as practicing the critical thinking and reasoning skills required for making a fair use claim.

Instructions

There is a limit to the amount of video footage you can choose, primarily based on the song length. You may use the original music video or not but must select video footage from one or more movies or a television show.

Crafting a Story Arc

Impose a structure on your video and organize your sequencing, especially if the song calls for it. Keep it simple and use the song's lyrical structure as guide or create a structure from the video footage you select. If you are using a song that is more instrumental or has less lyrical narrative impose the story structure with the video selections.

Finding Video

The simplest method is to rip a DVD that you own and cut the shots and scenes you want to use. Also, you can conduct advanced searches to find clips. However, look for the highest quality video you can find when searching on the Internet.

You may need to download the footage and keep a log of your clips to use with your video editing tool. Regardless, you will need proper attribution for your selected material, including MLA citation.

Finding Audio and Songs

Use songs from your collection or find a music or performance video. The music will provide the foundation for the video you produce.

Documenting Material

Make sure that in your write-up for your work that you use the question tool provided to help you document your copyrighted material (Copyright IV: Documenting Your Fair Use Claims), as well as a MLA Works Cited list.

Requirements

• Be sure to attribute and cite all found visuals and audio.
• Add value and repurpose your audio and visuals, transforming them into new creative work.
• Select safe material, both audio and video, avoiding anything questionable and explicit in nature.

Exemplars

Student Exemplars

Legal

This lesson has been adapted from the DS106 Assignment Bank, a component of the course begun at the University of Mary Washington by Jim Groom, Spring 2010.

Copyright V: Documenting Your Fair Use Claims

Open Video Conference (19-20 Junio) - cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo shared by Rocío Lara

Documenting Fair Use

Making a fair use claim when using copyrighted materials in your projects requires a process of interpretation and reasoning. In order to strengthen both your critical thinking skills and fair use claim, you must address the following questions and include them in the blogpost that accompanies the presentation of your project.

Some items below may be more appropriate for the narration of the work and others the reflection. Regardless, make sure that all items are addressed.

Fair Use Tool

• What is the purpose of the project?
• Explain the purpose, inspiration, even intended message
• Who is the target audience?
• Explain the who is intended to experience and review your work, which should be wider than simply your classmates or teacher.
• Why are you using copyrighted material?
• For example: I am using (describe copyrighted material) because (provide a reason).
• How does your use of the copyrighted work “transform” the original material and use it for a different purpose than that of the original?
• Explain what you you have done to the original material in using it.
• How have you added value in your use of the copyrighted material?
• Explain how and why your work does not simply repeat the intent and value of the original source. 
• Did you use only the amount you needed to accomplish your purpose? 
• Explain why made the selection that you did.
• What is the MLA citation for the material you are using?
• For example: AC/DC. Back in Black. Robert John "Mutt" Lange, 1980. CD.

Legal

All copyright lessons are inspired by and adapted from the Copyright And Fair Use: Lesson Plans for High School, College and Graduate Education work of Media Education Lab Professor Renee Hobbs at the University of Rhode Island's Harrington School of Communication and Media.