Section 1 is on the board

Congratulations on recording your first successful newscast.  Room for improvement?  Sure! But you are off to a good start.

writing assignments

Some reminders about your written assignments: every time your section does a newscast, you need to write a critique of it and post it to your blog.  Be sure to comment on your own job performance, as well as the positives and weaknesses of the newscast as a whole.  The critique will always be due the Sunday following the newscast.  The assignment is worth 20 points, and there will be a 10% penalty for every day it is late.  (Meeting deadlines is important in television!)

Section 3's critique of the September 25 news was due Sunday, September 28

Section 1's critique of the Sept. 30 news is due at midnight tonight, Sun., Oct. 5

Section 3's critique of the Oct. 1 news is due at midnight tonight, Sun., October 5

Also, the first movie review must be posted by midnight tonight, Sunday October 5.  This assignment is worth 100 points, with the same 10% penalty per day late policy.  See my September 25 blog entry for more details on this assignment.

JCTV Critiques, and Film Reviews

Let's get writing.

First up:  Section 3, I want you to write a critique of your newscast.  What did you do well?  What needs improvement?  Comment on your own performance in particular.  Make suggestions for future newscasts.  Post the critique to your blog.  You should also embed the video to your blog, just as I did below.  I'll show you how to do that in class.  This written assignment is due Sunday, Sept. 28, and is worth 20 points.

Section 1, when you have posted a newscast, you will also be writing and posting a critique.



Next:

Over the course of this semester, you are going to write four film reviews.  The first one is due on Sunday, October 5.  You will receive more specific instructions in class, but here are the basics.

Pick a film.  You may choose a movie that you really enjoyed, or one you have seen recently, or one that made a big impression on you.  In order to ensure that we are watching and reviewing quality movies, you will choose films based on this criteria:

• at least one film from the Internet Movie Database Top 250 (list found here)
• at least one film that is over 50 years old
• at least one black-and-white film
• at least one film in a foreign language

Watch the film.  Focus on more than the actors and the lines they are saying.  Take note of visuals, production values, music, characterization, pacing, editing, etc.  It can be helpful to go back and look at a particular segment a second or third time, to help you analyze a really effective scene.

Check out some good review writing.  In my Links section, I've posted a few sites (Rogert Ebert, Rotten Tomatoes, etc.) that can provide guidance on how effective reviews are constructed.  Inspiring stuff.

Write your review.   Write it, edit it, then post it to your blog.  It's due on Sunday, October 5, and it's worth 100 points.

yep... the challenge

If you choose to take the challenge, 

or if you already took the challenge, 

feel free to post your video on your blog.  

All for a good cause!

Day One... at last!

The moment we've all been waiting for is here, as TV Production class officially begins today!

We are going to hit the ground running on Day One, which includes your first homework assignment:

• Use your Gmail account to set up your blog through blogger.com .
• Send the URL for your blog to me at rschick@johncarroll.org .  (15 points)
• Have a parent sign the Rules for Location Shooting  and R Rated Movie Permission forms, sign them yourself, and return them to me at the start of next class.  (10 points)

Once we get these formalities out of the way, we can begin the hands-on work of TV Production!

Summertime, and the blogging is easy...

We are several weeks away from the first TV Production class of the year, and I'm already excited!

I have a number of friends who are really into film, or are interested in electronic journalism, or actually work "in the business" on movie sets.  Today I reached out via FB and Twitter, tapping into their enthusiasm and expertise.

My request?

The first response came in less than a minute.

Over a dozen friends responded in the first hour.

And the suggestions keep pouring in.

I will be posting them in the sidebar labeled "Resources," and I plan to continually add to the list as the year progresses.  Your suggestions are welcome, too.  I've even set up another sidebar for Contests, so if you produce some short films in class that you are really pleased with, we can enter them in a competition.  Or two.  Or more.

Here are just a few of the recommendations I received today:

• The Black and Blue - this excellent blog focuses on camera assistants.  (Being an AC is an awesome way to make a living!)
• No Film School - tutorial, interviews, short films - all geared toward YOU, the filmmaker.
• Speak Truth to Power - this competition encourages students to become engaged in human rights through video production.  Make a movie and help save the world!
• Video & Filmmaker - lots of emphasis on insanely cool gear, plus behind the scenes looks at bigtime films like Transformers 4 and The Great Gatsby
• Vimeo Video School - Vimeo is YouTube's classier and cooler sibling.  They present tutorials and suggestions for making great videos.

Get the picture?  In this class we are going to work on becoming filmmakers, reporters, shooters, lighting techs, writers, and directors.  But we are already getting help from professionals and groups who want to see you succeed.  Get ready - we're less than six weeks away!

Roll sound...Marker...Action!

Welcome to Television Production.