STAND BY FOR NEWS…

1. STAND BY FOR NEWS… • Have reading done by each class time • Intro, Chapter 1, Chapter 9 first • Random textbook order • Know when and plan for each Chapter Exam • Read news every day • Check University Master Calendar, other media • ‘Enterprise Reporting’ / East Texan Budget Meetings • Pay attention to what’s going on

2. Getting Started • Read the syllabus and review the outline • Note the detail of information in the syllabus • Start on training immediately • See production requirements • Spend first week assuring skills

3. Story shooting (see link) 1. You must shoot and edit sequences. If you are not certain you understand the concept, come get training. If your project does not show clear indication of frequent sequencing, and/or has pop cuts and/or jump cuts, and/or has fewer than 3-4 shots per ten seconds of story content, or does not have pad shot(s) as assigned, it will be graded very low.

4. #2 ‘must do’ You may not use a zoom or pan shot, except in rare occasions for follow shots. In this case the zoom or pan must be ‘invisible.’ You must fade in and out (open/close), but have only cuts inside the story as transitions. If you do not follow any of these requirements, the submission will be it will be graded very low.

5. #3 ‘must do’ You may not have any ‘hand-held’ / shaky camera shots. If you submit a story with any ‘non broadcast quality’ shots, the submission may be rejected and you will have to start over, it will be graded very low.

6. #4 ‘must do’ You must take and use a camera-mounted light EVERY time. B-roll may be lit with available light; an interview must have the camera-mounted light turned on, or other clear indication of an acceptable key light on the subject. If you submit a story with any ‘non broadcast quality’ lighting situations, the submission may be rejected and you will have to start over; it will be graded very low. .

7. #5 ‘must do’ You must take and use a lavaliere mic for every interview. To start the interview, you must start the camera recording, then have the subject say and spell his / her name. You must ask each interview subject a minimum of five questions and must end with a question that says essentially ‘what else about this should the audience know?’

8. #5 continued… Your produced foreground audio must be throughout at -12 and your audio mix must be broadcast quality. If you submit a story with any ‘non broadcast quality’ audio situations and/or without all required raw footage content, the submission will be graded very low or may be rejected.

9. #6 ‘must do’ You are required to make advance arrangements with someone in charge of the event for every event you shoot. If you do not, then you arrive and cannot shoot the event, your project will be graded as not meeting the deadline and have grade reduction accordingly. NEVER just show up at an event expecting to be allowed to shoot.

10. #6 continued Likewise, when you have an event planned to shoot, always also have a back-up event planned in case your event is canceled, so you can still meet deadline. In news, deadline is deadline—there are no extensions. Email me to let me know when your topic changes and why. Change w/o penalty – you have no control.

11. #7 ‘must do’ You must know how to use FCP X and how to set up your Final Cut Pro project files to save into the correct folder. If you are not certain you understand the concept, come get training before it’s time to edit. If you do not follow this requirement, the project will be will be graded very low.

12. #8 ‘must do’ You ‘submit’ your project by exporting it into your Project Folder on your edit station and then uploading it to your Google Drive. Your Drive folder system must be set up correctly (as will be noted). Not done like this or by the deadline, the project will be graded very low or not graded.

13. Basic idea… Make sure you understand the content and production expectations and get them right the first time Start with a practice work this week and next, including the meeting you shoot next week Three main people to help you: Me, Danielle, Janelle – don’t just guest

14. Basics of News • Timeliness, Proximity, Conflict, Prominence, Human Interest (and others -- ‘what makes it news?’) • Spot News, hard news, routine news (note news releases and VNRs), soft news, features, investigative • Types of TV stories • Package, Vo-Sot/VSV/VOB/AB, VO, reader • Live shot variations • Production terms • B-roll, sound bites, nat sound, seamless editing (steady shots, sequences, matched action shots), voice over (‘track’), stand up, BOPSA, Rambo video, shoot to edit, in-camera editing, shooting ratio, focus/commitment, lead, lead-in, write to pictures, photography is... (lighting issues), close miking, handheld mic

15. Basics of News (cont.) • Stages of production • Points of view • Objective, subjective, reportorial • Shot composition • XCU, CU, MS, LS, 2-shot, OTS, etc. • Camera angles • Eye level, low/high level, low/high angle • Target audience (Who’s watching? Who cares?) • Information for whom? Done how?

16. Field Shooting • In camera editing / shooting ratio • Use a tripod (steady bag option) • Zooming and panning before shooting • ‘make the zoom invisible’ • Story focus and rough script before shooting • The focus may change • Rambo video (editing chapter)

17. Shooting sequences • WS, MS, CU, XCU and vary angles • Mostly CU and MS • Fleeting / perishable video • Example: Bus arrives to pick up child • Child waiting on corner LS/MS/CU/XCU • Bus LS, child, then CU OTS bus into frame • MS child moving to get onto bus • CU bus driver smiling, LS bus • CU doors close, MS bus starts to pull away • Bus exits shot • Poynter, about sequences

18. Other shooting notes • Static shots vs. shots with movement • Anticipate action • Shoot subjects in-frame/out of frame • Plan for jump cuts / false reverse • Staging versus motivating • Issues in one-person band • Shooting interview and cover shots • B-roll & interviews on two different tapes • Shooting the stand-up • Flip viewfinder, wireless mic, sequence shot

19. Safety & Legal Issues • Where can you shoot? • Public/private, permission, libel & privacy • Informing people you are coming • Making interview arrangements • Tell them you’re with KETV News • Distancing while shooting • See the mistakes checklist in Chapter 4 • No opinions in stories / clear attribution of facts • Putting people in stories

20. How much do you know? How much of this do you already understand? How much will you need to improve your skills? The coming weeks will be about the book and the class helping you improve the skills Scary? We’ll work to make it less scary. What intimidates you the most? ------- ?

21. What specific skills to work on? Writing News knowledge and judgment Scheduling and arrangements Interviewing Shooting visually interesting content Performance talent Editing ###