251 Television Production

JRN/FLM F251 F01 TELEVISION PRODUCTION

FALL 2011BUNNELL 122
MON/WED/FRI: 2:15PM-3:15PM
Prof. Robert Prince
Office: Bunnell 105C
E-mail: rob.prince@alaska.edu
Recommended (not required) Reading:
Television Production Handbook, 10th Ed. by Herbert Zettl
Course Description:
Television studio production, floor directing, audio, camera, staging, lighting and switching.
Course Goals:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be expected to have a working knowledge of how to technically produce a television newscast from start to finish.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Develop intermediate directing skills
2. Master the terms and directions used in studio production
3. Develop intermediate skills in all the studio production positions
Instructional Methods:
This course will be taught through lectures, class activities, and studio production work.
Journalism Lab Policies:
Welcome to the Journalism Labs! The following is a list of tips and guidelines for lab usage to insure that your experience in any of our labs goes smoothly and is highly productive. If you have any questions at all about the following, please either ask your instructor or our Computer Tech, Jason, available at Bunnell 102b, 474-6020 or fyjbtech@uaf.edu.
• First note that you’re working on Macintosh computers – if you’re not used to these types of computers, have limited computing skills, or are unfamiliar with OS X (the operating system), please inform the instructor of this so that extra help can be dispensed when needed.
• Each of the computers in our three labs are password protected with different passwords for each lab – Please request passwords from your instructor only. Do not give out these passwords to anyone.
• Many of you will opt to save your files on Thumbdrives (USB drives). These work great for
saving and transporting your work between home and school. But, unlike PC’s, Macs expect you to “eject” or “unmount’ your thumbdrive before you unattach it from your computer. Do so by dragging your thumbdrive from the desktop to the trash bin (which will change to an “eject” symbol). Not doing this can cause you to lose your information and possibly ruin the thumbdrive.
• Save and save often! You will be able to not only save on your computer but have several
other options to save your files – always use the default (saving to your computer) as well as one of the following secondary methods to insure you don’t lose your files. Your instructor will give you access to the Journalism file server which can be used for all your files (short of large video files and personal files). You can also use email to send files to yourself or use thumbdrives to carry your files home with you. Additionally, Lab 128 and 106 are fully equipped with CD/DVD burners and 126 has several CD/DVD burners as well. At any time your computer could crash and your files could be lost – save in at least one more location! Additionally, this insures that if someone is using “your” computer, you don’t have to wait for them to get off of it.
• New for Fall 2006, any student files meant to be saved at the end of class should be dragged and dropped onto the server as an additional place to save them– whenever you login to the computer, it’ll automatically mount the server shared drive, please make use of it! At any time during the semester, computers may fail and you may loose your files – keep two copies of them at all times – one on your computer and one on the server. Don’t forget to update these server files whenever you change the original! This, of coarse due to the size, does not apply to video students. Video students are expected to burn their work to DVD, transfer it to their own external hard drive or one provided by the department, or finish any projects before Friday – each Friday all the computers in 106 will be wiped.
• When you use the Journalism file server do NOT open your files directly off of the server!
Click and drag any of your files onto the desktop of the computer you are currently working on – not doing so bogs down the server and slows your work down too! When finished be sure to overwrite the old file on the server with the new version on your computer’s desktop!
• The files on your server may be available from your home computer – but do not expect that they will be. Due to security settings by OIT, your home computer may or may not be able to access files on the server from home. Consider this an additional place to save while at home, not a primary way to access your files.
• Do not abuse the computers. DCC as well as the Journalism Department monitors computer usage and will report improper use of departmental equipment. Treat these computers as if someone is watching your usage – because they are! Additionally, do not damage, hit, or take your frustrations out on any of our equipment. If you’re getting frustrated – walk away and take a break.
• Don’t leave any personal items in the labs after class. Once or twice a week each lab will be
cleaned and all personal items will be thrown away or placed in a lost and found.
• No food/drinks are allowed in 126 or 128. For Lab 106, please try to limit your food to the
tables.
• We have film scanners, flatbed scanners, DV/miniDV Decks, Minidisc Recorders and DV
Cameras available in our labs as well as for checkout. Please talk to your instructor about access to
any of these if you need them for a class project. Check out will be posted in the Journalism Office.
• Do not access highly personal items on these computers such as bank accounts and anything
dealing with your social security number. We have seen far too many people leave access to their
bank accounts open on lab machines far after they’ve left the room. Be vigilant!
• Most of all if you’re having any problems talk to your instructor or our Computer Tech, Jason.
We’re all more than willing to help you out with any problem! Jason is available quite a bit during
normal office hours – please consult his schedule on his door.
Building Access:
Access to the Journalism computer lab is virtually 24/7 with your Polar Express card. As long as you
can get into the Bunnell Building, you can access the lab. You can remain in the lab after the building
has closed. The lab is not open to students when classes are meeting in the lab. Those times will be
posted on the lab door. If you are in the lab when a class is about to begin, you will be asked to leave.
Note that some classes meet only occasionally in the lab and professors do their best to post those
times on the door in advance of the class meeting time.
Bunnell Building hours vary. Note that sometimes the south entrance by the Journalism Department
is locked while one or both of the north entrances are open, so try the other doors if you cannot enter
through the south entrance.
Expectations of Students:
1. Push yourself to do your best work for this class. If you don’t do your best work now, when will
you do it?
2. Arrive to class on time. Tardiness will result in a reduced grade (see “Attendance/Tardiness”
below).
3. Make sure your cell phones are OFF.
4. Laptops are allowed in class, however I reserve the right to close your laptop if I suspect you are
using it for non-class-related purposes regardless of whether or not I have evidence to support that
suspicion.
5. Come to class prepared, having completed the required homework and ready to participate in class
discussions.
6. Attend every class. Unexcused absences will results in a reduced grade (see
“Attendance/Tardiness” below).
7. Participate in every class.
8. Check your Blackboard e-mail every weekday.
9. Respect your peers. Support and encourage them and offer constructive criticism of their projects.
10. Ask questions during or after class when you do not understand something or are having a
problem. If you don’t understand something, chances are at least some of your peers don’t
understand it either.
11. If you are having a problem outside of class that is affecting your ability to perform in this class,
please let me know as soon as you can. You do not need to disclose the details of your situation.
Although doing well in college is very important and you need to work hard, do not let the
pressure overwhelm you. Your personal health and sanity are more important than good marks. I
consider myself a very easy person to talk to and encourage you to come speak to me if you need
to discuss issues course-related or otherwise.
Grading:
Attendance/Tardiness: 20%
I will allow you two unexcused absences for the entire semester before I begin lowering your
final grade with each additional absence. Each absence after the second will significantly reduce your
final grade. If you miss ten or more classes with no official documentation proving your absences
were legitimate, then you will fail the course REGARDLESS of if your other grades were high
enough to allow you to pass the course.
An excused absence is when you have notified me before class that you will not be able to
make it to class for a valid reason: sick, car trouble, family business, etc. You must notify me
BEFORE class for an absence to be excused. Telling me hours or days later why you missed class
will not excuse the absence. Treat this class like a job. If you don’t show up to work and don’t call in
beforehand, you get fired. The only exception to this rule is that I will accept a doctor’s note up to a
week after you return to class as an excuse for an absence.
Students who have zero absences (excused or unexcused) and no tardiness will receive 2%
extra credit in their final grade. An absence or tardy for any reason will remove this extra credit from
your final grade.
Although your absence from class may not directly count against your grade, any assignments
due that day that you did not turn in will still count against your grade. Make sure to contact me after
an absence to see what announcements or assignments you missed. I recommend you ask a fellow
student for a copy of their notes from that class to see what material we covered.
Because coming late to class disrupts class, at times forces us to wait for you, and can mean
missing important announcements, every three times you arrive to class late I will add one absence to
your grade. Redefine “on time” to class in your mind to mean “five minutes early.” If you do arrive
to class late, make sure to see me after class to make sure I mark you as present and let you know
about any announcements I may have made that day.
Here is how your unexcused absences will affect your final grade:
0 Absences (and zero tardiness) = 110% for attendance (equals +2% extra credit)
1-2 Unexcused Absences = No deduction from your attendance grade
3rd Unexcused Absences = 85% for attendance grade
4th Unexcused Absences = 70% for attendance grade
5th Unexcused Absences = 55% for attendance grade
6th Unexcused Absences = 40% for attendance grade
7th Unexcused Absences = 25% for attendance grade
8th Unexcused Absences = 10% for attendance grade
9th Unexcused Absences = 0% for attendance grade
10+ Unexcused Absences = Automatically fail the course
Midterm Exam: 20%
Multiple-choice, short answer, essay. Covers material from the lectures and exercises.
Quizzes: 5%
Cover material from recent lectures and exercises.
Interview Shoot 1: 5%
A studio shoot based on filming an interview.
Interview Shoot 2: 5%
A studio shoot based on filming an interview.
VO Package: 5%
A short voiceover package for the newscast.
News Shoot 1: 5%
A studio news shoot.
News Shoot 2: 10%
A studio news shoot.
News Shoot 3: 10%
A studio news shoot.
Final Newscast Evaluation: 15%
A final news shoot in which the class works as a whole to pull off a perfect newscast.
Grading Guidelines:
A: An honor grade that indicates originality and independent work, mastery of the subject and the
satisfactory completion of more work than was regularly required. To get an “A,” students in my
classes need to impress me with the work they’ve done on an assignment and go beyond what I asked
for in the assignment.
94%-100% = A, 90%-93% = AB:
Indicates outstanding ability above the average level of performance. To get a “B,” students in my
classes need to do exactly what I asked for in the assignment and do it well.
87%-89% = B+, 84%-86% = B, 80%-83% = BIMPORTANT
GRADING POLICY INFORMATION
Implications of the Grade of ‘C’ (and below) for letter-graded
undergraduate courses which are:
–Prerequisites for other courses, or
–Degree major requirements, or
–Core courses
C+ (2.3): Satisfactory to Fair: satisfactory level of performance, with some
mastery of material.
C (2.0): Average: satisfactory level of performance and level of competency
in the subject. A minimum grade of ‘C’ (2.0) is required for all
prerequisites and major courses.
C- (1.7): Barely satisfactory: Minimum grade required for all Core (X)
Courses. A grade of C- (1.7) in a class which is a prerequisite for another
class or in a class required for a student’s major will result in the
student being required to retake the class.
77%-79% = C+, 74%-76% = C, 70%-73% = CD+
(1.3); D (1.0); D- (0.7): Below Average: Fair to poor level of competency
in the subject matter. A grade of D+, D or D- in a Core (X) class will
automatically require the student to retake the class to receive core
credit, starting Fall 2011.
67%-69% = D+, 64%-66% = D, 60%-63% = DF:
Indicates failure to meet lowest standards. To get an “F,” students in my classes will have missed
several major elements of the assignment and the content will be all—or nearly all—poor quality.
0%-59% = F
For additional grading policy information see the UAF Catalog, pages 46-50.
Course Policies:
Late work or quizzes will be docked 15% plus an additional 15% for each class period it is not turned
in after the due date. Backup your work and work ahead of deadlines so you can avoid these
problems. If you miss the midterm exam, you will need documentation proving the legitimacy of
your absence to avoid the 15% grade reduction.
Projects can be redone only if there is sufficient evidence that a requirement(s) of the assignment was
described in a way that a reasonable adult would find confusing or ambiguous and that unclear
element of the assignment directly related to the student’s reduced grade.
All work must comply with the University of Alaska Fairbanks policies on student conduct found
online at www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/academics/regs3.html.
All work must be original productions for this course and plagiarism will result in a zero for the
assignment, a possible F for the class, and potentially further academic discipline. Ignorance of what
it means to plagiarize will not be an excuse from punishment. If you have questions about plagiarism,
contact me before you hand in the assignment.
Support Services:
I will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. Notify me
within the first two weeks of the semester if you have any special needs.
The departments listed below provide resources for students with disabilities, help writing papers, and
help preparing for class presentations:
Disability Services
e-mail. fydso@uaf.edu
tel. 907-474-5655
tty. 907-474-1827
Whitaker Building Room
208
www.uaf.edu/disability
Writing Center
Dept. Of English
801 Gruening Bldg.
(907) 474-7193
faengl@uaf.edu
Speaking Center
Dept. of Communication
507 Greuning Bldg.
(907) 474-5470
fyspeak@uaf.edu
About Your Professor:
I grew up in East Lansing, Michigan and graduated from Calvin College with a B.A. in
Telecommunications. After college I went to work in Chicago for Kurtis Productions, producers of
the Investigative Reports series on A&E. I then was hired as a Producer/Director for the PBS affiliate
in Grand Rapids, Michigan where I directed live and pre-recorded programs for local broadcast. In
2000 I went back to Calvin to run the video production department. While working there I earned my
M.A. from Michigan State University in Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media.
In 2005 I moved to Fairbanks to teach video production and documentary filmmaking in the
Journalism Department at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Want more video classes? Check these out:
JRN F280 Video Storytelling (h)
3 Credits / Offered Fall / Prof. Prince
Basics of digital video production technology, composition, audio, lighting and editing as it relates to
primarily non-fiction filmmaking. Students will conclude the course by producing their own short
videos. Special fees apply. (Cross-listed with FLM F280.) (3+0)
JRN F290 Digital Video Editing
3 Credits / Offered As Demand Warrants / Prof. Prince
Introduction to the technical and aesthetic aspects of non-linear digital video editing. Students will go
from little or no experience in non-linear editing to being comfortable with some of the advanced
editing techniques. Address motion picture editing theories that are not bound to time or specific
editing technology. Special fees apply. (Cross-listed with FLM F290.) (3+0)
JRN F453 O Television News Reporting
3 Credits / Offered Spring / Prof. Prince
Electronic news gathering using videotape equipment, scriptwriting, location sound recording,
interview techniques, editing, videography and other aspects of field news reporting. Special fees
apply. Prerequisites: COMM F131X or COMM F141X; JRN F451; JRN F452. JRN F452 may be
taken concurrently with JRN F453. (2+2)
JRN F480 Documentary Filmmaking (h)
3 Credits / Offered Spring / Prof. Prince
Basics of hands-on documentary filmmaking techniques, including preproduction, production and
postproduction. Different documentary filmmaking directing styles and the process of distributing a
documentary. Each student will produce a short documentary as the capstone of the course. Special
fees apply. (3+0)
TELEVISION PRODUCTION: TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
DATE: SUBJECT: NOTES:
SEPT. 2 INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
SEPT. 5 LABOR DAY—NO CLASSES
SEPT. 7 STUDIO POSITIONS
SEPT. 9 THE CAMERA MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 12 DIRECTING TERMS
SEPT. 14 THE SWITCHER MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 16 STUDIO SHOOT MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 19 AUDIO MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 21 AUDIO CONTINUED MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 23 STUDIO SHOOT MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 26 DIRECTING
SEPT. 28 INTERVIEW #1 REHERSAL MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
SEPT. 30 INTERVIEW SHOOT #1 MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
INTERVIEW #1 GRADED
OCT. 3 INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
OCT. 5 INTERVIEW #2 REHERSAL MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
OCT. 7 INTERVIEW SHOOT #2 MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
INTERVIEW #2 GRADED
OCT. 10 TELEPROMPTER MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
OCT. 12 RUNDOWNS
OCT. 14 STUDIO SHOOT MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
OCT. 17 VTR’S & CCU’S
OCT. 19 REVIEW FOR MIDTERM
OCT. 21 MIDTERM EXAM
OCT. 24 FIELD PRODUCTION
OCT. 26 FIELD PRODUCTION EXERCISE
OCT. 28 VIEW RAW VO FOOTAGE VO PACKAGE RAW
OCT. 31 INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING
NOV. 2 EDITING CONTINUED
NOV. 4 IN CLASS EDITING PERIOD
NOV. 7 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT REHEARSAL MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
NOV. 9 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT REHEARSAL MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
NOV. 11 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT #1 MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
NEWS SHOOT #1 GRADED
NOV. 14 VIEW PACKAGES VO PACKAGE
NOV. 16 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT REHEARSAL MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
NOV. 18 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT #2 MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
NEWS SHOOT #2 GRADED
NOV. 21 PRODUCING
NOV. 23 VIDEO CABLES / SIGNALS
NOV. 25 THANKSGIVING BREAK—NO CLASS
NOV. 28 INTERVIEWING
NOV. 30 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT REHEARSAL MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
DEC. 2 STUDIO NEWS SHOOT #3 MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
NEWS SHOOT #3 GRADED
DEC. 5 IN CLASS EDITING PERIOD
DEC. 7 IN CLASS EDITING PERIOD
DEC. 9 VIEW FINAL PACKAGES FINAL PACKAGE DUE
DEC. 12 REHEARSE FINAL NEWS SHOOT MEET IN MINOR STUDIO
DEC. 16 1:00PM – 3:00PM FINAL NEWS SHOOT MEET IN MINOR STUDIO