PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
Fall 2014
This assignment aims to give you more practice in using filmmaking equipment and to introduce you to effective interviewing techniques and to the ethics of representing others through moving images. You will also learn to apply your rhetorical skills to using images and sound to persuade viewers of the value of the services provided by an organization, business, etc. Lastly, you will work with a partner, developing a sense of how to share responsibilities in the filmmaking process.
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO (20 points)
Working in pairs, you will make a 2-4 minute promotional video meeting these requirements:
You will follow the promotional video conventions in order to make a video that convinces viewers of the value of what the subject of your video has to offer. Here are some subject possibilities for your promotional videos: MSU (you can choose a program, major, minor, particular course, dorm, dining hall, office, student organization, service), local non-profit organizations, local businesses, a legislation. If you think of another possibility, make sure to discuss it with me and we’ll try to make it work for the assignment.
As you contact the subject of your promotional video about this project, make sure they understand that you are not professionals and the final product may reflect the fact that it was made by students who were learning the film and video production craft. On the other hand, your services come free of charge, which is an incentive. Make sure they understand that part of the assignment is uploading the video to YouTube, so the final product will have a life online.
Before the subjects of your documentary agree to the project, make sure they read and sign the release so they understand their rights upon entering the project.
One of the key goals of this video is to introduce you to the ethics of interviewing and representing others on camera. As you work you will take into account our class discussions on the ethics of filmmaking.
You will use WRAC cameras and mics. If partners from the video resume stay together, you’ll use the same camera. If there are changes in partners, we will redistribute the cameras accordingly.
You will complete the assignment using Final Cut Pro X on our Bessey 317 computers. We will have a workshop teaching you the basics of FCP X, and on subsequent classes we’ll explore other aspects of the program. As with the video resume assignment, however, you will be required to use the internet to find answers to some of your questions. You will have access to the computers at night for editing.
Your promotional video needs a soundtrack, which can be used sparingly or throughout your work. Make sure that the sound doesn’t drown out dialogue. You will use Creative Commons music, which you can find here: http://www.freesound.org, http://www.jamendo.com/en, and http://ccmixter.org. If you decide to exercise Fair Use in order to use copyrighted material, you will need to explain your Fair Use choices in your reflection. As you decide, keep in mind that your work can be taken down even if it meets Fair Use regulations and that unlike your video resume where only you were involved, the subject of your promotional video will also be affected if your work is taken down due to your use of copyrighted material.
If you decide to use archival footage, you can find Creative Commons footage at the Internet Archive (http://archive.org/details/stock_footage) and at Stock Footage for Free (http://www.stockfootageforfree.com).
Post your promotional video to YouTube. It should go on the main editor’s account. I wouldn’t post it to both group members’ accounts because then it will split the views. If you decide to use advertising for the video, make sure to split the profits between the two of you.
Promotional videos don’t usually have credits at the end. However, in your description of the video on YouTube, add your names and tell us what roles you each played and make sure you list everything you used in the soundtrack (title, author, year) and every stock image you used (title, author, year). At the end of your description, provide the video with a license. It can be Creative Commons or traditional copyright. It’s up to you.
Once the promotional video is complete, you will provide all participants with the video link and an mov file, which you can share with them using Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com) or Google Drive (http://www.google.com/drive/about.html). You will also thank them for allowing you to make this video for them.
FIRST PROPOSAL (2 points)
The assignment is divided in three stages—preproduction, production, and postproduction—and partners will play different roles in each stage. As you select who will play what role, make sure to go with each person’s strengths. Your proposal will be presented in two ways: an in-class presentation (3 minutes with 3 minutes for discussion) and a written version that you will email me by the beginning of class on the day you present. You will provide the following information:
Promotional Video Content
The subject of your promotional video
Participants (How many people involved with the subject of your promotional video are you going to interview? Have they agreed to it?)
B-Roll (What and who are you planning to film to illustrate what interviewees are saying?)
Shooting locations (What locations are you considering for interviews and B-Roll?)
Archival footage (Do you plan to use any? If so, what kind?)
Any issues you want the class to help you with regarding subject, locations, participants, etc.
Roles
Who will play each of the following preproduction roles?
Preproduction
Subject Recruiter and Liaison: This person is in charge of finding, contacting, and staying in touch with the subject of the promotional video from preproduction to postproduction when s/he will provide them with copies of the film and thank them for their participation. Before participants agree to the project, make sure they read and sign the videotaping release, which you can find on desire2learn. The subject recruiter and liaison will also write the interview questions (with the location scout’s help). In production and postproduction the participant recruiter will be the director/interviewer and the assistant editor/reflection writer respectively (see below).
Location Scout: This person is in charge of finding all locations, finding out whether filming is allowed in each location, and getting permission to film if it is required. All interviews should take place inside in order to have better sound. If your project requires outside interviews because of its nature, talk to me first. B-roll can be outside. The more B-roll locations you have the more varied the promotional video will look, but remember that different locations add time to the shooting process. The location scout will make the storyboards (with the subject recruiter and liaison’s help) previous to shooting. During production and postproduction s/he will be the cinematographer and main editor respectively (see below).
Production
Director/Interviewer: This person will conduct all interviews and will ask follow up questions when needed. S/he will be in charge of keeping participants comfortable (by talking to them, offering them water, etc.) while the cinematographer sets up. S/he will check all interview setups by the cinematographer through the camera’s viewfinder and provide advice on how to improve them.
Cinematographer: This person will film the interviews and B-roll and s/he will make sure the sound is being captured correctly by listening with earphones as s/he films. If the sound doesn’t work for a particular answer, s/he needs to let the director know so the question can be answered again. S/he is also in charge of lighting. If the director misses a follow up question that the cinematographer thinks would be important, s/he should let the director know so it can be included in the interview.
Postproduction
Assistant Editor/Reflection Writer: This person will assist the editor in creating a cohesive, engaging promotional video. S/he is in charge of researching the Creative Commons soundtrack. S/he will also write the reflection (see below).
Editor: This person will edit the promotional video using FPC X with the assistant editor’s help. S/he will read the reflection and provide comments on how to improve it.
First Proposal Delivery
In order for your proposal to receive full credit, you must do the following:
Send the proposal as an attachment to [email protected]. The proposal should be a Microsoft Word file. The subject of your email should be Promotional Video Proposal 1, followed by your last names in alphabetical order. The name of the document should be Promotional Video Proposal 1, followed by your last names in alphabetical order, i.e. Promotional Video Proposal 1 Hidalgo Kerkian.
Cc your partner in the email.
You will receive half credit if you do not follow the instructions above or if you submit your proposal a day late. If you submit it two or more days late, you will receive no credit.
SECOND PROPOSAL (2 points)
The second proposal needs to be emailed to me by class time. You won’t present it in class, however. In the second proposal you will:
Name your interviewees and provide a couple sentences about the role they play in the subject of your promotional video and what you’re hoping they’ll add to it.
Submit a list of questions you will ask your interviewees. Usually 8-10 questions per interviewee is a good number. Depending on the project, you will ask the same questions of everyone or you will vary some or all of them per participant. This is something we can discuss over email, during office hours, or before or after class if you are unsure how to proceed for your particular topic’s questions. Questions must be open ended. Don’t ask “Do you like your MSU courses?” but “What do you like about your MSU courses?” You should ask questions that cannot be answered with “yes” or “no,” but that require the interviewee to spend some time explaining their perspective.
Provide a schedule where you list when and where all interviews and B-roll will be filmed.
Provide storyboards for your interviews and for how you envision your B-roll will look.
Second Proposal Delivery
In order for your proposal to receive full credit, you must do the following:
Send the proposal as an attachment to [email protected]. The proposal should be a Microsoft Word file. The subject of your email should be Promotional Video Proposal 2, followed by your last names in alphabetical order. The name of the document should be Promotional Video Proposal 2, followed by your last names in alphabetical order, i.e. Promotional Video Proposal 2 Hidalgo Kerkian.
Cc your partner in the email.
You will receive half credit if you do not follow the instructions above or if you submit your proposal a day late. If you submit it two or more days late, you will receive no credit.
REFLECTION (6 points)
The final draft of your promotional video will be accompanied by a 900-1,200 word reflection, which will do the following:
Explain how your choices as a filmmaker meet the conventions of the genre. You should refer to at least two of the promotional videos we watched and at least two of the filmmaking advice readings and videos we discussed together and tell us how those texts influenced the final product.
Explain your B-roll choices both for filming and placement during editing.
Discuss the role that ethics played in your interactions with participants and in the editing process.
Discuss your process as a filmmaker. What worked? What didn’t work? What could you have done differently? If you used copyrighted material under Fair Use, how does your usage constitute Fair Use? You should cite at least two class readings as you discuss your filmmaking process.
Explain why you chose the particular Creative Commons/Copyright license you selected.
Use MLA for your citations. If you need assistance with MLA, visit the Purdue OWL (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl). You will need to use in-text citations and create a Works Cited page for your reflection where you list written sources and videos.
Make sure to add both your names to the reflection document and to refer to all group decisions as “we.” If you want to mention something one person did, refer to them by their first name.
Reflection and Promotional Video Delivery
In order for your reflection and promotional video to receive full credit, you must do the following:
Send the link to the promotional video in the body of an email and attach the reflection to [email protected]. The subject of your email should be Promotional Video and Reflection, followed by your last names in alphabetical order. The reflection should be a Microsoft Word file. The name of the document should be Promotional Video Reflection, followed by your last names in alphabetical order, i.e. Promotional Video Reflection Hidalgo Kerkian.
Cc your partner in the email.
Attach the scanned videotaping releases. Title each release with the name of the interviewee, followed by Release, i.e. Alexandra Hidalgo Release.
I will deduct two points if you do not follow the delivery instructions above.
ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR
The assignment is worth 30 points. Below is a breakdown of the assignment components, their point value, and when they are due.
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO (20 points)
Working in pairs, you will make a 2-4 minute promotional video meeting these requirements:
You will follow the promotional video conventions in order to make a video that convinces viewers of the value of what the subject of your video has to offer. Here are some subject possibilities for your promotional videos: MSU (you can choose a program, major, minor, particular course, dorm, dining hall, office, student organization, service), local non-profit organizations, local businesses, a legislation. If you think of another possibility, make sure to discuss it with me and we’ll try to make it work for the assignment.
As you contact the subject of your promotional video about this project, make sure they understand that you are not professionals and the final product may reflect the fact that it was made by students who were learning the film and video production craft. On the other hand, your services come free of charge, which is an incentive. Make sure they understand that part of the assignment is uploading the video to YouTube, so the final product will have a life online.
Before the subjects of your documentary agree to the project, make sure they read and sign the release so they understand their rights upon entering the project.
One of the key goals of this video is to introduce you to the ethics of interviewing and representing others on camera. As you work you will take into account our class discussions on the ethics of filmmaking.
You will use WRAC cameras and mics. If partners from the video resume stay together, you’ll use the same camera. If there are changes in partners, we will redistribute the cameras accordingly.
You will complete the assignment using Final Cut Pro X on our Bessey 317 computers. We will have a workshop teaching you the basics of FCP X, and on subsequent classes we’ll explore other aspects of the program. As with the video resume assignment, however, you will be required to use the internet to find answers to some of your questions. You will have access to the computers at night for editing.
Your promotional video needs a soundtrack, which can be used sparingly or throughout your work. Make sure that the sound doesn’t drown out dialogue. You will use Creative Commons music, which you can find here: http://www.freesound.org, http://www.jamendo.com/en, and http://ccmixter.org. If you decide to exercise Fair Use in order to use copyrighted material, you will need to explain your Fair Use choices in your reflection. As you decide, keep in mind that your work can be taken down even if it meets Fair Use regulations and that unlike your video resume where only you were involved, the subject of your promotional video will also be affected if your work is taken down due to your use of copyrighted material.
If you decide to use archival footage, you can find Creative Commons footage at the Internet Archive (http://archive.org/details/stock_footage) and at Stock Footage for Free (http://www.stockfootageforfree.com).
Post your promotional video to YouTube. It should go on the main editor’s account. I wouldn’t post it to both group members’ accounts because then it will split the views. If you decide to use advertising for the video, make sure to split the profits between the two of you.
Promotional videos don’t usually have credits at the end. However, in your description of the video on YouTube, add your names and tell us what roles you each played and make sure you list everything you used in the soundtrack (title, author, year) and every stock image you used (title, author, year). At the end of your description, provide the video with a license. It can be Creative Commons or traditional copyright. It’s up to you.
Once the promotional video is complete, you will provide all participants with the video link and an mov file, which you can share with them using Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com) or Google Drive (http://www.google.com/drive/about.html). You will also thank them for allowing you to make this video for them.
FIRST PROPOSAL (2 points)
The assignment is divided in three stages—preproduction, production, and postproduction—and partners will play different roles in each stage. As you select who will play what role, make sure to go with each person’s strengths. Your proposal will be presented in two ways: an in-class presentation (3 minutes with 3 minutes for discussion) and a written version that you will email me by the beginning of class on the day you present. You will provide the following information:
Promotional Video Content
The subject of your promotional video
Participants (How many people involved with the subject of your promotional video are you going to interview? Have they agreed to it?)
B-Roll (What and who are you planning to film to illustrate what interviewees are saying?)
Shooting locations (What locations are you considering for interviews and B-Roll?)
Archival footage (Do you plan to use any? If so, what kind?)
Any issues you want the class to help you with regarding subject, locations, participants, etc.
Roles
Who will play each of the following preproduction roles?
Preproduction
Subject Recruiter and Liaison: This person is in charge of finding, contacting, and staying in touch with the subject of the promotional video from preproduction to postproduction when s/he will provide them with copies of the film and thank them for their participation. Before participants agree to the project, make sure they read and sign the videotaping release, which you can find on desire2learn. The subject recruiter and liaison will also write the interview questions (with the location scout’s help). In production and postproduction the participant recruiter will be the director/interviewer and the assistant editor/reflection writer respectively (see below).
Location Scout: This person is in charge of finding all locations, finding out whether filming is allowed in each location, and getting permission to film if it is required. All interviews should take place inside in order to have better sound. If your project requires outside interviews because of its nature, talk to me first. B-roll can be outside. The more B-roll locations you have the more varied the promotional video will look, but remember that different locations add time to the shooting process. The location scout will make the storyboards (with the subject recruiter and liaison’s help) previous to shooting. During production and postproduction s/he will be the cinematographer and main editor respectively (see below).
Production
Director/Interviewer: This person will conduct all interviews and will ask follow up questions when needed. S/he will be in charge of keeping participants comfortable (by talking to them, offering them water, etc.) while the cinematographer sets up. S/he will check all interview setups by the cinematographer through the camera’s viewfinder and provide advice on how to improve them.
Cinematographer: This person will film the interviews and B-roll and s/he will make sure the sound is being captured correctly by listening with earphones as s/he films. If the sound doesn’t work for a particular answer, s/he needs to let the director know so the question can be answered again. S/he is also in charge of lighting. If the director misses a follow up question that the cinematographer thinks would be important, s/he should let the director know so it can be included in the interview.
Postproduction
Assistant Editor/Reflection Writer: This person will assist the editor in creating a cohesive, engaging promotional video. S/he is in charge of researching the Creative Commons soundtrack. S/he will also write the reflection (see below).
Editor: This person will edit the promotional video using FPC X with the assistant editor’s help. S/he will read the reflection and provide comments on how to improve it.
First Proposal Delivery
In order for your proposal to receive full credit, you must do the following:
Send the proposal as an attachment to [email protected]. The proposal should be a Microsoft Word file. The subject of your email should be Promotional Video Proposal 1, followed by your last names in alphabetical order. The name of the document should be Promotional Video Proposal 1, followed by your last names in alphabetical order, i.e. Promotional Video Proposal 1 Hidalgo Kerkian.
Cc your partner in the email.
You will receive half credit if you do not follow the instructions above or if you submit your proposal a day late. If you submit it two or more days late, you will receive no credit.
SECOND PROPOSAL (2 points)
The second proposal needs to be emailed to me by class time. You won’t present it in class, however. In the second proposal you will:
Name your interviewees and provide a couple sentences about the role they play in the subject of your promotional video and what you’re hoping they’ll add to it.
Submit a list of questions you will ask your interviewees. Usually 8-10 questions per interviewee is a good number. Depending on the project, you will ask the same questions of everyone or you will vary some or all of them per participant. This is something we can discuss over email, during office hours, or before or after class if you are unsure how to proceed for your particular topic’s questions. Questions must be open ended. Don’t ask “Do you like your MSU courses?” but “What do you like about your MSU courses?” You should ask questions that cannot be answered with “yes” or “no,” but that require the interviewee to spend some time explaining their perspective.
Provide a schedule where you list when and where all interviews and B-roll will be filmed.
Provide storyboards for your interviews and for how you envision your B-roll will look.
Second Proposal Delivery
In order for your proposal to receive full credit, you must do the following:
Send the proposal as an attachment to [email protected]. The proposal should be a Microsoft Word file. The subject of your email should be Promotional Video Proposal 2, followed by your last names in alphabetical order. The name of the document should be Promotional Video Proposal 2, followed by your last names in alphabetical order, i.e. Promotional Video Proposal 2 Hidalgo Kerkian.
Cc your partner in the email.
You will receive half credit if you do not follow the instructions above or if you submit your proposal a day late. If you submit it two or more days late, you will receive no credit.
REFLECTION (6 points)
The final draft of your promotional video will be accompanied by a 900-1,200 word reflection, which will do the following:
Explain how your choices as a filmmaker meet the conventions of the genre. You should refer to at least two of the promotional videos we watched and at least two of the filmmaking advice readings and videos we discussed together and tell us how those texts influenced the final product.
Explain your B-roll choices both for filming and placement during editing.
Discuss the role that ethics played in your interactions with participants and in the editing process.
Discuss your process as a filmmaker. What worked? What didn’t work? What could you have done differently? If you used copyrighted material under Fair Use, how does your usage constitute Fair Use? You should cite at least two class readings as you discuss your filmmaking process.
Explain why you chose the particular Creative Commons/Copyright license you selected.
Use MLA for your citations. If you need assistance with MLA, visit the Purdue OWL (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl). You will need to use in-text citations and create a Works Cited page for your reflection where you list written sources and videos.
Make sure to add both your names to the reflection document and to refer to all group decisions as “we.” If you want to mention something one person did, refer to them by their first name.
Reflection and Promotional Video Delivery
In order for your reflection and promotional video to receive full credit, you must do the following:
Send the link to the promotional video in the body of an email and attach the reflection to [email protected]. The subject of your email should be Promotional Video and Reflection, followed by your last names in alphabetical order. The reflection should be a Microsoft Word file. The name of the document should be Promotional Video Reflection, followed by your last names in alphabetical order, i.e. Promotional Video Reflection Hidalgo Kerkian.
Cc your partner in the email.
Attach the scanned videotaping releases. Title each release with the name of the interviewee, followed by Release, i.e. Alexandra Hidalgo Release.
I will deduct two points if you do not follow the delivery instructions above.
ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR
The assignment is worth 30 points. Below is a breakdown of the assignment components, their point value, and when they are due.
Assignment | Due Date |
---|---|
First Proposal (2 points) | 10/15 |
Second Proposal (2 points) | 10/17 |
Footage recording period | 10/20 – 10/26 |
Promotional video draft for in-class critique | 11/5 Incomplete drafts will count as a missed quiz (1 point) for both partners |
Promotional video final version (with scanned videotaping releases) (20 points)
Reflection (6 points) |
11/7 by midnight You will submit the promotional video, your reflection, and your scanned releases together |
QUESTIONS
If you have questions about the documentary assignment, feel free to email me, stop by my office hours, or make an appointment.
If you have questions about the documentary assignment, feel free to email me, stop by my office hours, or make an appointment.