Fran's Story

The camera work had all the essentials.  When it had a close up shot of her face, her eyes were on third and she had talking room.  It was also like that for each person they interviewed.  They had a couple close up shots of her writing and of her arm.  Whatever way the person they were interviewing was facing, they made sure to have talking space that way so it did not feel awkward.  I also think the camera was held still and wasn't that shaky.  I also liked the settings and backgrounds they picked when they interviewed each person. 

I really liked the story.  They did a good job of getting enough details to understand what its like and playing on the team but not to many that they didn't fit in with the focus.  I liked how they interviewed more than just her family so they got more perspectives.  I also liked how they got her in the classroom and not only on the court even though it was a sports clip because it showed a different side of her and how well she deals with her disability outside of the sport she plays.  I also liked how she had a positive attitude and wasn't downing herself because of it, she was showing people how you can do anything you put your heart into and nothing stopped her.


A-Roll: Anything you hear in the story; interviews, reporter voice overs, natural sound

B-Roll: Video footage that compliments the story

A Publishers Dream

Opening Assignment: 

Watch the latest Land of 10,000 stories:  A Publishers Dream

Answer the following questions about the story:

1.  What is the focus statement of this story?
Solar panels, staying green

 2.  Give examples of W-M-T sequences
Wide: when he is outside and he shows the whole car, and outside of office
Medium: just showing the outside electric and showing how much he is saving
Tight: close up of his face in the side mirror of his car

 3.  Give examples of The Rule of Thirds
When he's showing the roof, he's on third and you can see the solar panels in room space

 4.  Give examples of Eyes on Third
When he's showing his cabin, its a medium shot and his eyes are on third

 5.  Give examples of Talking Space
When he's first talking in his office, they have his eyes on third and his body lined up and hes facing towards the right and they give him a lot of talking space

 6.  What did you like about story?
I liked how he was very happy about what he was doing and I also liked how he was helping the earth and saving energy.

Rule of third is when you have 9 squares in a shot, and you put the subject on one of the 4 corners.

Eyes on third is when  you put the focus' eyes on one of the 2 lines vertically and horizontally.

Talking space is when you focus your subject on the left or right vertical of the rule of third and you give them enough space to breathe.

Camera Notes

Today you will be taking notes on Focus Statements and Camera Techniques


1.  What is a Focus Statement?  Define
A central statement that will guide your news story

2.  Why do we need a Focus Statement?
It narrows down one thing to make into a story

 3.  Give an example of a Focus Statement sentence.
"Homecoming nominees have unusual talents"

 4.  Give an example of a Focus Statement in 3 words: (Subject-Verb-Object)
"Girls make dresses"


5.  What are the 6 Essential Equipment items you need with you when shooting an interview?
Camera, Tripod, Microphone, Headphones, Batteries, Media

6.  Why is a tripod important? 
Keeps your shots perfectly steady and clear

 7.  The Tripod is my FRIEND

8.  Define:  Pan
Moving tripod horizontally

 9.  Define:  Tilt
Moving tripod vertically

 10.  Why are headphones important?  
So you can know if you microphone is good or not

11.  Why is it important to TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU GO ON SHOOT!
So you know if its good to use so you don't have to go back and interview again

12.  Define Wide shot:
Show setting and surroundings, establish location

 13.  Why do we need a wide shot?
Give an overall feel of the setting

 14.  Define Medium shot:
Little less setting, more detail and focus on a specific area

15.  Why do we need a medium shot?
To give more details to the viewers

16.  Define a tight shot.

Close up, lots of detail

 17.  Why do we need a tight shot?
Give a really nice detail shot that you can't get at medium or wide shot

 18.  What is a sequence?

19.  Why do we need a sequence?

Newsworthiness

 1.  Identify, define, and give an example of the 6 criteria of newsworthiness.

Criteria 1: Unusualness
Definition: News is the different, the unusual, the out-of-the ordinary. Unusual is more often found in bad news than good news.
Example: If an airplane departs on time, it isn't news.  If it crashes, it is.

Criteria 2: Significance
Definition: Important events, ones that affect many people
Example: Taxes, elections, wars, scientific discoveries, and the economy

Criteria 3: Timeliness
Definition: Old news isn't news. People want to hear about current things that are happening.
Example: The flood while its happening, not next month when everything's dried out.

Criteria 4: Proximity
Definition: Nearby events that are happening
Example: A problem in the local school, the new state tax law, the proposed regional highway

Criteria 5: Prominence
Definition: When well-known people, buildings or places are involved
Example: A movie star is arrested for shoplifting

Criteria 6: Human Interest
Definition: Stories about ordinary people or animals, humorous or dramatic, heartwarming or heart-wrenching stores. Often good news
Example: A minister who runs a drop-in center for troubled teenagers, a sand castle competition

2. On page 23 it discusses the differences between print journalism and broadcast journlism.  Please describe 3 ways they are different and explain.
Newspapers provide full coverage but readers act as their own editors and can pick and choose what they want to read. Radio news is very short but it is the most timely of them all because within minutes, you can find out about something from the radio.  Television news is the most dramatic because they have the power of a camera so viewers can actually see the news stories.

3.  List all the criteria the story we watched at the beginning of class fits under and why.
Unusualness: its not everyday a truck carrying pigs crashes on a highway and all the pigs are let out. Timeliness: the story was covered very soon after it happened. Proximity: the story happened in a local town.
4.  List all the criteria the 2nd story we watched fits under and why.
Timeliness: The family taking in the dogs didn't happen a couple years ago, it happened recently. Human interest: it was a heart warming story about two dogs
5.  List all the criteria the 3rd story we watched fits under and why.
Timeliness: The awards just happened last night. Prominence: Many celebrity's were involved. Human Interest: It was interesting to see who won awards and who didn't and also entertaining to see the outfits

Story of a Classmate

Focus Statement: An 18 year old boy who is a skilled wake boarder in his free time.

Logan Schleicher, an eighteen year old senior at Eastview High School might not look like the type to enjoy the outdoors or even enjoy the risky sport of wakeboarding, but he does.  In his free time, you will find Logan at his cabin in Mankato, Minnesota behind a boat doing 180’s and 360’s on a wakeboard.  Logan first learned this awesome activity from his older brother Derek who taught him about three years ago.  At first, he was a little nervous about going behind a fast boat and possibly risking any injuries from it, but soon enough he wasn’t nervous at all.  He picked up on it right away and within weeks, he became a pro.  He loves the feeling of just going out on the water and feeling like he can do anything on that wakeboard.  Nothing will stop Logan, “I have fallen off numerous times, but none of them stop me.  I always get right back up and go again.”  Logan knows what he’s doing and he’s very fearless when it comes to wakeboarding.   In the summer time, stop by the lake in Mankato and you will find Logan doing those 180’s and 360’s on his wakeboard with not a care in the world around him.  All he is focused on is becoming better and having fun while doing something he loves: wakeboarding.

Interview of a Classmate

Logan Schleichers Interview:

1. Question #1: What after school activities do you participate in and have any impacted your life in a big way? Logan participates in the lacrosse team for Eastview and last year, his team made it to the state tournament and won the whole thing!
2. Question #2: What are your plans for next year? Logan plans to go to St. Thomas in the fall of 2013 and hopes to study engineering.  He wants to be an engineer because he loves math and thinks it would be a great career to do.
3. Question #3: What is a day in the life of you? Logan wakes up, eats breakfast, heads to school for a long 7 hour day, heads to lacrosse practice after school, does homework, and goes to bed again.  Some days he goes to lifetime to participate in a non-competitive league of basketball with some friends.
4. Question #4: What is something you enjoy doing in your free time?  Logan enjoys going to his cabin in Mankato Minnesota with his family and friends.  His favorite thing to do there is wakeboard and he learned that about three years ago from his brother.  He also enjoys just being outdoors and doing different activities in the sun because he loves the warm weather.  He plans to get out of the snowy Minnesota and hopefully live in California some day. 
5. Question #5: Who do you look up too?  Logan looks up to his oldest brother because he has always been there for him, he is always teaching him new things, and inspires and motivates Logan to try different things and be the best guy he can be.
6. Question #6: Do you have a favorite vacation you took?  Logan went to Florida with a friend and had a really fun time.  He liked it most because he was out of the cold Minnesota weather and in the hot sun
7. Question #7: If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Logan's favorite food is chipotle.
8. Question #8: What position do you play for lacrosse? Logan is attack
9. Question #9: What was winning state like? "It was awesome!" Logan said, after winning against Eden Prairie in the state championship with a final score of 10-4.
10. Question #10: What can you take away most from your lacrosse team? He says that he has built great friendships and team chemistry which have shaped him into the person he is today.