Media Training - Producers
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- Category: Media Training
- Published on Tuesday, 01 December 2009 11:25
- Written by Quin Swallow
- Hits: 150
Producer Training
As a producer, you will be the leader of your group. Here are your duties:
- Organize your crew and make sure everyone is doing their assigned job.
- Make sure each crew member and your crew as a whole are meeting deadlines.
- Oversee the direction of the project, and make sure everyone is working together on the same goal(s).
- Work with the teacher, and keep the teacher updated on your group's project.
- Ask the teacher for help when needed.
- Help resolve disagreements, and be the final decision-maker when the group can't agree.
It's a tough job, but you were selected because your teacher thinks you have the leadership skills and the chops to do the job!
Making a media project involves three phases: Preproduction, production, and postproduction. Pretty basic, eh? Here is a list of what happens in each phase. (Even though this list refers to movie/video projects, the same steps can be applied to any project!)
Pre-production- Planning, scheduling, building and preparing
- Research.
- Create a storyboard that shows into great shape
- Secure money and/or supplies for the film.
- Choose the director and other parts of the creative team. (At school, your director and the rest of the team may be chosen for you.)
- Cast the actors, working with the director.
- Determine locations and budget.
- Develop a production / shooting / recording schedule with the director.
- Create a detailed plan of action for production. (Use Celtx to schedule work.)
Production- Filming, recording, performing
- Offer creative suggestions to the director.
- Handle problems with actors or creative staff.
- Monitor production timetable and budget.
- Review video dailies (the film shot each day).
- Help with tough work whenever possible.
Postproduction- Editing, embellishing, fixing, promoting
- Discuss order and selection of scenes with the director.
- Review the fine cut of the film after it is edited.
- Supervise the addition of sound or graphic effects, text (credits), etc.
- In some cases, polish, revise and restructure the film to create the final cut.
- Make plans for distributing the film
Now it's time to learn some tools for getting your work done. You will be given a list of software below that you will need to learn. Following each software title is a list of tasks you need to perform. Once you have competed them, show your work to the teacher.
Celtx
Where you find it: The applications folder.
What it does: This program is used to manage all the work of putting your media project together.
Hints: Save all your work in one SINGLE Celtx file, in your main work folder on the Cub Server.
Celtx Project Tasks:
__ Use Celtx to plan and create a brief Keynote slideshow WITH recorded narration... your topic choice. It can be completely fun.
__ Create a brief storyboard.
__ Write a short script based on your storyboard.
__ Create a master catalog containing all the characters, actors, objects, effects, and anything else you will need for your project.
__ Use a production schedule to schedule your work over the next three class days.
Keynote
Where you find it: The Dock. (It's the podium icon.)
What it does: Keynote creates multi-media presentations that include graphic, sound and motion-picture elements.
Hints: Using Keynote with audio, graphic and video files lets you make your media presentation interactive, so the user controls what happens.
Keynote Project Tasks: Learn all you can about what Keynote can do.
__ When your Celtx plan is organized, begin building your slideshow. (Different people in your group may build Keynote slides in different pieces.)
Your project should include:
__ Transition effects
__ Audio narration
__ Hyperlink to another slide (at least one)
__ At least three graphic effects (Inspector, graphic tab)
Media Training - Job Presentation
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- Category: Media Training
- Published on Wednesday, 09 December 2009 14:36
- Written by Quin Swallow
- Hits: 349
Task: As a group, create and present a slideshow that describes your media crew assignment for the rest of the class.
Requirements: You should have five or more slides in a Keynote presentation. You may narrate your slideshow "live," or record audio narration (and optional music) that will playback as part of the slideshow.
Content: Your slideshow should explain what your tech crew position does in the process of making a movie. Here are some key questions on which you will want to focus:
- What does this person do during pre-production, production, and post-production?
- With what other people does this person have to work?
- What tools does this person use for his/her work? (Includes tools both on and off a computer.)
- What are some 'words of the trade' your crew person uses often? (Learn some new words relating to your job and include them in a glossary page on your slideshow.)
Here are some links to great job resources. Visit these sites to learn more about your jobs!
All
- Wikipedia Film Crew Information
- Movie Making Manual- A textbook on movie making from Wikibooks. A great reference with simple, clear instructions on how to make a movie.
For more information on individual jobs, click the "Read more" link ...
Media Training - Visual Artists & Cinematographers
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- Category: Media Training
- Published on Monday, 04 January 2010 12:46
- Written by Quin Swallow
- Hits: 233
Visual Artist / Cinematographer
As a Visual Artist, you will be creating the images and art that people will see in the film. Here is what you will do:
- Do most of the storyboard sketches. (Others may sketch too, but you can help give suggestions, or add to / clean-up other people's work.)
- Create virtual sets and backdrops for green-screen images.
- Create charts, maps, titles and credits.
- Create any visual art to be included in your film. This includes drawings, paintings, sculpture, photography, computer art, etc.
- Film video sequences (operate the video camera)
Art Lessons
You should visit these links to brush-up on your art knowledge and skills!
- The Basics of Graphic Design- This is a must-read article for all artists. Read ALL of it, and take notes in your media journal!
- Trying to Explain Graphic Design to Kids- Pretty interesting explanation of what Graphic Design is, and how it makes our lives nicer to look at.
- Bad Graphic Design- This is a cool site that shows yucky design. I guess there is a lot to be learned from studying lousy examples?
Gimp
Where you find it: The applications folder.
What it does: Produces and/or edit raster (pixellated) graphic images.
Hints:
Gimp Project Tasks:
__ Make a great Gimp art project using all the tools you can.
Inkscape
Where you find it: The applications folder.
What it does: Produces and/or edit vector (line / math-based) graphic images.
Hints:
Keynote Project Tasks: Learn all you can about what Keynote can do.
__ Make a great Gimp art project using all the tools you can.
Video Camera
To be added later.
Media Training - Directors
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- Category: Media Training
- Published on Monday, 04 January 2010 12:37
- Written by Quin Swallow
- Hits: 158
Director Training
As a director, you will be the leader of your group. Here are your duties:
- Oversee the planning of the film and all of its elements, and direct the creation of the storyboard.
- Help the producer sure each crew member and your crew as a whole are meeting deadlines.
- Supervise filming and sound recording.
- Check the work of the writers, cinematographers, audio technicians, graphic artists, and video editors. Assist with video editing when needed.
Celtx
Where you find it: The applications folder.
What it does: This program is used to manage all the work of putting your media project together.
Hints: Save all your work in one SINGLE Celtx file, in your main work folder on the Cub Server.
Celtx Project Tasks:
__ Use Celtx to plan and create a brief Keynote slideshow WITH recorded narration... your topic choice. It can be entirely fun.
__ Create a brief storyboard.
__ Write a short script based on your storyboard.
__ Create a master catalog containing all the characters, actors, objects, effects, and anything else you will need for your project.
__ Use a production schedule to schedule your work over the next three class days.
Keynote
Where you find it: The Dock. (It's the podium icon.)
What it does: Keynote creates multi-media presentations that include graphic, sound and motion-picture elements.
Hints: Using Keynote with audio, graphic and video files lets you make your media presentation interactive, so the user controls what happens.
Keynote Project Tasks: Learn all you can about what Keynote can do.
__ When your Celtx plan is organized, begin building your slideshow. (Different people in your group may build Keynote slides in different pieces.) It should include:
__ Transition effects
__ Audio narration
__ Hyperlink to another slide (at least one)
__ At least three graphic effects (Inspector, graphic tab)
iMovie
Where you find it: The Dock. (It's the movie clapboard icon.)
What it does: Edits video, creates video projects.
Hints: You don't need to know ALL about iMovie, but learn the basics so you can work with video editors.
Keynote Project Tasks:
TO BE ADDED LATER
Media Training - Sound Techs and Musicians
- Details
- Category: Media Training
- Published on Monday, 04 January 2010 12:52
- Written by Quin Swallow
- Hits: 334
Sound Technician / Musician
As a sound specialist and musician, you will be creating the sounds that will be in your media project. Here is what you will do:
- Collect sound and music clips to be used in your project.
- Create and record custom sound and / or music.
- Compose your own music tracks with Garage Band.
- Mix sounds together using Audacity.
GarageBand
Where you find it: The applications folder, and possibly the Dock.
What it does: Creates user-composed sound tracks with virtual instruments.
Hints:
GarageBand Project Tasks:
__ Make a great GarageBand musical composition using all the tools you can.
Audacity
Where you find it: The applications folder.
What it does: Mixes different sounds together.
Hints:
Audacity Project Tasks: Learn all you can about what Keynote can do.
__ Add singing, sound-effects, narration, or other sounds to your GarageBand composition.