American University
Discover The World of Communication
Script Writing and Video Production
Syllabus
Instructor: Mr. Ned MacFadden
Overview:
During the next nine class days you will have hands-on opportunities to write and
produce in collaboration a video segment that explores the concepts of video
production. You will be shooting onto DV tape stock and editing using Final Cut Pro.
When you leave this class you will have a completed video production that can be
used for college applications and future internships.
Day One
• Orientation in the Wechsler Theater
• Fill out Who am I? (handout)
• Pre-roll exercise:
students take turns introducing themselves by videotaping themselves talking
about a couple things that interest them and what they are looking to get out
of the class.
• Introduction of class project
• Screen and critique examples of past projects
• What type of project do you want to make?
Biographical, Demonstration based, Person on the street interviews,
“Tour guide” approach, Narrative, Interpretive
• Who is in my group (handout), fill out worksheet
• Pick up equipment
• Review equipment safety
Camera: Tripod:
Mounting camera onto tripod pan
pre-roll tilt
recording pedestal
locking
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Exercise: Become familiar with equipment inventory, mount, and dismount
camera onto tripod. Use tripod to pan, tilt, and pedestal. Hook up
microphone and monitor sound with headphones. Record a small bit of
tape and play back to insure all equipment is working.
• Review Production concepts
Composition: Camera:
what is a cover shot? the menu
types of shots Production: time code
storyboarding monitoring sound
the countdown
fire hosing/shooting for
the edit
telling a story with
images
Exercise: Location Basics Production
Day 2
Production concepts continued
Camera: Sound: Composition:
focus with a zoom lens recording ambient rule of thirds
pulling focus sound look at the full frame
white balance microphones (what’s behind your subject?)
Production: backlighting
labeling tapes macro shot
logging footage aspect ratio
interviewing techniques getting rid of glare in eye glasses
Exercise: The expressive camera production
• Meet and return to campus
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Day 3
• Final cut Pro demonstration
Exercise: Edit your Production Basics footage
take the footage you shot yesterday and edit it together to make a
finished piece that is two to three minutes in length. Your finished
piece is to include a title, voice over underneath b-roll footage, and
ending credits.
• Are we comfortable using equipment? Review handout, Technically speaking,
what do I need to know?
• Writing exercises
Day 4
• Brainstorm themes for final project
What is a Treatment?
Assignment: What is a Treatment? (handout)
Individually create a treatment for your project.
• Present your individual treatment to your group. As a group combine the
strongest elements to create one finished treatment that reflects the group’s
intent for their final production.
• Research your topic.
Document sources.
Identify and put into your own words necessary voice over elements.
Establish what visuals and sounds you will need for your production to be
successful by creating a shooting script. The Shooting Script will keep you
focused and insure that you will get the footage you need.
• Each group will present their project to the class.
Class critique of projects.
Day 5
• Demonstrate the importance of the cut away (do you have enough B-roll?) Do
you establish and show details?
• Screen demonstration assignments
• Critique video footage (and Log sheets!), refer to Is this shot good
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enough? (handout)
• Shoot footage
Day 6
Exercise: Use your footage logs and begin to write an Edit Decision List
• Shoot footage
Day 7
Exercise: Work with what you have
• Use your footage logs and begin to write an Edit Decision List
• Import footage. Record voice over and narration. Create a rough cut of your
production, editing your visuals to your established narration track.
• Re-shoots
Day 8
• Discuss cutting on action
• Discuss transitions and sequencing
• Import any new footage
• Begin refining your edits so that you are cutting on action.
Day 9
• Discuss the presentation. Script what you will say.
• As a class, return equipment to the Broadcast Center.
• Fine tune editing visuals to voice over
• Lay music and ambient sound
• Add titles and credits
• Finish editing your project
• Make a DVD of your finished project.
•
Day 10
• Meet in groups to refine oral presentation
• Practice presentation
• Evaluation of course
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• Premiere in Wechsler Auditorium, Mary Graydon Center
• Certificate of completion of course
• Reception and farewell!
