Syllabus- Advanced Television Production and Editing

SYLLABUS: ADVANCED TELEVISION PRODUCTION AND EDITING (BC 330-01)

Fall 2014         BC 330-01      Course Number 4449
TR 9:30-10:50     Turner A Room 273

INSTRUCTOR:  Patrick Harwood, Department of Communication Faculty

OFFICE:  2^nd Floor Turner A Room 258

PHONE:  (803) 536-8839 (office); (843) 224-3112 (cell- texting me is fine)    

E-MAIL:  pharwood@scsu.edu   
COURSE MATERIAL: http://harwoodscsuclasses.blogspot.com/

OFFICE HOURS:  One hour before and after class, and by appointment

Course Summary and Objectives

Students will continue learning television production procedures and systems, acquanting themselves with studio operations, field equipment, digital editing software, various types of production such as news reports, commercials, PSAs, and on-air presentation/delivery.

Under the training and guidance of the instructor, students will prepare storyboards and stories, design sets and lighting, and work together to produce team and individual projects.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1.      Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of audio, video, still images and information

2.      Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity

3.      Think critically, creatively and independently

4.      Demonstrate professional proficiency and creativity

5.      Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve

Method of Instruction

            I use the teacher computer, overhead system, DVD/VHS player, to show course material, PowerPoint presentations, as well as articles, videos and other material.

             We will do field exercises in which you go on campus to record things such as video “b-roll,” interviews and standups for your projects.

            I hope the class will have a lot of interaction. Please always feel free to bring up issues, questions, and current issues in television, the media and news that we can discuss.

Required Tools

• High quality video cameras and related production equipment will be provided
• A check out system will be used to attain equipment
• Students must purchase high capacity SD cards for recording with school cameras
• A high capacity flashdrive will also be needed

More Class Details

Ø  Blog Requirement: Each of you will set up a blog using the free Blogger program. Each week you will be required to post a story about something in the television and/or media industries. The purpose of this is have you really thinking about what you see and hear on television, whether news or entertainment, and other media  

Ø  YouTube Requirement: 
Each video project will be posted by you on your individual YouTube account, and this is how your reports will be shown in class and graded.  See my YouTube channel (and others out there) for layout/design ideas and examples:  www.youtube.com/harwoodp.  If you don’t have a YouTube channel, go to www.youtube.com to establish your account and build your page. 

Cameras and Editing Equipment:  We have expensive, high quality SD-card cameras (as well as microphones, tripods and lights) available for your shooting/reporting projects.  This is up to you. As stated earlier, using your own camera is OK. If you do check out the department equipment it must be turned in at end of the term, and cannot be damaged, otherwise your final grade will be withheld. When equipment is given to you, you will sign a form stating this and other policies.

You will be taught how to use non-linear (or digital) editing systems located in the Turner A studio on the second floor. You will be exposed to editing software programs such as Final Cut Pro, iMovie, and Movie Maker,

Working in Teams to Shoot Video Projects:  Shooting and producing video projects usually involves multiple people in the process.  In this class we will set up teams in which you will work together to shoot and edit videos.  Each member of the class will be required to turn in different types of TV news reports (see details below).  Report due dates will be staggered throughout the term so that projects can be explained fully and examples shown.

Work Outside of Class:  This class will require a time commitment needed to plan, shoot and edit these videos.  Efforts will be made to organize teams with students who have compatible schedules.

Digital Media Lab:  The SCSU communication program has a state-of-the-art media lab and studio.

Grading Reports:  Your work will be given letter grades based on accuracy, enterprise and production/newsgathering skills shown, as well as writing, scripting, production quality, delivery, meeting deadlines, and overall quality. 

Exam:  There will be a midterm exam.  There won’t be a final exam.  We will most likely use our exam period to view the final video project

Deadlines:  A crucial part of the television business is being able to work quickly, efficiently and accurately in order to meet deadlines.  Video projects and other letter grade assignments turned in late cost one letter grade for each class session late.  Regular homework assignments turned in late will receive an automatic check minus and won’t be accepted after one class period late.  No homework is accepted by email. 

Attendance Policy:  Roll will be taken at the start of each class, via a sign in sheet. Make sure you sign this before, at the start of, or after class. To receive an excused absence you must give me a written note with the reason for your absence, and the date of your absence.    

Final Grade Determination

            Midterm Exam                                                                        25 percent
            Video Assignments and Other Reports                                  25 percent

            Blog Postings                                                                          25 percent                  

Homework and in-class assignments                                      25 percent

Test Grading Scale and Plus/Minus Grading System::

A  94-100; A- 90-93; B+  87-89; B  83-86; B- 80-82; C+  77-79; C  73-76; C-  70-72; D+ 65-69; D  60-64; F  59 and under

A = 4.00	B = 3.00	C = 2.00	D = 1.00
A- = 3.67	B- = 2.67	C- = 1.67	F = 0.00
B+ = 3.33	C+ = 2.33	D+ = 1.33

WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE
Note:  This schedule is regularly updated and modified so do not rely on a schedule printed the first week of class.  I will regularly bring up this schedule at the start of class, show you what is due next class and in the classes ahead, and go over what may have been changed in this schedule. 

• September 9 (Week 4) 
• Course introduction; camera operations (technically and procedurely)
• Setting up blogs on Blogger (blogger.com)
• Thursday: 
• Blog Update
• Writer your blog name and URL on master list
• First blog post: "What I Like Most and Least About Television Today" (200-300 words, include one or more images and at least two links
• Thursday: Evolution of TV news and production (tape display and Pinterest)
• Video Production Tips (Pinterest)
• Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 15: Finish setting up your blog- be sure to have the following elements: 
• About Me- have your photo and two or three sentences about who you are and what this blog is all about (use Image gadget to set this up)
• Include Follow By Email gadget
• Include link to your Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest and other social media
• "What I Like Most and Least About Television Today" post (see above for details) 
• September 16 (Week 5)
• Overview of different video editing programs
• Discuss Thursday's visit to Orangeburg Massacre Memorial on campus- meet there Thursday morning; have your cameras for shooting memorial from a variety of angles and perspectives
• Thursday-  First meet in classroom to discuss video to produce from field exercise then we all walk to the Orangeburg Massacre Memorial for first field exercise
• Posting of your 90 second-to-2 minute video is due Thursday, Sept. 24- have a few paragraphs (and details) of writing before and after the video link
• Edit video in Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie 
• Use music from the Incompetech.com free music website 
• Tuesday- bring video clips to class on a flashdrive
• September 23 (Week 6)
• Hands-on with video editing footage shot last week
• Tuesday- bring video clips to class on a flashdrive
• Thursday, Sept. 24- Orangeburg Massacre Memorial video post on your blog due today
• Sequence shooting philosophy
• September 30 (Week 7)
• Tuesday: View sequence shooting raw footage and edited examples
• Thursday: Go to school barber shop for field exercise shooting sequences. Thad Miller is the school's barber
• Student sequence shooting video due Tuesday, Oct. 7
• October 7 (Week 8)
• Student sequence shooting video due Tuesday, Oct. 7
• Video scripting and types of scripts
• Basics of videotaping interviews
• Lighting and audio essentials
• Conduct video interviews in studio and/or on campus
• Midterm Exam preview and review
• October 14 (Week 9)
• Tuesday, Oct. 14- Midterm Exam
• October 21 (Week 10)
• SCSU TV studio operations
• October 28 (Week 11)
• Hands-on TV studio operations: interviews, performances, DIY segments
• November 4 (Week 12)
• Students prepare to set up and conduct their own TV studio projects
• November 11 (Week 13)
• On-air "performance" and delivery
• November 18 (Week 14)
• Television news basics
• November 25 (Week 15)
• No class this week: Happy Thanksgiving!
• Finish TV news report this week
• Blog postings- are you keeping up? 
• December 2 (Week 16)
• Monday: Last class- TV news reports due
• Tuesday: Exam reading day
• Final Exams: December 3-9 (our exam date TBA)
• Friday, Dec. 12: Final grades due
• Saturday, December 13: Commencement Convocation