Dotson: Page 55-71

Reading Due Friday

Read in Dotson’s book pages 55 thru 71. Then:
1. What do you find most interesting about what he says on these pages? What stands out as particularly useful to you as a storyteller? (75 words)

I thought it was interesting how he explained that there is many different ways to tell a story. With words, pictures or even actions. I also learned that it is better to have too many soundbites than not enough. You can always get rid of some, but you can't add more. I completely agree when he explains that pictures are more powerful than words because if I were to see a gruesome image, rather than hear about it, the image would affect me more. 

To answer the rest, you must visit the site for Boyd Huppert’s Land of 10,000 Stories(http://www.kare11.com/news/investigative/extras/stories.aspx). Pick two that look interesting. Watch them. Then, pick one of those and answer the following prompts about it, please: Race for the Cure
2. What is the name of the story, and on what date did it first air? Race for the Cure, May 13, 2013
3. List and describe four instances of natural sound. 

The lady counting down to the beginning of the race. It resembles that they are at a race and that it is about to begin. 

People cheering resembles that they are excited for the race to start. 

People laughing resembles them enjoying and having a fun time at the race. 

The music resembles that people are celebrating funding to find a cure for breast cancer.
4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting.

Depth - When they show a clip of the how far back the crowd extends. 

Close Up - When the lady explains that she's in the race for her mother. 

Opposite - When the woman explains that she had her breasts removed to prevent herself from getting breast cancer. 

Low - When it shows the crowd's shoes to clarify that they're walking for a purpose.
5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)

Fund For Breast Cancer
6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. (100 words)

This story utilizes Dotson's "Building Blocks" by using many of the different components. In the beginning of the story, there is a short explanation about the race and what it's for. When it is being explained, it covers the "words" part of the Building Blocks. There were many different pictures throughout the story, but my favorite was when I saw a woman holding up a sign that said "Hug Your Mom" It was really just a sweet part of the story and I think it was important that they added that in. The natural sound occurred when people were talking, laughing, walking, music playing, etc. The soundbites that were included were also very important because it made the story more heart felt and personal. 

Interviewing Notes

Interviewing Notes

FORMAL INTERVIEW:

1.  Show up early, set-up and put mic on chair
2.   Run Mic Up shirt
3.   Reporter should distract and make a connection
4.   Photographer is listening in headphones
5.   Frame up shot:  Eyes on Third, Talking Space/Nose Room, Cam Eye Level,
6.   Photographer gives signal:  Clears Throat... to signal he/she is ready for the interview to start
7.  1st Question is always  State your name and spell it...
8.  Open Ended Questions
9.  Last Question is always "Is there anything else you want to say"
10. Shoot Cut Aways of Hands or Reporter


Copy and paste the following questions and answer them on your blog:

Run and Gun Interviews:

1.  What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
A "Run and Gun" interview is an unplanned interview which is usually only a few questions.

2.  What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
Test the equipment

3.  Why do you think we should ask for permission?
To be polite

4.  Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?
So you can spell their name correctly in the upper third.

5.  Where should we place the microphone?
Below the shot. *Use hang loose

6.  Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
No

7.  The photographer is responsible for the sound levels.  What are two things the photo should be aware of?
Make sure they are at the proper level (sound meters) Background noise.

8.  COMPOSITION:  How we should frame our interview shot:
a.  Eyes on third
b.  2 Eyes One Ear
c.  Camera should be Even with the subject?
d.  Talking space or Nose Room


BACKGROUNDS:
9. Avoid shooting in front of windows

10.  Why should we keep signs out of the background?
They are distracting

11.  If we were doing an interview about the high cost of parking at EVHS where would a good place to interview be?
The parking lot

12.  What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?
An interview where something is being demonstrated. It becomes comfortable and interesting.

Friday Assignment

Shot by Shot; Friday Assignment 

Camera shot breakdown 

Story title: "The Art of Violin Bow Making"

Air date: 11/23/12

Total run time: 2:28

Shot-by-shot breakdown:

1.  Close Up putting on apron

2.  Cut to rolling up sleeve 

3.  Extra Close Up shaving wood to make bow

4.  Close Up of the man working

5.  Interview shot (just head) of man responding and speaking

6.  Wide Shot man examining wood

7. Close Up hitting the wood 

8. Opposite over the shoulder as the man works 

9. Cutaway shaving of wood 

10. Angled view of the wood 

11. Cutaway the insertion of the frog 

12. Close Up on the bow 

13. Tracking all the way down the bow 

14. Cutaway to the strings 

15. Zooming views of lamps and work space 

16. Cutaway instruments used

17. Cutaway of wood shavings

18. Dolly of various woods

19. Wide Shot interview of man and responses

20. Zooming in of new frog

21. Cut in hand contact with the bow

22. Interview shot with man

23. Cutaway lighting a flame on desk

24. Tracking burning wood of bow

25. Close Up of the man a face shot

26. Wide Shot chiseling wood and working 

27. Wide Shot finished polished bow

Steph Fix Mudhouse Project

B-Roll (depth shot) *The girl is blending a drink for a customer*	(Sound of the blender to represent the Mudhouse employees making cold drinks)
Reporter Stand-Up *Reporter is standing outside the Mudhouse* *Shows customers in line for their cold drinks*	“Everybody knows to come downtown to the Mudhouse for a great cup of coffee, but nobody wants coffee when it’s 105 degrees.”
Sound Bite (interview) *Boy sitting at a table in the Mudhouse.* *Shows employee adding ice to the blender* B-Roll (depth shot)	“Well, I like a nice hot cup of coffee, but in the summer it’s really nice to just come in and get a cool drink.” *Worker is making blended drinks*
Reporter Stand-Up B-Roll (close-up) *Cold drink menu is shown*	“For coffee shops like the Mudhouse, there is one way to beat the heat and that’s to offer refreshing cold drinks.” *Menu with cold drinks is shown*
Sound Bite (interview) *Employee interviewed in the Mudhouse at a table* B-Roll (depth shot)	“You know during the summer months, we ice most of our drinks because a lot of our customers still need their caffeine fix. So, you know if they usually get a latte, they’ll come in and get an iced latte instead!” *Lady joins her friend at a table with her frozen drink*
Sound Bite (interview) *Lady shown by coffee pots*	“They said coffee can actually cool you down, rather than drinking cold sodas and stuff.”
B-Roll (angled shot)	*Girl makes frozen drink for a customer*
B-Roll (linking shot) *Employee is finishing making the drink, announces what it is* *The customer takes his drink and walks away*	Employee: “The double peanut butter puddle” Customer: “That would be mine, thank you!”

Reading Questions #2

Reading

Read, in Dotson’s book, pages 43 thru 55. Respond to what you read, and use these questions if you get stuck: What strikes you as interesting? In what ways do you agree or disagree with him? How does this fit where you are as a writer, and how will it help you become a better one?
(100 words minimum)

So, Dotson highlights the following:
- How to defeat the TV remote control

I think the TV remote analogy was awesome. I've learned from experience if someone is telling a story I don't really have any connection with, I'm usually not very interested and engaged in the story they're telling. I agree that it is very important for people to find topics that include emotions or feelings that many people can connect with. For instance, The Boston Bombing. If someone is telling a sad heartfelt story, a majority of the people reading are going to have the same sort of emotions while listening to the story. Each story told, should try to include as many people as possible. Imagery is also key, because you want your listeners to be able to feel like they're experiencing the story rather than just listening.
- Be conversational

I don't know if I completely agree with the conversational statement, because although someone may be a very intelligent person who writes real well, they may not use correct grammar, and could even make the listeners judge the person for how they talk. For instance, I know many girls that are very intelligent but if they're adding words such as "like" and other teenage girl slang, they might not come across as well as someone who has correct grammar and doesn't include much slang.
- Gobbledygook and clichés

I think it is very important to avoid any "Gobbledygook" and cliches. There is a lot of slang in our society these days and you don't want to confuse the listener. People also need to remember to be creative and use their own words/phrases rather than using all sorts of cliches.
- Active voice

Active voice is SO important in stories. Nobody wants verbiage in the story, people just want to know the main point with important details. Using active voice can prevent the story teller from rambling and boring the listener. It's important to make the listeners feel involved and with active voice, which produces more imagery in the story. 

- Write in threes

I feel like writing in threes isn't that important in story telling. I could see how it could be somewhat effective but overall I feel like it's kind of pointless. I think there's a better chance that people will remember vivid images rather than a chunk of words.
- Surprises

I love surprises! I think they are an awesome component to any story! There's nothing better than reading or listening to a story, then it instantly changes up and shocks the listener. Surprises really help the listener stay engaged because when the story begins to twist a little bit, it makes them want to hear what happens next! Overall I think surprises are very fun for the listener and even the story teller!

Read this story and watch this one (a bit of a sports theme this week). Write two paragraphs (one about each) that explains how the story uses/handles at least three of these aspects. Give specific examples (100 words in each paragraph, so at least 200 total words)

The story about Nick and Nate winning $50,000 and returning it all, was so inspirational. There are very few people that would return all that money. It was definitely a huge surprise. I had no clue that the boys were going to decide to return the money but they did, which was pretty shocking to me. Another aspect that was included in the story was active voice. The article explained "Nate started going bonkers at the other end of the ice, high-fiving and pogo-sticking." It created the image in my head that he was completely ecstatic and so surprised. Another aspect included was the conversational aspect. Without getting off topic or rambling, the story teller explained how the boys switched classes one day to pretend to be the other which was just a little detail to show that you really couldn't tell the two boys apart. (149)

The story about the parents with 12 boys who all played football was unbelievable. It was a very interesting story to listen to. There was a lot of active voice included when the reporter explained about all 12 of the boys playing football. There was even active voice when the mom explained how the boys wanted to keep the green carpet because it resembled a football field to them. The story was very conversational. The mom included how she was so sad that she was watching her youngest son's last football game. It really showed her passion for watching her boys play. The surprise that was included was that although she was heartbroken that it was her last game to watch her son, she was excited to watch many of her 49 grandchildren participate in the same sport. (138 words) 

Walldo (Elf Movie Remake)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMikLMpwPx4

Cross Country Team Runs Ball Far

This is how a story is put together.
For the Cross Country story we watch in class, describe these 6 steps. 

1st We come up with a Topic:
Mahtomedi's cross country team wanted to celebrate homecoming with their team, so they came up with their own idea to celebrate.

2nd We decide on a Focus Statement:
Cross Country Team Runs Ball Far

3rd:  We Conduct Interviews to get Sound Bites to use in the interview:
"Our Cross Country team holds traditions very dear to us"

4th We Shoot B-Roll to complement the sound bites
Overhead shot following them running

5th  We Shoot our stand-up
The reporter explains what the runners are doing, and why.

6th:  We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Seques between interviews.
The voice overs are added because  people may get confused if they're only listening to people get interviewed right after each other.