Each group of three or four students will create a short video production (2-3 minute)  that relates to a children's book.  The piece may be a re-enactment, a spoof, an ad, a mock documentary, or some combination of these.  Scripts should be approved by Jeff before you begin shooting.

Click here for grading guidelines for video production.

The following outline is a good general approach to the production process, suitable for use in a variety of situations.

A.  Planning and Scripting
Begin by brainstorming, then further refine your ideas into a script.  For fictional programs, EACH SHOT should be detailed, with information about camera placement, movement, and framing, as well as what happens in the shot, what is said and what sound effects or music will be heard.  This can be done in a two column (video and audio) format, or as a drawn story board.

B. Student Release From (in English)     (in Spanish)
If you will be using students in your video program, it is essential that you have on file for each student you will tape a student release form signed by a parent or guardian.  The school may have this already, but you need to check and get a copy.

C.  Shooting
Once you have a script, you should begin the shooting process. You will be editing this tape heavily, so go ahead and shoot plenty of footage. (Click here for Camera Techniques for practice.)

D.  Logging
The next step will be for you to watch the footage you gathered and write down everything that is on your tape so it will be easy to find.

E.  Organizing Your Program
Your tape should be approximately 2-3 minutes long, so organization is key.  Once you have logged the footage, you should determine how you want to sequence the elements you will keep. (Even for fictional  programs, you may want to adjust your script at this point.) For documentary work, you can brainstorm possible approaches is to make a "paper edit": note on 3x5 cards the images you want to use (one per card) and try moving them around in different orders to visualize what works best.

G.  Editing
You will be doing your editing digitally, using Macintoshes and iMovie digital video editing software. Editing involves selectively copying portions of your footage into the computer, cutting and rearranging this footage, inserting narration and other audio, and adding titles. For tips on using this software, click here.

H.  Copying the Tape
Hook up the camcorder to a VHS VCR and make two VHS copies of your tape, one to turn in to me and one for yourself as backup.