I-Speak Guide

YOUR I-SPEAK GUIDE TO PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT

Completing Your Storyboarding

Please bring a copy of your completed storyboards to class next week, February 7th. You will be eventually handing in a copy of it when your film is complete. ANY resources you can bring to class will only expedite your project. Here is a list of potential items you could get done over the week besides completing your storyboard.

• Record your voiceover
• Record Live Video
• Bring in Quicktime Files or Videos for your movie
• Bring in Music/.Mp3
• Bring Props if you need to film

I. The Concept

Before you do anything you may want to sit down and first draw up a blueprint for how you would like to approach your DV. Check out some of the I-Speaks below for different approaches (or make up a new one)

Sonnet 130

Fat Is Not a Fairy Tale

Jane Yolen

The Immaculate Monster Project

Bums in the Attic

Art and Appearances

II. The Visuals

The following are some of the choices you have for planning your Storyboards. While different projects will have different approaches, I will almost always recommend live video. While still images and words on the screen can be used effectively, they should be used more like spices than main ingredients. So here is a list of possibilities. Of course possibilities lie within each possibility.

1. Live Video

With a video camcorder a kid has to make a personal decision about what around them can represent an idea. There is nothing quite like. Conceptual video is in many cases more desirable because it demonstrates a deeper level of understanding. Model this with kids, asking them how they might film anger, happiness, love (that might be risque) etc..... With that being said, sometimes a literal shot can be the perfect shot, there are no definite fast rules, rather soft guidelines. Here are some soft rules to filming great shots....

• Close ups and mid shots work well in classrooms. They are more visual as well, focusing the viewer on the concept of what is being filmed rather than a larger scene.
• When you begin, stick with keeping the camera still. Have your movement occur within the frame.
• Lighting. Natural is best. Always, always, always behind the lens. Unless you want a freaky effect, which I have seen work!
• Short is better than long. As a novice, I would recommend a five second rule, generally falling closer to 2 seconds or less.

2. Primary Video
There are tons of sites where you can find Quicktime Movies or other files which IMovie will except. Using primary video can be powerful and gives student the palette of humanity to work with. Two easy ways include converting YouTube and other Flash Movies into .MOV's (that is the acceptable to Imovie) Simply copy the link where you found the video and paste it into this site.
You can also find tons of really cool archived films at archive.org including the Prelinger Archives and Classic Cartoons, all of which can be incredibly powerful in the right spot in a video. I will be modeling these techniques in class.

3. Titles.

Words on the screen for a second can be powerfully simple. You can also superimpose titles on visuals.

4. Still Images.

My least favorite. Can they work? Yes. Absolutely. BUT, that is usually the exception not the rule. Do you know what you call music, titles, a vice and pictures? Powerpoint. If you do use any be sure they do not zoom in unless you want them too (they will automatically be programmed to do this)

III Breaking up Your Text

Eventually you will have to figure out HOW you will break up your text. The method you use will be determined in your overall concept. Try to develop the big idea first, rather than going in an hacking up the text line by line. Remember you are allowed to change your shots, so nothing is cement.

IV. Voice overs and Picking Music

Record your voiceover as many times as you need to until you feel you got it right. You do not have to only constrict your voiceover to your own voice, my suggestion, do whatever works! You will be recording your voice right into your DV camera. Just point it at your face, hit the record button and talk away!

We will discuss the copyright dilemma and responsibility in class. To avoid DJ Jazzy Curse-a-lot, steer yourselves and your kids to a great online copyright free site such as www.freeplaymusic.com
Remember when downloading music you always want the files that end with .MP3 or .WAV

V. Special Effects

For many of us, we may hold off on planning for effects but you should be aware you have this option. In many cases you will play with these tools in the edit process and discover your own unique ways of changing your film using them. Here is a list of some of the more important and used effects that may alter the way you storyboard.

• Fast and Slow Effect. The amount of concept and mood you can extract out of these features is truly endless.
• Rain, Fog and Lightning.
• Black and White, Old Aged Film and Sepia
• There are roughly 15 effects, you can check them out on your own!

The Rubric

For future projects rubric creation will be part of the fold. For our first DV, I would rather have you concentrate on concept and technological skills. Therefore I will be using an I-Speak Rubric to assess your films. The rubric also served to facilitate you in creating spectacular content! Your final DV project will be worth 20 points.

I-Speak Rubric

	5 Hollywood Baby	4 Studio Arena	3 Middle School Theater	2 Drunk Wedding Video
Storyboard	Storyboard is complete. Voiceover, visuals and camera direction have all been included. A strong guide for your film production.	Storyboard is complete. May be missing variables, however its value can still be seen in your DV's production.	Storyboard is incomplete. While some scenes have been preplanned, the storyboards appears to be done carelessly.	Storyboard? What is that?
Audio	Voiceover clear and drives emotion during the film. Music is appropriate and supports the text and overall film.	Voiceover is clear. Music is appropriate.	Voiceover may contain digressions and/or errors. Music may interfere with the overall presentation.	Music conflicts with the film. Voiceover is weak and contains multiple errors.
Visual	Live video makes up the majority of film. Shots are framed and powerful. Visuals contain a level of professionalism.	Live Video makes up the majority of film. Shots may at times be less than spectacular.	Live video does not make up the majority of the film. Video is primarily still images and/or titles.	Live video is a no-go.
Overall Flow	FOUR STARS Film has good flow. The audience is carried through comfortably. The editing process has been used effectively to create a true work of art.	THREE STARS Film has flow. Editing process has been utilized to create a good final product.	TWO STARS Film has flow at times. There may be editing errors which take away from the overall presentation.	ONE STAR Film lacks flow. Little to no editing has been completed.

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