Unleash Your Storytelling Skills Through Multimedia Production

Pre-Production Multimedia Broadcast

*When you are tasked with creating a video for a website or a broadcast, why are you creating it? *Because it was fun? *Because your teacher said so? *Or, because there is a story to be told?

*Be a StorytellerPart 1

*Lets start with what you did last weekend. *Who has a story to tell? (volunteer)

* For those who did not volunteer to tell their story, what can you tell us about your classmate s weekend? * Did the story have a beginning? * Did the story have a middle? * Did the story have a end? * Who were the main people involved? * Where did the story take place? * When specifically did the story take place? *Was this story newsworthy to the class?

*Did you catch all of the important details? *If not, you need to learn to pay attention to the details now. *Whether with a pencil and paper, or through electronic means, keep notes! *What if you had to go back and create a story based off an informal interview with a subject who did not want to be on camera? *What was that they said again?

* In groups of 2-3, come up with another story about something one of your group members has done recently. * Chose one member of the group to present the story, be sure to get the important details: * How did this story begin? * Does the story have a middle or conflict? * How did the story end? * Who were the main people involved? * What made this story newsworthy or worth telling? * Where did the story take place? * When specifically did the story take place?

*When other groups are telling their story, each person should keep brief notes. *Don t try to write everything down, most interviewees will speak quickly and not want to repeat themselves. * Ex: This past Saturday, John and I went to the local coffee shop where we drank coffee and studied for our upcoming history quiz. * Notes: Sat., John, Amy, coffeehouse, studies history *Let s try that again

*Each group should present its story. *How different are the notes of your group members? From the class? *Put it into action

*Be a StorytellerPart 2

*The Purpose of the Project Why are we doing this?

*You have heard examples of simple or not so simple stories from your classmates. *Some of them might have been newsworthy for your school s broadcast. *Some of them might have been newsworthy for the local media. *Now you will be tasked with planning out a news story before it happens. *What makes your story newsworthy?

*In your small groups, create a list of five events that might be considered newsworthy coming up at your school. *When your group has their best five, write them on the board. *Best doesn t always mean the first five you think of.

*Examples could include: * Upcoming school deadlines * Upcoming after-school events * Upcoming sporting events * Many other things *Try to think of the harder to find stories

*Once all groups have listed their top five, lets discuss as a class to come up with the five most newsworthy stories that your broadcast should cover. *What would be most important to viewers?

*Lets look at your top news story. * What is the purpose of this story? * Who needs to know? * Why do they need to know? * Where is it taking place? * Who is the target audience of the finished piece? *Getting a plan together

*Many newsrooms ask their reporters to submit project proposals before committing many different staff members to work on a project. *Project proposals allow news directors to take a snapshot look at what your plan would be once you were on the scene. *Project proposals are also used in creative ventures inside the multimedia field. *The Project Proposal

* Use the information that you have (as of now) to submit a project proposal to the news director. * What is the title of your project? * What is the purpose of your project? * How long will your proposed story be? * Who will you need to interview for this story? * What is the essential information? (aside from information you may learn during interviews) * Where is the location of the story? * Do you need special permission to film in this place? * How long do you estimate you will need to film? * How long do you estimate you will need to edit the story? * When does the story need to air by to be relevant?

*Be a StorytellerPart 3

*Lets assume that your project proposal has been approved by your news director. *Your next step is to create an outline for your news story or interview. *Outlining a Story/ Interview

* Outlining a story * An outline should be a functional document that guides you through the production process. * What are the main points? * Where does this story start? * Who are the key players? * How will this story likely end? * What do we need to make sure we acquire footage of? * See video on next slide *Outlining a Story/ Interview

* Outlining an interview * An outline should be a functional document that guides you through the production process * Who do we need to interview? * What are the three questions we must have answered? * Are there any possible follow-up questions that you think you need to ask? * What do we need to make sure we acquire footage of? *Outlining a Story/ Interview

*Scheduling is as important of any step in the pre-production process. *Because your story will be done in school, it will be possible to schedule in person. *What scheduling concepts should be kept in mind in a school setting? *Final Preparations

*Scheduling concepts: * Teachers teach classes. * Administrators often have busy schedules. * Fellow students are in fact students, which means they are in school to attend class. * School staff members are not just sitting and waiting to be interviewed. *Final Preparations

*Scheduling tips: * Try to ask teachers their permission between classes. They may allow you to interview them during an actual class period. * If you want to interview a students, ask them first, then get a teacher s permission if they need to miss any period of class. * If an administrator has an assistant, ask if you can make an appointment. * Ask staff members to set up future interviews whenever possible. *Final Preparations