WALLDO video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9bU_gJrfI

Dotson part 2

This section was very interesting to me. In this section, I learned techniques of how to engage the reader and keep him engaged. It was interesting how he said to collect information that appeals to the audience as well. This will be very important to creating a good story. The Pearl Harbor story was very interesting also, I liked how it highlighted emotions throughout the story. I understand when he says "don't overwhelm the viewers with information". I feel like that is why a lot of people don't watch the news anymore or read the newspaper, because it's so much information people get bored and don't want to watch it. That being said, you shouldn't just throw a bunch of information at your audience its overwhelming.
So, Dotson highlights the following:
- How to defeat the TV remote control -
- Be conversational
- Gobbledygook and clichés
- Active voice
- Write in threes
- Surprises
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 certainly has an active voice all the way through, up until the end when it ends with a question. The writer of this piece was also a big talker and the tone was as if the writer was talking conversationally to the reader. Since he wrote like he would speak it made the piece interesting and appealing to the reader. This piece also included surprises. The outcome was unpredictable and obtained the viewer's attention. It was very interesting and the story captured my focus. While reading I was shocked that the boys and family told the officials what really happened and was even more surprised by the great response they received from it afterwards. 

This news story definitely was better than the TV remote control. There was a lot of emotions throughout this story. Dotson wrote "People want something from your writing. Happiness. Understanding. Insight." This story did exactly that. Parts in this story created images for the audience such as when the mother states that when they bought their house it had a green carpet and a natural playing ground for their 12 boys. The narrator of this story had a great voice and it made the story more natural.

Dotson 3-41

ASSIGNMENT FOR FRIDAY:
Regarding the book by Bob Dotson, Make It Memorable: Please read the introduction and Section One (pages 3-41). Then, answer the following questions and be sure to exceed the requested word counts:
o What do you notice about the way he writes? Use specific examples, please. (75 words)
There are a few things that I notice about Bob Dotson's writing style. For one, he uses a lot of examples, and explains everything thoroughly. I understand exactly what he is talking about most of the time. Another thing that I notice is he uses detail. He goes much in depth with his detail. Almost every sentence contains an example or a detailed statement. I find this style easier to read and more comfortable because its like I am having a conversation with him.
o What did you learn from reading pages 9 to 27? (75 words)
I learned a few important steps to having great camerawork. On page 11 he talks about the Non-Question/Question. It is a technique to getting key soundbites out of shy people. He gives a great example in the book, but what he does, is start by talking about something common between the cameraman and the interviewee. Then, once they are having a conversation, he says something that sparks the final question.





o With the scripts: What do suppose is described in each column? Why would it be split like that?
What else is interesting about the scripts? (50 words)
My best guess to the scripts is they are split to show topics. The right side is the dialogue and the left side is the shot they are going to get. Overall I do not like the scripts. They are confusing and irrelevant in my opinion. They could be useful if they were modified a bit.
o On Page 34 (and to the end of the section), Dotson writes about a long-form feature. Find one of these (a story at least 4 minutes long) on a TV news magazine such as Rock Center, 20/20 or 60 Minutes. Then, give and explain examples of how the storyteller uses the five bulleted traits Dotson gives on Page 34. (200 words)

• Scene- The scene takes place in California. They start by doing a wide shot of the news reporter over the beach. Then they set the scene by explaining what happened. The shots contained pictures of the women and the family and friends.
• Foreshadowing- They used foreshadowing by telling what happened to the women, but they left you thinking of why she went missing, and how.
• Conflict- The conflict is a women is lost for 11 years and finally found. People thought she had died and fortunately it turned out to be not true.
• Character Growth- For character growth was the woman came back after 11 years to return with her family.
• Resolution- The resolution is the woman returned home after being with the homeless for 11 years, which was good news.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Today you will be taking notes on Focus Statements and Camera Techniques


1. What is a Focus Statement? Define Defines what your story is going to be about.

2. Why do we need a Focus Statement? You need one because your story wont make sense.

3. Give an example of a Focus Statement sentence. girls make dressing for homecoming

4. Give an example of a Focus Statement in 3 words: (Subject-Verb-Object)
Girls make dresses


5. What are the 6 Essential Equipment items you need with you when shooting an interview?

Camera Tripod Microphone Batteries Media Headphones

6. Why is a tripod important?
Keeps the footage still and focused.
7. The Tripod is my _____________
Friend
8. Define: Pan
Moving the camera horizontally
9. Define: Tilt
Moving the camera verically
10. Why are headphones important?
Because you want to hear the quality of the audio.

11. Why is it important to TEST YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE YOU GO ON SHOOT!

Make sure everything works good.

12. Define Wide shot:
Establishing shot
Location
13. Why do we need a wide shot?
Shows surroundings

14. Define Medium shot:
focus on specific area

15. Why do we need a medium shot?
More detail

16. Define a tight shot.
close up
17. Why do we need a tight shot?
lots of detail
18. What is a sequence?

19. Why do we need a sequence?

1.  What is the lead in this story?  Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
-robbery in a quiet neighborhood, it interests me because i want to know what happened
2.  What are the 5W's of this story:  Who, What, Where, When, Why
-heather burg in quiet neighborhood in denver got robbed through the doggie door recently
3.   Give an example of the reporters Voice over or seque (Write it down word for word)
-in this case, she is going to keep a better eye on what crawls in or out her back doggie door
4.  When do we see the reporter's stand-up?  Beginning, Middle, or End?
-middle
5.  What is the purpose of this reporter's stand-up?
-to explain more about the story through other robberies nearby while putting a face to the voice


-move story forward
-reporter becomes b roll
-take me to the scene
-use props
-be creative and surprise us

1.  Identify and explain as many WALLDO shots as you can.
angled- on the deck, low- with dog, depth- the wind chimes, linking- wind chime, opposite- toaster
2.  What is Natural Sound?
the sound you would hear if you were actually there.

3.  Identify several examples of Natural Sound in this story?
piano, dog barking

4.  How does Natural Sound enhance the story?
adds emotion and music

Walldo

Wide
Angled
Low
Linking- Connecting 2 shots
Depth
Opposite- Action/Reaction