Pages 55-71

1.  In this weekly response I found many things very relevant and interesting, for instance, that any person can become a storyteller they just need to believe in what they are talking about.  He specifically says that "good writing is timeless".  Which I totally agree with. Whenever you read a good piece of writing, it is hard to forget about. I also found it interesting that he said pictures are powerful and are what commonly provokes people.  As a photographer, I am little biased towards pictures in the whole photos vs. writing debate, because I think that a simple photo can speak a million words. And Dotson seemed to agree, that photos are also just as powerful as good writing.

2. Breast cancer fundraiser gains relevance in Austin; Sunday Feb. 3, 2013 10pm

3. 

-When Barb starts crying, this is a cry of grief and you can tell that it breaks her heart to talk about this

-The pink flag waving, with the flag rattling and being pink 

- A woman talks about when Barb first came to town and she said "How can I help?", you can tell impacts the woman because you know from the way she says it that she cannot believe this is happening to Barb..someone she is close with now

- Cars driving up and down the street. 

4.

- Over the Shoulder Shot, this shot shows a woman get her toes done at a salon and talking about Barb when she first came to town.

- Cutaway, this shot is of the hockey team wearing pink jerseys with pink ice and shows how Austin takes cancer awareness very seriously.

-CU, Of a button that says "Wear pink in honor of" and then written in underneath is Barbs name. I think that this is interesting because it shows that Barb has made a large impact on the town. 

-Wide shots, of Barb looking at pictures of her husband who recently passed away from cancer,  and listening to her talk about how she really hopes that this is the last of the cancer in her family.

5. Town Paints the Streets Pink

6. The story utilizes Dotson's "building blocks" in ways that draw in the attention of those listening to the story. One of the blocks that I  recognized was silence. In this story silence was particularly a good thing to have to show the significance of how people in the town of Austin have been affected by this news. Silence really helped create that dramatic effect and feel the pain that the rest of the town was feelings. I think that the natural sounds are very important in this story and help to bring together the whole story and show how the community will always be there for Barb. These are just two particular building blocks that stood out to me specifically, I do believe the story holds all the blocks though; words, pictures,silence, natural sounds, soundbites, and graphics. 

Mudhouse Video Breakdown

B-Roll (CU) *Coffee pot brewing coffee*	(Sound of the blender to represent the Mudhouse employees making coffee)
Reporter Stand-Up *Reporter is standing inside the Mudhouse* *Shows customers in line for their cold drinks*	“For coffee shops like the Mudhouse there is one way to beat the heat, and that’s to offer refreshing, cold drinks.”
B-Roll (CU) *Whip cream being put on a cold drink*	To show what the cold drinks look like
Sound Bite (interview) *Worker talking*	“Ya know, during the summer months we ice most of our drinks. A lot of our customers still need there caffeine fix so if they get a latte they’ll get an iced latte instead.” *ice in the background* *ladies drinking cold drinks*
Sound Bite (interview) *Guy at a table talking*	“Pretty typically I like a nice, hot cup of coffee, but in the summer I like come in and get a cool drink” *cool drink being made in the background*
Sound Bite (interview) *Lady shown by coffee pots*	“They said coffee can actually cool you down, rather than drinking cold sodas and stuff.” *coffee being made* *chalk board with drinks*
B-Roll (angled shot)	*Girl makes frozen drink for a customer*

Run and Gun Interviews

1.  What is a "Run and Gun" interview? When can we use a "Run and Gun" interview?
One or two questions, usually right after the thing has happened. Informal, don't have a tripod
 2.  What is the first thing you should do BEFORE starting off for the interview?
Test the equipment before you leave
3.  Why do you think we should ask for permission?
Its polite, legal aspects and sometimes people don't always want to do it.
4.  Why should we always ask the interviewee to state and spell their names?
So that you know who you are interviewing
5.  Where should we place the microphone?
Never give the mic to someone. hang loss
6.  Should we hand the mic to the interviewee?
NO
7.  The photographer is responsible for the sound levels.  What are two things the photog should be aware of?
Looking at the sound meters, making sure they are at the proper level. Background noise.
8.  COMPOSITION:  How we should frame our interview shot:
a.  Eyes on ___third________
b.  2 Eyes One _____ear_____
c.  Camera should be Higher, Even, or Lower than subject?
d.  Talking space or ___nose_____ Room


BACKGROUNDS:
9. Avoid shooting in front of  _____widow _______.

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?
At the parking lot
12.  What is a demonstration interview and what are the benefits?
Become comfortable and interesting.

Interviews

Start with talking about something that has nothing to do with your topic
Say first and last name and spell is
Last thing you want to ask is there anything else you want to add
Avoid verbal responses to the interview
Let them fill in the silence

Camera shot breakdown

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)  CU putting on apron
2)  Cut to rolling up sleeve
3)   ECU shaving wood to make bow
4)  CU of the man working
5)   Interview shot (just head) of man responding and speaking
6)  WS man examining wood
7) CU hitting the wood
8) OPP 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) CU 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) shot interview of man and responses
20) Zooming 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) CU of the man a face shot
26) VWS chiseling wood and working
27) WS finished polished bow

Overall I thought that this video was really interesting because of the camera work. Normally I would not find a video on bow making very interesting, but because the camera work was so well done it kept me watching. The video had many unique angles and points of view that kept the audience entertained and focused.  I learned that even though the topic or subject matter that you’re shooting may not be all that interesting, if you find a way to shoot it well your viewer can become interested in it.  What I took out of this is that it is important to be creative when filming.

WALLDO Video

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

Cross Country Team Runs Ball Far

1st We come up with a Topic: Cross Country team runs ball to homecoming game
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."
4th We Shoot B-Roll to complement the sound bites: Running, overhead shot
5th  We Shoot our stand-up: Passing off the football is/ Linking shot
6th:  We Edit our story together adding Voice Overs as Seques between interviews.

Reading pages 43-55

Somethings that I found interesting in the story was the part where it said "this piece tells a story half a century old". It got me excited to read the passage and learn more about the untold story of Pearl Harbor. In the story Alfred Preis stated "When they took the wedding ring away from me I broke down". I found this terrible and it made me think about the little things that happen in war. People don't realize what those men who go and fight for our country. Obviously people die, but some people who make it out are permanently scared for life. I agree with when Dotson told use about gobbledygook and how it confuses people. I think that if we take out the clichés and gobbledygook like he said it will create a stronger story that isn’t as confusing. As a writer the things that I will take out of this story will be his way of adding important information. He adds very important information with out even really trying. So what I am going to take out of this is that every little bit of info can have a big effect on my stories.

 

The story about the 11-year old boy who made the $50,000 shot and how he did the right thing incorporated many of Dotson’s aspects that we read about. I think first and for most the biggest aspect was surprise. Two examples of this were one when the boys didn’t ever think that they would be called to take the shot. I was surprised that Nick’s name was called but Nate ended up taking the shot for his brother. I also thought another surprise in this story was when the boys wanted to give back the $50,000 because they felt it was wrong that the other twin took the shot and they lied. Another aspect that I found in the story that correlated with what we learned was when we learned about defeating the TV remote. I think that this story was clear and accurate and kept the reader wanting to learn about the story. The story had many little details that kept the reader intertwined and wanting to read on and not quit the article in the middle.

 

In the story, End of a 12-son football dynasty for Minn. Family, I think that the main things that was done really well in this story was that it had the ability to defeat to the TV remote control. While I was watching this video there wasn't a moment that I wanted to turn it off. It had me intrigued the entire time. The story was unique and heartwarming enough to keep the audience captivated. There also was an element of surprise in the story. Yes, I was expecting there to be 12 sons, but I was not expecting them to all have play football for the same high school. Meaning that that family has had 24 consecutive seasons of football in their family, which is unbelievable at first, but really intriguing and unique.

 

Stand Ups

1.  What is the lead in this story?  Does it intrigue you to keep watching?
"It's hard to imagine that something like this could happen in such a quiet neighborhood." Yes, it does intrigue you, because you want to know what he is talking about.
2.  What are the 5W's of this story:  Who, What, Where, When, Why
Who: Heather Berg
What:Someone broke into her house
Where: In her house/ neighborhood 
When: Fall,
Why: Easy to get into the house because of the doggy door
3.   Give an example of the reporters Voice over or seque (Write it down word for word)
When they are shooting footage around the house, he talks about what the thieves stole.

4.  When do we see the reporter's stand-up?  Beginning, Middle, or End?

5.  What is the purpose of this reporter's stand-up?
To take us to a whole different setting and show us where another break in happened.

 Stand Up

• Move story Forward 
•  Reporter becomes B-Roll
• Take me to the scene 
• Use props 
• Be creative and surprise us

Make it Memorable

The way he writes

I agreed with you that the writer of the book had a certain kind of spark that made it very easy to read. I thought it was cool how he would build off of every comment he made. He wouldn’t just say something and not back it up. Something else that Dotson did to make it very easy to read was use examples. I saw it as an attempt to help you understand what he was talking about.

What I learned from the passage 9 to 27

I learned that we all can tell better stories immediately by remembering. By the he meant that telling a story from sheer memory is a lot easier than remembering hazy parts of the story. Some things that Dotson went into detail were: The rule of the threes, Filling the silence, and the non-question/question. Those are three suggestions that Dotson gave us to make our stories better even under the tightest deadline.

Other interesting parts about the script

I thought the context that Dotson used was interesting. The way he wrote the book was pretty cool. There are parts where it’s almost like a paper. With the introduction body paragraphs and conclusion. And also other parts that are really messy. He also doesn’t really have any type of arrangement. It seems like he started writing and just threw everything down on the paper.