6. PRE-PRODUCTION AND CREATING YOUR STORY

• Television Journalism
• Higher Education (degree)

Unit 32 Interview and Presentation Skills 

6: Pre-Production Paperwork, Scripting and Creating Your Story

Lecturer: Lynda Bryans

So far in this unit you have...

• Explained the key features and purpose of interviews and presentations (LO1)

AND

• Illustrated the technical requirements for the set up and recording of interviews and presentations for different media (LO2) 
• WHAT'S NEXT? 

Today you will

Prepare to...

• Carry out and record an interview, based on research, in response to an identified topic (LO3)
• Present excerpts from an interview, and related research, to explain an identified topic (LO4)

Task 2 - Plan and Shoot your 3-minute Factual piece

This task includes both the pre-production planning and the shooting of your footage (to include an interview, narration and cutaways). In addition to recording your footage, you must:

Plan the content for your packaged report or documentary (the content/topic of which should be pre-agreed with your lecturers Keith and Lynda). Carry out all necessary pre-production requirements including risk assessment, booking filming equipment, liaising with interviewee(s), location scouting, structuring your report, researching content, preparing appropriate questions and follow up areas, creating a scripted voiceover and notes and following the normal codes and conventions of television reporting or documentary production.

Include a completed production portfolio – incorporating a shooting schedule, a shot list, an equipment decision report (a 1 pager), and a paper edit. And any other visual development material you found useful e.g., evidence of test shoots/experimental shoots.

Shoot the news piece/documentary and make sure that you complete an illustrated report in which should outline and reflect on your camera procedures and decisions during your shoot (this diary must contain images to act as evidence of you completing the camera work).  Unit 81 LO2 LO3 Unit 32 LO3

This task is due on 06/12/22 during class to be reviewed for feedback. The summative deadline for the unit is 13/01/23. 

So, what's your story?

• A day in the life of...(Cats Protection/Dogs Trust/Assisi Animal Sanctuary/a chef/a taxi driver/a nurse/a farmer)
• Behind the scenes at...(A busy restaurant/an amateur theatre production, etc)
• Why I do what I do...(Drag queen/Charity volunteer/A carer/an unusual job)
• The human cost of living (follow a student/elderly person/busy mum on a budget)
• National Days eg: 3rd November - Small Business Saturday; Friday 9th Dec Christmas Jumper Day;
• Do you feel passionately about a cause? eg: Veganism, Animal cruelty, mental health... why not explore one of these things? 
• Top tips for a cheaper Christmas 
• To ink or not to ink - why we love tattoos
• I live with illness...
• How our Student's Union can help YOU
• Wear 'n' Share - Belfast Met's clothing sustainability scheme
• What have politicians ever done for young people? 
• Whatever other ideas you might come up with...

Whatever it is, you MUST conduct at least TWO interviews.

BEFORE YOU EVEN START - Do your research.

• What do you know about the subject?  Fact check!
• Do proper research - speak to ACTUAL PEOPLE - Not just online research (don't tell us more of what we already know - this is called 'churnalism' not journalism!)
• DON'T just interview your mates - contact an expert or someone who is an authority on the subject - will they do an interview on camera? 
• Please remember this module is all about the INTERVIEW and your PRESENTATION of the interview!

Pre-Production Paperwork

• Risk Assessment - you MUST complete one of these for any filming 
• Location Release Form - signed permissions to film at the location
• Contributor Release Form - signed permission to use the interview
• Filming Schedule - details of what you're doing, where and when and with whom
• Equipment Booking - do this verbally and confirm with Stephen/Marty in an EMAIL
• Form templates for RA/Location/Contributor releases can be found on  TEAMS:  (Unit 32 Folder) : Pre-Production Paperwork

Think about a structure...

In a line, what's the story? 

Put together the 5 W's: Who/why/what/where/when (and HOW)

Think about INTERVIEWS - who can speak knowledgeably about the story? (Find at least 2 INTERVIWEES)

Structure your story from there.

AGAIN - RESEARCH!

• Your subject - be clear about what the story is
• Your interviewees - speak to them in person before you turn up with a camera (do a pre-interview for research purposes first)
• What pictures do you need and WHERE - Is a location available and do you have permission to film there?
• What facts and information do you need? Have you fact-checked with the experts and not just 'googled'? 
• Where can you do a Piece-to-Camera?
• WHEN can you film it? (Is a camera available? Is your interviewee available?) 
• What's your timeline? Work backwards from your deadline date for formative!

Take a moment now...

Write down 3 IDEAS you could turn into a 3 minute package (story)

2 people you could interview about each one

1 must be a voice of authority on your subject(s)

Feed back your ideas :)

Let's try turning your idea into a package by creating an AV script. Look at the example on TEAMS (Dogs Trust story)

belfastmetuat.sharepoint.com

Could you turn your story into an AV script?

Let's do one together...

belfastmetuat.sharepoint.com

Now YOU do your own...

Use the AV Script template in TEAMS 

Have 5 questions for each interviewee (think about what you WANT them to say) 

Today you have... 

Begun planning your news/feature package

Discussed the necessary pre-production paperwork

  (Risk Assessment, Schedule, AV Script, Permissions etc)

This will enable you to...

Task 2 - Plan and Shoot your 3 minute Factual piece

This task includes both the pre-production planning and the shooting of your footage (to include an interview, narration and cutaways). In addition to recording your footage, you must:

Plan the content for your packaged report or documentary (the content/topic of which should be pre-agreed with your lecturers Keith and Lynda). Carry out all necessary pre-production requirements including risk assessment, booking filming equipment, liaising with interviewee(s), location scouting, structuring your report, researching content, preparing appropriate questions and follow up areas, creating a scripted voiceover and notes and following the normal codes and conventions of television reporting or documentary production.

Include a completed production portfolio – incorporating a shooting schedule, a shot list, an equipment decision report (a 1 pager), and a paper edit. And any other visual development material you found useful e.g., evidence of test shoots/experimental shoots.

Shoot the news piece/documentary and make sure that you complete an illustrated report in which should outline and reflect on your camera procedures and decisions during your shoot (this diary must contain images to act as evidence of you completing the camera work).  Unit 81 LO2 LO3 Unit 32 LO3

This task is due on 06/12/22 during class to be reviewed for feedback. The summative deadline for the unit is 13/01/23. 

Which deals with LO3 and LO4

• Carry out and record an interview, based on research, in response to an identified topic (LO3)
• Present excerpts from an interview, and related research, to explain an identified topic (LO4)

Any Questions?