This lesson is all about action. Students move beyond planning and dive into the hands-on work of filming their stories. It’s where ideas meet technique. Instead of just pressing record, they’ll learn how to frame shots that draw people in, capture sound that’s easy to hear, and use lighting to create focus and depth, all with tools they likely already have, like a smartphone.
Students will:
Estimated time: 15 minutes
Estimated time: 15 minutes
Estimated time: 15 minutes
Estimated time: 15 minutes
Media refers to all electronic or digital means and print or artistic visuals used to transmit messages.
A group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood). It can also be a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.
Local information and events are newsworthy because they affect the people in our community and region. We care more about things that happen “close to home.”
People are attracted to information that helps them make good decisions. If you like music, you find musician interviews relevant. If you’re looking for a job, the business news is relevant. We need to depend on relevant information that helps us make decisions.
In news, it’s a story’s point or theme. It's the lens through which the producer or writer filters the information they have gathered and focuses it to make it meaningful to viewers or readers.
The people who read, watch and consume news. Often, journalists think about audience and newsworthiness in similar ways. How will the news story serve their local or national audience? Who am I writing the story for and why?
A conversation between two or more people where the purpose is to gather information and facts. The interviewer asks questions and the interviewee provides information based on their knowledge about a specific topic or issue.
An account of past or current events. In journalism, stories are presented with a combination of people, facts, and typically includes a beginning, middle and end.
A person or other physical being in a narrative. Stories are made up of different characters who provide information and help shape the narrative with their knowledge, experience and perspective.
A document with transcribed (written-out) soundbites and voiceover narration. A VIDEO script is a two-column document with the audio (soundbites and voice over) in the right-hand column and a description of what the audience sees (visuals) in the left-hand column.
When violence strikes or when people argue about actions, events, ideas or policies, we care. Conflict and controversy attract our attention by highlighting problems or differences within the community or between groups. Sometimes conflict can be subtle and manifest as tension.
The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. A generally definition is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. In media-making, creators can have empathy for their subjects and the audience can empathize with the characters.
Narration done by a broadcast reporter, usually reading from a script. The reporter's voice is recorded over a sequence of video clips that tell a story.
A sequence is a series of shots of an action or scene. A classic action sequence consists of a combination of at least three shots of an action in sequential order.
A document with the details of each shot of the scene or action sequence you plan to record. It contains the Shot Number, Composition/Angle, and Description.
Commonly used as an establishing shot.
Full shot of the person or location. Full body.
Half body, normally from the waist up.
Close Up of the face including neck and shoulders in the shot. Also used for objects.
Shows parts of a person or object in detail.
Shows a person’s back of head and shoulder looking at someone or something.
These can include low/high angles, dollies, POVs (point-of-view), rack focus, etc.
A short extract or clip from a recorded interview, chosen for its relevance to the story, pungency or appropriateness.
The primary video and audio that drives your story from beginning to end.
The availability of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid
A person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
Something that is known or proved to be true.
An investigation into and study of sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
A source is an individual, company, document or more that can provide information to fuel a new story. In order for a story to be considered verified and to maintain a reputation as a news outlet, it is important to have a credible source.
Sounds produced in their actual setting. Natural sound, commonly known as NAT sound, puts the viewer in the place the story was told by enhancing the scene(s) with video containing rich audio such as a musician singing at a train station, a storm approaching, or the sound of a tractor plowing the field.
A person who gives an account or tells the story of events, experiences, etc. In news, it is the person who adds spoken commentary to the video news story.
The main person or character in a story. There can be multiple subjects in a story. The subject can also be the main theme of your story.
After someone reviews your work, it is good practice to receive feedback, or an evaluation of your work based on certain standards. Feedback from multiple perspectives is an important part of the process. Masterpieces are rarely created in isolation.
The supplemental footage used to visually support your A-ROLL.
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Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences. (ISTE)
Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others. (ISTE)
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. (ISTE)
Video Production
Media Literacy
Science
Education
Digital Literacy/Citizenship
STEM
Beginner
Intermediate
Mic
Post It Notes
White board, chalkboard or other visual board
Markers
Slides
Projector
Computers
Camera or Mobile Phone
Notebook
Light Kit
Padlet, Jamboard or other app for group collaboration
1 Week