DR. RILEY MAYNARD
(618) 692-2245 or 692-2230
e-mail:rmaynar@siue.edu
http://www.siue.edu/~rmaynar/

MC 204 Visual Production for the Media
TEXTS: TELEVISION PRODUCTION by Alan Wurtzel, COPYWRITING FOR THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA by Meeske & Norris

MC 204 is designed to offer instruction and practice in the basic skills necessary for the writing and production of video programs and projects. Students will also get exposure in the comparison, evaluation, selection, and integration of program and production elements. The course also provides opportunities for experimentation and application of aesthetic and conceptual elements. The students will spend the first third of the course writing and researching various video projects as assigned; the last two-thirds of the semester will be concerned with producing the written projects.

Each student will submit a clean copy of all written assignments in a portfolio. The lecture and laboratory portions of the course will be supplemented by distributed reading material and by the viewing of films & video tapes.

GUIDELINES: This is a no cut course; likewise, tardiness will not be tolerated. Any absence or late arrival must be arranged beforehand with the instructor and the particular student producer/director for the affected project. Any unexcused absence will result in a grade of zero for that assignment.

All assignments and productions are due on the dates specified, unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Projects which do not meet deadlines will lose one grade letter for each day they are late. Students are expected to put forth their best efforts, both in their projects and those on which they are assisting. All written assignments are to be typed---no exceptions.

GRADING: The student's final grade will be largely determined by four factors: writing skills, competency at the assigned positions, improvement, and adherence to deadlines. The portfolio will be worth four grades.Most group projects will be assigned two grades: a production/performance grade and a script grade. Following each group assignment, the project director will submit a typed evaluation analyzing the production and each group member's contribution. Teamwork plays a paramount role in the group projects. The final project will receive SIX grades---three script & three production grades. IF A STUDENT BUTCHERS AN ASSIGNMENT INVOLVING HIS ENTIRE GROUP, HE/SHE IS SUBJECT TO A PINK SLIP, MEANING HE/SHE HAS FLUNKED THE COURSE.

In addition, students will take four take-home tests and five individual exams (a stationary camera test, a moving camera test, an audio board test, a video switcher test, and a video editor test). These individual exams are a major component of the student's final grade. The instructor retains the right to add up to 10 points to a student's final average, based on attendance, extra assignments completed, dependability, & team contributions.
GRADING SCALE:

SCHEDULE:

Week 1 Orientation; introduction Format explanations	Week 9 Audio techniques & effects Audio board test
Week 2 Writing process; take-home #1 TV ads & promos Rationale assignment	Week 10 Graphics & technical directing Switcher test Take home #3 due Weathercast script & production
Week 3 Treatment assignment; Camera test #1 Narration; Presentations	Week 11 Remote camera techniques; interviewing; Remote lighting procedures Commercial script & production
Week 4 Corporate writing; Camera test #2; Take-home #1 due Resume assignment	Week 12 Remote story ideas & commercial scripts due Videotape editing demonstration Remote shooting assignment
Week 5 Portfolio due; copyright info Take-home test #2; audio board test	Week 13 Remote scripts & tapes due Musical production lecture
Week 6 Intro to production; Basic studio procedures Lighting & camera techniques	Week 14 Videotape editing test Newscast #4 Musical production assignment
Week 7 Commercial techniques Commercial production	Week 15 Job hunting lectures 30 minute newscast
Week 8 Newscast production Camera test #2

 

This page was last updated on Friday,  March 13, 1998.