MC 333: ADVANCED VIDEO WRITING & PRODUCTION
TEXT: Writing, Producing & Directing Documentary Films by Alan Rosenthal and Directing the Documentary by Michael Rabiger

MC 333 is designed to develop in students a thorough understanding of the TV production process, both studio and remote. This includes but is not limited to the following areas:

1. Creativity in planning, researching, writing and producing programs.
2. Leadership and direction in assuming command, delegating responsibility, supervising efforts, and improving dependability.
3. Development of skills involved in the performance of various production projects, including pre-production techniques such as shot-sheeting, outlining, interview planning and script revising.
4. Individual and group assignments in the various elements of production (e.g., set design, lighting, graphics, remote productions, studio programs, editing, etc.)
5. Production of mini-documentary and feature segments. The best of these efforts will packaged into a magazine format and telecast on local cable systems. There is also a chance for these pieces to be entered in the Society of Professional Journalists' "Mark of Excellence" competition.
6. Budgeting -- students will compile and submit accurate weekly reports of man-hours, meetings, and production work involved in the group efforts.
7. The finished projects will be assigned four (4) grades for the production and four (4) grades for the scripts. The successful completion of the two projects will involve 16 grades of the 32 assigned for the course.

GRADING SCALE:

In every possible instance, the students will turn in a finished script BEFORE any videotape is shot. The instructor will make periodic evaluations of individual and group efforts. These evaluations may be be oral critiques, written appraisals, quick suggestions during the actual production, between-take ideas, group conferences, or in-class discussions. IF ANY ASSIGNMENT IS BUNGLED IN A HORRIBLE MANNER, THE STUDENT MAY RECEIVE A PINK SLIP. THIS MEANS THE STUDENT HAS FLUNKED THE COURSE.

Students are expected to purchase their own videotapes for the class projects. Two or three 120-minute VHS should be ample to cover all requirements.
SCHEDULE:

Week 1  Orientation; team assignments  viewing of past class projects	Week 9  Reviews of "2001" due  set design discussion; ethics
Week 2  Budgeting; visualization  outlines & interviews due	Week 10  Treatments due  unnarrated doc viewing  set designs due
Week 3  Silent film viewing  editing review shot sheets  intros; 1st exam	Week 11  Project #2 scripts due  program intro discussion  cinema verite
Week 4  10 elements of production  1st exam discussion  documentary viewing	Week 12  Fellini viewing  discussions & evaluations of 2nd projects
Week 5  Scripts due  evaluation of projects  switcher test	Week 13  Project #2 due  Fellini viewing & discussion  budgets & evaluations
Week 6  Project #1 due  viewing & discussions  budgets & evaluations due	Week 14  Fellini reviews due  talent auditions  Metro East Edition
Week 7  2nd exam  1st project re-edits  2nd project preproduction	Week 15  Metro East Edition production
Week 8  Shot sheets & raw footage due  Viewing of "2001"