During class today, write your planning memo that describes two video concepts for your YouTube video and which concept you have decided to pursue. After you have completed the document, copy-and-paste it into a comment made to this blog entry. Details about this phase of the assignment is included below:
Planning: Write a 250 memo describing two general types of videos that you might produce to accompany your spoken script. For example, you can use video software to animate photographs (e.g., using the Ken Burns effect) with a voiceover, record scenes around the city with voiceover, record yourself reading your script, record interviews that are intercut with video of you reading the script, etc. Imagine the kind of video that you would like to make with the limited time that we have to make it. After you describe your two options, explain why you have decided to go with one of the two options. (in-class on Mar. 17)
To: Jason W. Ellis
From: Ashley A. Dunlap
Date: March 17th, 2016
Subject: Project 4 Planning
I am a big fan of unscripted and seemingly candid YouTube videos. Particularly YouTubers like Napturally85, SmartistaBeauty, MiniMarley, and Kat Blaque are very direct and do a great job of connecting with their audience. Due to the time limitations, I will be using my iPhone and iMovie to create and edit this video. There is no other format I will be using because the content and tone of my think piece best suit this format.
Option 1: The video will start with clips of questions that have been posed regarding the topic of cultural appropriation and I will spend five to ten minutes addressing them while using the information from my think piece. The video will be in the context of relating to the audience in a way that will be received well with such a heavy topic.
Option 2: This video will start with pictures of various examples and responses to these images. As with the first video, I will then spend a short time giving my views on the issue and speaking directly to my audience.
Both ideas would work very well for the purpose of the assignment, however I will be using the second option because it is what I am most comfortable committing to with the time constraints. With this project I hope to create the most impact with my first video while still staying true to the content and audience I am trying to reach.
To: Jason W. Ellis
From: George Gordon
Date: March 17th, 2016
Subject: Project 4, Planning
Video 1: The video would revolve around images that relate to the issue and the audio overlaid on these images. It would be very similar to the podcast but now with a the visual component of images. The images used would be screenshots of Content ID rules, channels who were taken down, articles that have covered this topic, and if I can get video clips of certain YouTube videos I would add those as well. The images would definitely be animated instead of static in order to create a more entertaining video. I would say that the video would be around 5-8 minutes long as it is mostly adapted the podcast script.
Video 2: This one would be entirely done vlog style with nothing else added. This would be done just to get the point across and would consist of me just talking into the camera. This option would be very simple and only consist of minor editing with the inclusion of music in the background. This would be around 3-5 minutes long as it would consist of only me speaking into the camera and no need for anything extra.
Both of these options have their strengths and weaknesses, but I will choose to go with my first option as this allows me to discuss my topic and provide better visual reinforcement with it. I can also show some things that I may not have discussed within the original think piece. As well as, linking to other YouTubers and places where even more information could be found.
To: Rownak Choudhury
From: Ashley A. Dunlap
Date: March 17th, 2016
Subject: Project 4 Planning
The different types of videos I am interested in producing for Project 4:
1. Small clips of me talking to people around New York City (middle age to seniors) and asking them of their familiarity with Microsoft Word, Gmail, and search engines will be shown. From there I will go on to talk about the importance of having intermediate knowledge of using computers in today’s workforce. Most of what I talk about will be in correlation with my ‘think-piece’ essay, My speech will remain friendly and inviting. At the end of the video will be a promotion of and direction to the podcast series related to upcoming ‘how-to’ episodes.
2. I will interview a person who was new to computers not too long ago and how they came to incorporate it into their workplace. For privacy reasons, the person I have in mind for doing this will be blurred out. After they tell me the importance of computers in their workplace, I will reiterate my ideas on the importance using material from my ‘think piece’ essay. At the end of the video will be a promotion of and direction to the podcast series related to upcoming ‘how-to’ episodes.
I have decided to go with the first option because the person I have in mind for interviewing in the second option will most likely not be available and willing to take part in this project. Even though I will still ask him, I am quite positive that the first option is the most practical.
To: Professor Ellis
From: Christopher Navarrete
Date: 3/17/2016
Subject: Project 4 Planning
One idea I have for a video is to record game play from Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto while reading my script. I would also display some images of project 3 during certain points of the video to further showcase the think piece. These images would appear on top of the game play, so the game play, along with its sounds, would still continue despite the fact that the image has taken its place. To not annoy the audience, these images would appear for only a couple of seconds and have a quick in and out transition.
Another idea is to record myself reading the script from my think piece while showing game play that pops in and out. This game play would only appear during certain points of the YouTube video for either one to two minutes each, or a few seconds each. I would also interview people about what they think of the controversies surrounding video game violence and how they feel about those types of games. For this idea, I may have to make several more adjustments to my script to make it work properly.
Although I do feel idea number two would be more interesting, I decided to choose idea number one because I have equipment that can be used to record game play. This includes Fraps and Camtasia. I do not on the other hand, have equipment that can record high quality videos of myself.