Location Dialogue: Pre-Production

Objective:  The goals of this assignment are (1) to plan a project for logistical efficiency, storytelling impact, and coverage; and (2) to convey meaning through intentional framing, design, and placement.  Among other criteria, this assignment’s grading privileges mise-en-scène, consistent screen direction, the rule of thirds, look space, headroom, and depth articulation.

Assessment:  Your group grade will be averaged with other quiz & assignment scores.  On behalf of your group, your Dialogue Project director will secure the professor's signature on a storyboard from the Scriptwriting assignment before shooting.  The Audio Project producer will secure the professor's signature on an equipment wish list before shooting.

Location Dialogue: Production

Objective:  Perhaps as much or more than any other feature, dual-system recording distinguishes amateur from professional video.  Student teams will practice dual-system recording resulting in footage used for successive instruction in post-production.  Among other criteria, this assignment’s grading rubric privileges a low noise floor achieved by intimate microphone placement and adequate volume that avoids distortion.  Of course, your footage should reflect previous instruction in lighting, camera operation, and composition.

Employing a dual-system technique, record your assigned script as indicated by your storyboard.  Make sure the performer's mouth is plainly visible.  The most successful filmmakers will conform to this protocol.  DO NOT EDIT your footage into a completed film at this time.

Assessment:  Your group grade will be averaged with other project scores.  On behalf of your group, individuals will submit the following documentation as indicated.

  • Personal Releases - secured by your director and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> project >> documentation>>releases>>personal
  • Location Releases - secured by your producer and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> project >> documentation>>releases>>location
  • Lighting Plots - prepared by your gaffer and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> project >> documentation>>plots
  • Footage Log - prepared by your camera operator and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> project >> documentation>>logs
  • Essay - One page maximum, accounting for any differences between your storyboard and your actual footage.  Prepared by your director and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> project >> documentation
  • Binder (D2L).  On behalf of your group, your producer will submit to D2L copies of all documentation (in the precise order of the list above) in a single .pdf binder.

On behalf of your group, members will submit the following materials as indicated

  • Raw Footage - prepared by your camera operator and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> video
  • Dialogue Recordings - prepared by your audio specialist and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> audio >>dx

Location Dialogue: Post-Production

Objective:  The finished scene serves as evidence of instruction in the post-production process.  Among other criteria, this assignment's grading privileges:

  • Technical Operation Standards.  Begin with the prescribed calibrating leader.  Conclude with 30 seconds of silent black.  Include neither in the total running time of your video.
  • Editing.  J- and L-cuts.
  • Color.  Basic color correction using Adobe’s Lumetri Color panel.
  • Audio Mix.  Split dialogue tracks with room tone patches.  Basic processing using Adobe’s Essential Audio panel.  Royalty-free music should be back-timed and properly attributed.  Appropriate ambient background effects.  Average combined volume levels mixed to -12dB.
  • Closing Credits.  As specified.

Students are advised not to attempt this assignment until they have completed a series of Hospital Editing assignments detailed elsewhere in the syllabus.

Assessment:  Your group grade will be averaged with other project scores.  On behalf of your group, members will submit the following materials as indicated.

  • Completed film (server) - prepared by your editor and uploaded to this folder: anim-stor1.dc1.pennwest.edu >> cinema >> studio >> 06 location dialogue >> project >> exports Your editor (assisted by your audio specialist) will combine the footage in a finished version of the film.
  • Completed film (D2L) - prepared by your editor, uploaded to his/her Vimeo account.  URL to be uploaded to the appropriate D2L assignment folder.