Media Production ONE

Understanding the Production Cycle

1. Preparation and exploration.

Students familiarize themselves with the stages of video production, video production roles and video techniques, hardware and software.

They prepare:

• a job description for various production roles (e.g., director, script writer, set designer, camera operator, actor and editor)

• a categorized inventory list for the equipment they will use

• an instructional guide for using the camera

2. Development.

Students choose an idea for their video, research the topic, prepare a pitch for the teacher and/or class and write a treatment and/or script. They prepare:

• a word web in which the ideas for a video are brainstormed

• a treatment (i.e., synopsis) for a video

• a research report, summarizing and synthesizing relevant information

3. Pre-production.

Students create storyboards for each scene, work out the logistics for filming (e.g., budget and location shooting) and create any needed sets, props and costumes. They prepare:

• a timeline which lays out the production schedule

• a storyboard which graphically sequences the shots

• a dialog interchange comprising a conversation between two or more characters

4. Production.

Students capture and log the video and audio footage for the video.

They prepare:

• a log, cataloguing the video footage

• a reflection on each day’s filming

• a to-do list for the next day