1. What do you know now that you did not know when you entered this class? Name at least three things?

I did not know how to edit in Final Cut Pro before the class, and with Jay's lectures and the tutorials I now have a good handle on the program and am excited to learn more. Also, I did not know much of the pre-production process, but Doc. Chris was quite knowledgeable on the subject. Finally, I learned many in-studio, real life experience skills by utilizing the intern hours. This allowed me to get a glimpse of what video production is in the professional world.

2. What will you remember most about this class about your group and its performance, the class and its performance, you and your performance and me and my performance? Be specific.

I will remember many of the fun times we had, including the trials of J Smooth and all of the others, and the great work my group completed. My group was very open to ideas and worked really well under pressure. The interview with Crystal L. Bass went incredibly well, and we almost filmed it all in one take. This was only possible with the significant amount of research conducted by Shayne and Christa in pre-production, and also the enthusiasm of Fran, who proved to be a great interviewer and actor. The class was a tight group, and I found it really easy to talk/ask questions to everyone else. The informal nature of the class allowed this, and caused easier collaboration between groups. Finally, my most memorable action of Doc Chris was of course the Judge Doctor Chris Court, in which he put all the slackers on trial. While entertaining to the whole class, the donning of the robe kept many accountable, and encouraged everyone to get their work done.

3. Are you now aware how the unsexy stuff, pre-production, is the key to the sexy stuff production and post-production, becoming an organized and fantastic video product as a result of taking this class and please explain why?

Yes. While not as glamorous as the technical aspect of shooting/editing, the pre-production aspect of video production is absolutely necessary in producing a fantastic product. For example, without the comprehensive research conducted by Shayne and Christa in the Crystal L. Bass Interview, it definitely would not have gone as smoothly. However, with a solid knowledge of her background, on the book, and a set list of questions Fran was able to complete the entire interview in almost one take. Doing so shows professionalism, and allows the guest to have confidence in the interviewer.

4. Have you re-evaluated your views in terms of how students are educated in a classroom as a result of taking this class? Explain why you have re-evaluated your views or why you think that college should continue teaching ONLY in the traditional manner?

This class has definitely changed my perspective on how one can be taught. While it is clear that some text materials are necessary, such as the Final cut tutorials, real life experience required through the intern hours provides a great learning environment. Rather than reading a book on camera operation, one can simply spend a few hours in the studio actually handling one in a live broadcast, learning from the more experienced students and greycom staff. I could definitely see more communications classes incorporating this real life experience into their curriculum in the future. However, I still think that a class must strike a careful balance between traditional methods and newer ones, and that some fields such as History tend to aim more towards the traditional side.

5. Now that you have experienced my teaching style based on my Edutainment & Convergence research what do you think of the future of the communications field and education fields in the future? Will the future of education be linked largely to the communications field using the Edutainment & Convergence methods and technologies that we used and pioneered the use of in this class? Is this a good thing or bad thing? Explain.

As I stated previously, I can definitely see various methods of edutainment and convergence incorporated into the communications field in the future. For example, the idea of using Facebook as a kind of class message board both brings the class closer together and also allows them to share their work/videos more easily. Also, these classes will most likely also incorporate necessary intern hours, which were a great help in learning aspects of video production. Social networking outlets such as Flickr, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook etc. can be great places to share your work and gain a following, and can be a great help to your career.

6. How many of you will be using some these Edutainment & Convergence methods in your other classes to keep yourself on track, communicate with classmates, and work in groups? If you have done this already this should be easy. Can you see yourself using tools like video, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, iTunesU, iTunes, Google, and blogs like Blogger to create papers, outlines, conduct research, get quick facts from legitimate sources, and more even if the teacher is not using these tools in class?

While we do not use Facebook or other social networking sites in my other classes, I can see it being a trend in the future as it becomes a more accepted means of communicating between students. It definitely forms a tighter and more social class,since Facebook is a commonly accepted and familiar manner of communication for our generation. I think it is a great way to share your work, whether it be photo, video, journalism, blogs etc. with a great deal of people, and should be considered for this very reason. Facebook and Twitter are great ways to stay updated on the News, and I "like" the New York Times, the Baltimore Sun, etc. on both of these sites for this very reason. As much as I'd like to, I often don't have enough time to sit down and read the paper in the morning. Therefore, I often get links to articles on my phone through Facbeook/Twitter, and can stay updated on what is going on in the world. This is important not only for my personal knowledge, but also for relating materials in classes etc.

7.Now that each of you has assisted me in creating the course for next year's students what are some things that you would like me to add to this course and what would you like me not to use.

I would add more on the technical aspect of video shooting, such as on location lighting, stabilization, frame rates, shutter speed/aperture, audio levels etc. Also, for the project, it would be great to have each group do one project that they would work on the whole semester, such as the food documentary we were initially planning. Also, a little more editing would be great too.

Will you be asking me for a letter of recommendation for a job, internship, or graduate school? If so, do you want me to tell the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth according to Dr. Chris or Judge Dr. Chris LOL! Why or why not?

Perhaps, I haven't gotten to the point where I need one yet, but I know if I needed one the Judge Doc Chris would be required to tell the whole truth in order to preserve the reputation of his court, and I know he would be helpful!

Final Exam

1. What are the three parts of the production process?

Pre-Production: concept/ideas, script, fundraising, casting location, and scouting.

Production: The shoot on location or in the studio

Post-Production: Editing, retapes, graphics, audio, music, and more. Some Post production methods can be done in Pre-Production.

2. What are the two new parts of the production process that we use in this class that can be found in marketing class under 2 of the 4 P's?
Which part of the production process was your favorite and why? Which part of the production process was the most challenging and why?

The first new part is promotion. Following promotion, we will use social media in order to distribute it. Social media, such as facebook and twitter, can also be used to promote your video. This method is effective because social media is such a popular medium in today's world. Most people are already using these websites already, so it's a large market to reach out to.

My favorite part of the production process is the production aspect. I really enjoy working with the cameras and lenses in order to obtain certain shots. Also, shooting with actors such as the Family's talented Fran Iula is always fun. The most challenging part of the process was coordinating all the members to meet at a certain time to film. A good production needs a great team, and luckily we had just that.

3. . What is the most important part of the production process and why?

The most important part of the production process is pre-production. Without this, the producer is not prepared or ready to proceed with the shoot. Without a solid foundation built up by writing a good script, creating an outline of ideas related to the video, knowing your location through scouting etc., the producer will not be as effective in the video creation process.

4. What is the best part of your experience in this class and why?

My best experiences in this class were
-learning editing
-learning lighting techniques
-shooting the Red Mango commercial with Fran

5. Explain how you like working in groups in this class, and how has your team grown.

I have definitely enjoyed working in my group, "the family" for this class. It's a pretty fun group, and everyone is open to eachother's ideas. We've also grown throughout the semester by developing and changing our ideas.While we were first going to shoot a longboard commercial, we changed it to a more manageable commercial about Red Mango, which turned out great. Everyone worked really well together on our projects, and everyone played an important part. Fran was a hilarious actor, and provided some great lines for our commercial. Shayne did a lot of good research for the Crystal L. Bass Interview, and Christa was great on the live editing in the studio.

6. To be fair being put on trial tough; however, it literally happens every day at TV stations, ad agencies, film studios, government studios and PR agencies; do you understand why folks were put on trial rather than giving a failing grade for making mistakes and why the trials were public? Explain. Do you think that being put on trial made you more accountable to your group, this class, yourself and your professor?

Putting a student on trial rather than simply handing them a bad grade will allow them to understand the errors of their actions, and give them a chance to redeem themselves in the future. Being put under public scrutiny, rather than a private grade, also causes their peers to see their erroneous ways. Being put on trial definitely makes someone more accountable for their actions, as the whole class witnesses their judgement.

Hint - Every interview was done on time and in 1 take with one live run-through as a practice, do you think that this was a result of pre-production planning.

The pre-production prior to the interview was a critical step in its success. It mainly consisted of researching the author, Crystal L. Bass, and coming up with a series of solid interview questions. This way, Fran, the interviewer, knew about the Author's background, and could conduct the interview in a more prepared, even-paced manner.

List your favorite part of the production process and why?

Filming and Editing were definitely my favorite parts. Whether having Fran falling off a Longboard on the Quad or getting a close up macro shot of Blackberries for the Red Mango commercial, it was always an interesting experience. After filming, the editing aspect was interesting, as it allowed us to put everything together into a solid video.

List your least favorite part of the production process and why? Do you understand why it is necessary now even though it is not your favorite part of the process?

My least favorite part is pre-production and scripting. While it is a necessary component of the video production process, I really like being out in the world shooting, and then having solid material I can work with in Final Cut.

What was your favorite moment in this class?

My favorite parts of the class were learning Final Cut and lighting, and shooting with my group. Also, J Smooth's mask was pretty ridiculous.

7. Evaluate Dr. Chris. Did he do an effective job coaching you and preparing you for the production process? Do you like the fact that social media, guest lectures, interviews with real life authors, guest lectures with Professor Jay, intern hours instead of using primarily textbooks, notebooks and handouts? Explain why or why not. Would you recommend this class with Dr. Chris to a friend or classmate? Why or why not? Do you think that other professors should utilize these methods? Did you feel like you received individual attention and support from Dr. Chris when you ran into a problem in the course? What grade would you give this class? What would you like Dr. Chris to done more of in this class? Did you feel confident with the production process now after having taken this class? Knowing what you know about this class would take it again with Dr. Chris and why?


Dr. Chris was definitely an enthusiastic and energetic teacher throughout the course. While we did spend a lot of time on the pre-production elements of video such as scripting and storyboarding, I would of liked to spend a bit more time shooting, learning lighting techniques on location, setting up audio etc. The real life experience gained through the intern hours was great, and I learned some aspects of studio production and camera operation. The intern hours were a great alternative to other traditional methods such as notebooks/handouts etc. The guest lectures with Jay were also an important part of the class, as they allowed us to get a good handle on Final Cut Pro. Also, the interviews were great in producing a final video, but I was hoping we could have shot the family's food project as well. Doc Chris was definitely available for consultation and helped us out a couple of times on deadlines. Overall, I would give the class an A-. While it was a good starter to the video world, I would of liked to shoot a lot more, especially a group project that would be worked on throughout the semester. Also, a set syllabus laying out each class would be helpful as well. However, Doc Chris definitely prepared us well for the pre-production aspect of video, and we were well prepared for our interview session. Overall, it was a unique and exciting class, that was a nice alternative to my other more traditional classes. Doc Chris's enthusiasm and my group's chemistry definitely helped contribute to our final work. Thanks to the Family, Jay, and Doc Chris! To all that will be taking Doc Chris in the future, watch out for the Judge!

Film Festival

Film Festival Reflection

It was great seeing some student work displayed at the first annual Greycom Film Festival. The music videos were great, and included comical entries such as the Lady Gaga Music video, which included the repeated appearance of the “mum mum mum mah” guy who never got old. Other notable appearances included Greycom’s own intern coordinator Landon Bunn, who’s playing ways in Taylor Swift’s “Forever and Always” drew strong (and amused) reactions from the crowd, as well as Stephen Gallagher, who bellowed (in lip sync) the opening of “Shout” by the Isley Brothers.

Departing from the upbeat and comical entries were the more dark, serious, and romantic pieces. These included works such as Stephen Gallagher’s short film regarding the choice a young man makes regarding his future, his family, and his girlfriend, as well as “Unplugged,” a film about a man’s dependence on technology. (Specifically a blackberry) A darker film that still contained some comedy was the promo for Steve vs. Steve 2, which while filmed in a Hopkins dorm, retained a strong cinematic feel.

Overall, seeing all the films was an enjoyable experience. Next year I would like to shoot some documentaries, and hopefully I’ll be able to submit one to the festival.

The Studio and Slate Magazine

Today we were in the studio, since team Citywide was interviewing Eric Goodman, author of Tracks. The interview went well, and the novel, which tells the tale of multiple characters and their backgrounds while on a train from Baltimore, sounded really interesting, as it combines narrative with the city of Baltimore, which I'm always eager to learn more about.





After the interview, my group, "The Family" went out to shoot some more clips for our commercial project. The shoot was fun and we got some good footage, and I'm hoping we'll finish it soon. Finally, after the shoot my group attended the Caulfield lecture by Editor of Slate Magazine David Plotz. I found the lecture incredibly interesting, as it focused on the "New Journalism" that has emerged out of a primarily web-driven culture. Since I myself am currently thinking about entering such an industry, the lecture was particularly relavent to my future. While he touched upon a number of important points, one of the most interesting notes I took away from the lecture was Plotz's discussion on the status of long term journalism in an instant gratification online world. I believe that long term journalism and photojournalism, the studying of one particular topic for an extended period of time, rather than a quick scoop, is incredibly important and rewarding in the journalism industry. Publications such as National Geographic embody this mentality. The reason why they stand out among the rest is because of their commitment to quality and long term reporting. I really enjoyed Plotz's longterm-project policy at Slate, in which he requires that all staff take four to six weeks out of the year, and simply stop working. During this time, they must focus on a long-term subject, and have a piece ready to publish when they return. The reward of this policy at the magazine is seen in its results. Potz noted that many of these long term pieces have resulted in opportunities such as book deals and today show appearances for his writers. Concerning the magazine itself, these long term stories not only drive a significant amount of traffic to the Slate website, but also build a solid, intelligent reader base and help to set Slate apart from the rest, both of which heavily attract advertisers.

Below is a video of David Plotz discussing the beginning of Slate Magazine and the speed of online media publication.

The Trial of J Smooth: Class 3/24

Once again Judge Doctor Chris Court was in session, this time to sentence all those who had suspiciously not been there on Saint Patrick's Day. Funnily enough, it seemed as if the notorious two time criminal "J Smooth" was going to miss his court date. However, he made a grand appearance late, donning a medical mask and presenting a doctor's note. While everyone found it hilarious, J smooth was indeed sick, and he was sent home as to not spread the flu.



Today we practiced mock interviews, which I thought was a good exercise. I interviewed Doc Chris about Jazz. We also learned to coordinate with our producer and interview guest, which is important in the production process.

Class at the Evergreen/Storyboarding

Today for Saint Patrick's Day we ventured up Cold Spring Lane to the classic Loyola spot of the Evergreen Cafe, a much needed alternative to Boulder and Iggy's. Here we did some video interviews, mainly condemning everyone who skipped.

Over gelato and cookies we dug into all of those who didn't show up, particularly J Smooth. In all seriousness though, it was an interesting time, and we practiced storyboarding The entire Family showed up, so we got to talk a little about our projects. Both food and talk were good, thanks to doc chris for the treats.

Mid-Term

1. What are the three parts of the production process?

1. Pre-Production: concept/ideas, script, fundraising, casting location, and scouting.

2. Production: The shoot on location or in the studio

3. Post-Production: Editing, retapes, graphics, audio, music, and more. Some Post production methods can be done in Pre-Production.


2. What are the two new parts of the production class that we use in this class that can be found in a marketing class?

The first new part is promotion. Following promotion, we will use social media in order to distribute it. Social media, such as facebook and twitter, can also be used to promote your video. This method is effective because social media is such a popular medium in today's world. Most people are already using these websites already, so it's a large market to reach out to.

3. What is the most important part of the production process and why?

The most important part of the production process is pre-production. Without this, the producer is not prepared or ready to proceed with the shoot. Without a solid foundation built up by writing a good script, creating an outline of ideas related to the video, knowing your location through scouting etc., the producer will not be as effective in the video creation process.

4. What is the best part of your experience in this class and why?

My best experience in this class so far is learning how to edit. I've always enjoyed it in other programs such as iMovie, and learning Final Cut Pro, an industry standard, would be a great tool to have.

5. Explain how you like working in groups in this class, and how has your team grown. Evaluate your team.

I have definitely enjoyed working in my group, "the family" for this class. It's a pretty fun group, and everyone is open to eachother's ideas. We've also grown throughout the semester by developing and changing our ideas. I'm looking forward to working more with "the family" on our video shoots. Everyone is really enthusiastic about the projects as well.

6. How have you grown in this course thus? Has it helped you critically think and have you applied what you have learned in other courses yet? Explain. What do you expect to learn in the second part of this course?

I've grown in this course by learning more about the media. Firstly how much of an effect advertising has on consumers through media. We saw this through the Winston ads. I also have learned some insights into the media business through Doc. Chris. In the second half of the course, I'm expecting to learn a bit more about the technical side of video production and more editing techniques.

Evaluate Dr. Chris. Is he doing an effective job coaching you and preparing you for the production and post production process? Do you like the fact that social media is being used instead of textbooks, notebooks and handouts? Explain why. Finally, what do you want him to work with the class on generally and you specifically.
7. Dr. Chris is definitely enthusiastic about the class, and is never lacking in spirit. It's great that he gives us insight into the actual media business, from commercials to interview strategies. It's also interesting how Facebook and social media is integrated into the class, such as the snow day Facebook meet. Social media can at times be less dense than a textbook is. Something that I would like to see more in the class is learning the specific technical side of video production, such as video lighting, audio recording, and camera operation. I'm also looking forward to more final cut.