MCB 4900 – MEDIA PRODUCTION AND EDITING
3 Credit(s) Hours: 5 hrs. (1 hr. lecture, 4 hrs. laboratory/week) Introduces remote, not studio, single camera production and editing. Students learn the principles of remote camera operation and post-production editing with an emphasis on electronic news gathering/electronic field productions. Students prepare their own news media packages.
Special Section Designations:
There are no pre-requisites for this course. This course is required for all Media Arts A.S. majors. This course is open to all students. This course fulfills the Writing Intensive and Civic Engagement graduation requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
- Explain and illustrate how media aesthetics convey meaning to an audience through the editingprocess.
- Explain and illustrate the techniques of writing a video script.
- Apply the necessary camera techniques in remote production needed to tell a video story.
- Apply the necessary editing techniques in post-production needed to tell a video story.
- Engage collaboratively with a community partner to develop and create a video story that will raiseawareness.
- Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively, as part of a team, in the production of a video story.
Modality:
IN-PERSON Class Meetings: Wednesdays from 09:45AM – 02:45PM Room: L-131 Required
Television Production, 12th Edition by Herbert Zettl
Instructor’s Note
Instructor:
Email:
Office Hours:
“It is sometimes being able to look in the mirror and say I got this, I can do this. I can show up
today. And when you know you’re doing the best that you can. What more can you ask for?”
– Jericka Duncan, CBS News Anchor
In this class you will learn how to be an Electronic News Gathering team and by the end of the semester you will produce an Electronic News Package… like Jericka Duncan said to herself, “I got this!” We’re telling you that you got this! Our course has two central student learning outcomes which are the understanding of media aesthetics and the mastering of production aspects. Media aesthetics, understanding the control of the image, informs the production aspects, the physical handling and operation of the equipment; the two are intrinsically connected to the thought and decision-making process and therefore, because of this connection, we believed the writing to learn approach will make it a stronger course and result in greater student understanding and performance especially in problem solving which is critical when students are out in the field and collaborating with a community partner on campus.
One of our teaching goals is to create a learning environment that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and experiences, and honors your identities (including race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, ability, etc.). To help accomplish this:
We will ask you to tell us the name and/or set of pronouns you would like us to use to address you.
We want to be a resource for you. If you feel like your performance in the class is being impacted by your experiences outside of class, please don’t hesitate to connect with us to talk about it. Like so many people, we are still in the process of learning about diverse perspectives and identities. We will make mistakes!
Please contact us if you have any suggestions to improve the quality of the course and course materials.
Statements
Writing Intensive Statement:
This course meets the college’s intensive graduation requirement. During the semester you will write informally to express course content in your own words and write two formal papers in drafts with feedback from your instructor. Your work on writing, informal and formal, will comprise at least 30% of the final grade for this course.
Civic Engagement Statement:
This course meets the college’s civic engagement graduation requirement. During the semester you will connect your academic work to wider interests in the college community. You will work in small Electronic News Gathering (ENG) and Electronic Field Production (EFP) groups to develop and produce a video about a community partner at the college. For example, bringing awareness to Single Stop’s free tax preparations services for students as one example of the kind of production that you will engage in. This course qualifies as one Civic Engagement experience.
Format:
There will be weekly in-class 10 question quizzes, from 9:45AM – 10:45AM covering chapter material (we will cover 2 – 3 chapters per week at the beginning). Camera and Editing Manuals will be available as source material. It is a requirement for each student to do the chapter readings and be prepared before coming to class. In order to help you achieve this, there will be weekly homework quizzes that may complete while you are doing the chapter readings.
Class Conduct:
For each meeting students are expected to come on time and be prepared for class. I ask that you be considerate and place your cellphone on silent or on vibrate. No food is allowed in the classroom instructional lab.
Weighted Grading:
In-Person Participation (Attendance) 35%
Videos, Homework Quizzes, Quizzes (in-class), Problem Solving Small Group Work and Discussions, and Final (in-class) 20%
Formal Writing Assignment w/Revision 30%
On-Campus Video Project 10%
In-Class Journal Writing 5%
Grading Policy:
A+ = 97 -100; A = 93 -96; A- = 90-92 ; B+ = 87-89; B = 83-86; B- = 80-82; C+ = 77-79; C=73-76; C- =
70-72; D+ =67 – 69; D = 60 -66; F= 59 and under
Weekly Schedule of Topics and Assignments
Week 1
Course Overview.
Safety Training Certification. 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Safety Training Certification. Post Certificate Achievement on Linkedin
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and Collected.
Video Tutorial: Camera (100 points) Textbook Readings: CH 05, CH 06, CH 07
Homework Quizzes: CH 05, 06, 07 (Graded)
Week 2
In-Class Quiz (CH 05, 06, 07). 10 multiple choice questions.
Camera Lab.
In-Class Problem Solving Questions, Small Group Work, and Discussion.
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected. 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Video Tutorial: Lighting (100 points) Textbook Readings: CH 10, CH 11
Homework Quizzes: CH 10, 11 (Graded)
Week 3
In-Class Quiz (CH 10, 11). 10 multiple choice questions.
Lighting Lab.
In-Class Problem Solving Questions, Small Group Work, and Discussion
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
Video Tutorial: Audio (100 points) Textbook Readings: CH 08, CH 09
Homework Quizzes: CH 08, 09 (Graded)
Week 4
No Quiz because of Production Prep. Equipment Prep and Audio Instruction
Production Day with Community Partner
Production Day with Community Partner
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
Register for the FREE online course:
Fundamentals of Journalism. Learn the basics of journalism from the experts in this free and comprehensive online course. 9-Modules/Quiz. NBCU Academy.
Reading: CH 17
Homework Quizzes: CH 17 (Graded)
Extra Credit (Up to 10 Points to Weighted Graded Average): CH 17 Problem Solving Questions and Discussion Board
No Classes from 4/4 – 4/13
Week 5
In-Class Quiz (CH 17). 12 multiple choice questions
Production Day with Community Partner
Community Partner Intervie
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
Video Tutorial: Editing (100 points) Reading: CH 18, CH 19
Homework Quizzes: CH 18, 19 (Graded) Complete NBCU online course:
Fundamentals of Journalism. Learn the basics of journalism from the experts in this free and comprehensive online course. 9-Modules/Quiz. NBCU Academy.
Email Screenshot of Quiz Results
Week 6
In-Class Quiz (CH 18, 19). 10 multiple choice questions.
The CoLab Studios News Package was produced by EditStock and EditMentor, in collaboration with reporter Erin Clarke from StorySmart.
Continue CoLab Studio News Package with EditMentor
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and Collected
On Blackboard:
Choose one of the two Production Day Projects to work on. Review Community Partner Projects Footage on Blackboard. Make a “paper edit” using Timecode Start and End for selections. Write an Intro/Outro for you as Reporter.
Write Narration for selected B-ROLL.
Note: Narration leads to Stand-Up Interviews and to Expert Sound Bite Reading: Resolve Reader Parts 1 and 2
Week 7
Resolve
Small Group Rotations: Editing Lab with Resolve (Self-Guided Tutorial) Recording Narration (with Instructor)
Shooting Intro/Outro (with Technician)
Small Group Rotations: Editing Lab with Resolve (Self-Guided Tutorial) Recording Narration (with Instructor)
Shooting Intro/Outro (with Technician)
Reflective Journal Writing. Journals Returned to Students for reference in their Formal Writing Assignment.
Textbook Reading: CH 01 Homework Quiz: CH 01 (Graded)
Continue EditMentor if not completed in class: CoLab Studio News Package with EditMentor
Week 8
In-Class Quiz (CH 01). 10 multiple choice questions.
Small Group Rotations: Editing Lab with Resolve (Self-Guided Tutorial) Recording Narration (with Instructor)
Shooting Intro/Outro (with Technician)
Small Group Rotations: Editing Lab with Resolve (Self-Guided Tutorial) Recording Narration (with Instructor)
Shooting Intro/Outro (with Technician)
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
Reading: CH 03 – The Script Homework Quiz: CH 03 (Graded)
Extra Credit (Up to 10 Points to Weighted Graded Average): CH 03 Problem Solving Questions Discussion Board
Week 9
In-Class Quiz (CH 03). 10 multiple choice questions
Electronic News Gathering (ENG) Groups: (1) Producer, (2) Reporter, (3) Camera, (4) Audio, and
(5) Lighting crew. Camera Kit/Lighting Kit Assigned & Checked by Group.
Community Partner Assignment & Research Lab.
Writing Lab
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected.
Week 10
Equipment Check
Production Day: B-ROLL, Narration Writing/Recording, Stand Up Interviews, Expert B-ROLL, Expert Interview, and Editing.
Production Day: B-ROLL, Narration Writing/Recording, Stand Up Interviews, Expert B-ROLL, Expert Interview, and Editing.
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
Paper Draft Due: Formal Writing Assignment
On Blackboard Group Work: Review Timecoded Footage
Producer/Reporter Responsible for Selecting B-ROLL and Writing Narration; remember that Narration leads to Stand Up Interview Sound Bites and Expert Interview Sound Bite
Producer/Reporter Responsible for Selecting Stand Up Interview Sound Bites and Expert Interview Sound Bite
Camera Operator review Selected Shots to make sure they are acceptable and determine whether anything needs to be re-shot
Audio Person familiar themselves with Narration so you are ready to record it in Pro Tools Reading: Resolve Reader Part 1 and 2
Week 11
Equipment Check
Production Day: B-ROLL, Narration Writing/Recording, Stand Up Interviews, Expert B-ROLL, Expert Interview, and Editing.
Production Day: B-ROLL, Narration Writing/Recording, Stand Up Interviews, Expert B-ROLL, Expert Interview, and Editing.
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
On Blackboard Group Work: Review Timecoded Footage
Producer/Reporter Responsible for Selecting B-ROLL and Writing Narration; remember that Narration leads to Stand Up Interview Sound Bites and Expert Interview Sound Bite
Producer/Reporter Responsible for Selecting Stand Up Interview Sound Bites and Expert Interview Sound Bite
Camera Operator review Selected Shots to make sure they are acceptable and determine whether anything needs to be re-shot
Audio Person familiar themselves with Narration so you are ready to record it in Pro Tools Reading: Resolve Reader Part 1 and 2
Week 12
Equipment Check
Production Day: B-ROLL, Narration Writing/Recording, Stand Up Interviews, Expert B-ROLL, Expert Interview, and Editing.
Projects Completed and Discussed. Uploaded to YouTube. Achievement posted (with YouTube link) on Linkedin
Reflective Journal. Handwritten and collected
Revision Due for Formal Writing Assignment (electronic submission link)
If not completed in class, create Linkedin accounts, connect to each other and professor and
Like/Comment on each other’s projects
Policies
Ongoing Assignment of Class Journal:
As a part of your writing requirement, you are to keep a personal and informal summary of the production you are engaged in with your group. The journal represents a guide to help you familiarize yourself with the media aesthetics and technical aspects you are learning through your own personal narrative for your own understanding.
There is no strict length requirement for each summary, although, I would suggest that each be at least one handwritten page, not just a few sentences, and it is to be handed in Blackboard every week.
Attendance/Lateness:
Being on time is extremely important given the amount of material to be covered in class. Participating in-person is 35% of your grade and we meet once per week so if you miss more than 3 class meetings, it will significantly impact your overall weighted grade and you may not pass the course.
Entering class late is not only distracting but inconsiderate. If you are absent or late consider that there are times when a class discussion might bring about an idea or clarification which may not be in the required text for the course. To help you come to class on time, we will be having weekly in-person quizzes that can only be taken on the day of the class meeting and only from 9:45AM – 10:45AM.
Blackboard and Student Email:
If you have any specific issues accessing Blackboard or your Student Email, please make an appointment at L-106 or contact the Student HelpDesk at 718-368-6679
or helpdesk@students.kbcc.cuny.edu.
Email:
Be brief, include your name and class (MCB 49) in the subject heading. If you do not enter your name and class in the subject heading your email may be treated as spam and discarded.
Please do not ask me if you missed anything important in class requesting a summary of the lesson. Please refer to the topical course outline provided in the syllabus.
Academic Integrity Policy:
Kingsborough Community College strives to promote academic integrity among students to help prepare them for their future endeavors. To reach academic success, one needs to uphold the 5 core values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. Failure to do so may result in charges of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is prohibited by CUNY and Kingsborough Community College and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, internet plagiarism, obtaining unfair advantages, and falsification of records.
Disability and Accommodation Statement:
Students with disabilities will receive the reasonable accommodations to which they are entitled. If you have a documented disability and are registered with the Accessibility Center on campus, please feel free to speak with me in private regarding your accommodation. All information will be kept confidential.
The Accessibility office is located in Room D205 and can be reached via email at aas@kbcc.cuny.edu.
Kingsborough Community College does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions. Absences due to medical conditions relating to pregnancy will be excused for as long as deemed medically necessary by a student’s doctor and students will be given the opportunity to make up missed work.
Students needing assistance can seek accommodations from Access-Ability Services at 718-368- 5175
Religious Observances:
Students who anticipate missing a class or an assignment submission due to a religious or cultural observance are required to contact me no later than the end of the second week of class.
COVID Safety Policies:
Students should be reminded that they are expected to adhere to all COVID safety protocols
while in class. For the latest guidelines, please consult the college’s reopening hub.
Classroom Conduct/Civility Statement:
Kingsborough Community College is committed to the highest standards of academic and ethical integrity, acknowledging that respect for self and others is the foundation of educational excellence. Civility in the classroom and respect for the opinions of others is very important in an academic environment. It is likely you may not agree with everything which is said or discussed in the classroom, yet courteous behavior and responses are expected. Therefore, in this classroom, any acts of harassment and/or discrimination based on matters of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and/or ability are not accepted. Whether we are students, faculty, or staff, we have a right to be in a safe environment, free of disturbance, and civil in all aspects of human relations.
IT Technical Support Information:
This course is fully in person with a strong Blackboard component, as such all students should familiarize themselves with the basic functions of the following computer and technology tools before the course begins.
Blackboard is an on-line course management system which provides off-campus access to course materials, assignments, and class discussions.
How to Login
You must login via the CUNY Home Page at https://www.cuny.edu Log in to Blackboard with your CUNYfirst User ID and Password [Format Example: John.Smith11@login.cuny.edu]
Blackboard User Guides
Student Blackboard User Guides Blackboard Helpdesk Information
Student Helpdesk Monday – Friday 8:00am – 6:oopm
Saturday – Sunday 10:00am – 12:00pm Phone: 718-368-6679
Email: helpdesk@students.kbcc.cuny.edu After Hours Blackboard Support
This course requires the use of a personal computer system. Blackboard is also available on most mobile devices or tablets, but much harder to navigate and submit documents through so I encourage the use of a personal computer system. Also, ensure you have a device that can help you video and audio record, whether that’s a built-in camera for your laptop or desktop, a web cam and microphone, or access to a camera and audio through your phone or tablet.
You will also need access to create Word documents, and to view PDF files and video presentations. All Kingsborough students have free access to Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus, which means you all have the ability to create word documents.
You can access Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus through the following link: https://www.cuny.edu/ about/administration/offices/cis/technology-services/office-pro-plus/
As always make sure all your software is up to date.
Make sure you have a common browser (i.e., Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome), and make sure it is up to date.
Blackboard runs on devices with a modern web browser. It is your responsibility to make sure you are using an updated browser and operating system.
Preferred Name or Gender Pronoun:
At Kingsborough Community College we affirm all forms of gender expressions and identities. If you prefer to be called a different name than what is on the class roster, please let me know.
Feel free to inform me on your preferred gender pronoun or if you do not have a pronoun. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Studio/Lab Safety:
ENG equipment can be a dangerous, if not properly handled. All students are expected to fully adhere to safety guidelines set forth on the first day of class. Safety is not just one person’s job; it is the responsibility of everyone in class to make sure that they and those around them are working in a safe manner. Every student has the right to stop anything that they consider to be unsafe.
Time Requirements:
You can expect to spend approximately 5-7 hours a week working on this course. This includes reviewing content and material that would normally be covered in class, as well as additional time to complete homework and other assignments.
Electronic Submission Guidelines:
Students are expected to complete one formal writing assignment with a revision. Journals will be uploaded to blackboard as either Word documents or PDFs. If you work in a different format, you should export your work to either Word or PDF prior to uploading. Please see the assignment
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