Multimedia Composition

For your last blog post, you should write a 500-word post that explains the process of creating your final project. You can do this in any way you like, but please embed the project in the post (or link to it if it’s on a separate website). Here are some questions to get you started:

1. What idea did you begin with, what changes and decisions did you make along the way, and how did you arrive at the final product?
2. What did you learn from making this project (both in terms of ideas and in terms of technical skills)? Please link to any programs you used and would recommend beyond those we’ve already used in class.
3. How does the project connect to millennial culture and other subjects we’ve discussed in class?
4. Where would you take this project if you could add to it or continue it?

You should include a list of sources at the end of the process note.

Both the project and the blog post are due by class time on Monday, May 2.

Be prepared to formally present your project in class, reporting on what you learned along the way.

Thanks to Kelly, Ajee, and Demetria:

Screencastify (Screen Video Recorder)

Wideo

1. In small groups or pairs, fill out the “Final Project Proposal Workshop” form on Sakai for each member of your group and email it to each other (cc me).

2. Then, discuss each project one by one, giving concrete suggestions for how to improve, develop, or focus the project.

3. We’ll reconvene as a full class to discuss the project proposals one by one. Be prepared to report on your initial idea, how it’s changed after getting feedback from your group, and what you still need input on.

From the New York Post:

There is no shortage of trend pieces floating around the Internet about how millennials work, save, eat, shop or live in their parents’ basements.

But let’s be real: most of those stories are focused on a group of often white, largely middle-class (or wealthier) 20- and 30-somethings who graduated from four-year colleges and work in white-collar settings. [Read the rest]

 

Due this Sunday night: A blog post that proposes a final project that 1) addresses millennial culture in some way, and 2) takes the form of a podcast, video, or another multimedia project of your choice.

Proposal requirements:

—500 words minimum.
—Explain motivation for the project.
—Describe your vision for the style and content of the project.
—Outline the technological aspects of the project.
—List at least five questions you’d like to investigate.
—Include tags on your post.

*

Please be specific. Since you don’t have particular guidelines from me this time regarding length, content, etc., you should include all of these details in your proposal.Propose what you’d like to do as specifically as possible so that it can be either approved or modified. You might want to use the video essay and podcast assignments, linked in the upper-left-hand menu on this blog, to guide you.

*

You can work on your own, with a partner, or in a group of up to three students. Include this information in your proposal. Each group member should post his/her own proposal separately.

1. Fill out video essay process note.

2. Briefly introduce video, including any changes you made to your topic or idea since the last time you reported to the class.

3. Screen video. Tell the class:

• One or two lessons you learned from the process of making the video.
• One or two technology tips that others might benefit from knowing.
• Anything you would have changed in retrospect.

Then, the class will respond to your video, including:

1. What’s working well.

2. Any suggestions we have for the group (in terms of content, format, style, tech, etc.).

Sound familiar?

Via McSweeneys.

 

 

Also check out this series of short videos on specific iMovie topics.

Finally, here’s a link to PicMonkey, the free photo editing website mentioned in the videos above.

This week’s assignments:

1. Video essays due Friday, April 1. Check that you meet the requirements on the assignment page.
2. Blog posts (reviews of at least two of your classmates’ videos) due Sunday, April 3.

Check out this article: “Using Copyrighted Music in Videos: When is it Legal?”

And this video made by YouTube:

Deadline: Friday, April 1

Option A: Life Skills for Millennials

Create a video essay that teaches an important life skill for millennials.  “Life skill” can be broadly defined: The skill you address can be a familiar one (such as balancing a checkbook), but more successful videos might define a less obvious skill that is crucial for the millennial generation. You’re encouraged to be creative and to try to teach a significant, original skill that you and your peers want—or need—to learn.

Option B: Social Issues

Choose a pressing social issue facing millennials and explore it in depth. Explain how and why this issue is especially relevant to millennials, and how millennials approach the issue differently from previous generations. Try to narrow the scope of your issue as much as possible: for example, instead of choosing “sexism,” focus on a particular type of sexism (such as street harassment).

Content requirements:

• 4 to 5 minutes long
• Title screen at the beginning and credits screen at the end
• Research (both online and library sources)
• Music and/or audio elements
• You can use narrative elements (tell a story), but your essay’s main purpose should be to provide information.

Tech requirements:

• Use iMovie or video editing software of your choice
• Upload to YouTube
• Embed the video on your blog with a 100- to 200- word introduction and a Works Cited list of sources (MLA style). Include tags in your post. Other group members should reblog the post.

Copyright and Creative Commons

Please note that the use of copyrighted songs, images, and video clips is illegal. (More information on fair use guidelines.) In your video essay, you can use up to 30 seconds of creative commons or public domain video footage if you wish. This is optional, but if you choose to incorporate someone else’s footage, please be sure to attribute it properly (instructions on how to do so can be found on the following websites):

• Creative Commons: Legal Music for Videos
• Mashable: How To Find Creative Commons Video Assets
• Vimeo Creative Commons
• Creative Commons Audio Sources

Resources

Plangere Culture Lab (Murray Hall, 3rd floor)
Contact Sabrina DelPiano at least two days in advance: sabrina.delpiano@rutgers.edu
Room reservation form here. Equipment checkout form here.

Douglass Library Media Center
You can also borrow equipment from the Douglass Library Media Center. The equipment includes a Panasonic HD Video Camera (with tripod), a Sony HD Flip Video Camera (with mini-tripod), and a Digital voice recorder that converts audio files to .mp3 and other formats. Software for editing the audio and video files is available in Douglass Library’s Fordham Commons and Fordham Multimedia Lab. The Douglass equipment booking form can be found here.

Groups

1)
Amber
Iman
Ajee
Pranav

2)
Caroline
Lillie
Laura
Diana

3)
Brea
Riti
Lily
Kelly

4)
Demetria
Natalie
Brianna
Emily

5)
Shaunee
Kiarra
Jude
Danielle

See our Sakai site homepage for a list of class email addresses.

 

SCHEDULE

Monday, March 7
—Receive video essay assignment.
—Introduction to iMovie
—Plan video essays in small groups.

* * * SPRING BREAK * * *

Monday, March 21
—By Sunday at 6:00 p.m., write research blog posts for your video essays.
—Work on video essays.

Monday, March 28
—No blog posts due this week.
—Work on video essays. Video essays due on Friday.

Monday, April 4
—For class today, watch class video essays and write a blog response post.
—Discuss video essays in class.