BCOM 481/JOUR 481 Italy Study Abroad WorkshopSyllabus, Spring-Summer
2013. Prof. James LeTourneau, BA-MA , University of Wisconsin-Madison.
BCOM 481/JOUR 481 Italy Study Abroad WorkshopSyllabus, Spring-Summer 2013 Prof. James LeTourneau, BA-MA , University of Wisconsin-Madison (subject to revisions during the extent of the study-abroad.) MMTH 321 (270) 745-8856 Cell- 608-695-2115
[email protected] Course taught in Rome, Italy in conjunction with CIN 483-American University of Rome Objective The objective of this one-month course is to introduce students into a basic preproduction, production and post-production model of video reporting and writing for broadcast and WEB distribution. These students will, on a daily rotating basis, participate in a study the Italian culture, historical places and modern media including print, TV and cinema sources and create video and print reports on what they discover. By “rotating basis”, we intend to rotate the responsibilities of the students, based on their knowledge and training in writing, narrative, camera operation, interviewing, still photography and story research. Each day they will be doing a slightly different task, but all tasks will be associated with the daily completion of video stories that will be sent back to the US via the WEB for viewing on the school website and possible later re-play (dependant on content and dating) on newschannel 12 in the Fall, 2013. They will gain experience in the pre-production set up, including the mapping out of daily activities, clearance for access to locations, scheduling of interviews and other logistical anticipations. Most of all, they will utilize "active" journalism; the finding of stories on their own. In the production process, they will be assigned duties each day and interact with the people of the country and assess at the end of each day what was gathered and log the activity. In the post-production process, upon their return from their assignment, their designated duties will again be divided into roles based on their training: video editing, script writing, producing, voice narrative. The end of a days work will be the posting of finished storied on the school Newschannel 12 WEB site. The rotation sequence will be determined by the number of students signed up for the course. This means there will be a 4-day rotation to “discover” the story idea ( pre-production), the actual “shooting” ( production), and the editing of the story and review of the finish story product ( post-production). Course Expectations and Requirements The course combines many of the TV journalism elements of video acquisition, editing, writing, interview and voice narrative. It also combines print and photo information acquisition
as supplements to video stories posted on the school WEB site. Broadcast students will be expected to know the operation of the Sony 150 and/or Canon GL-2 video camera and any sound equipment to be used during the trip. They will also know how to edit video and audio using lap-top computers which have AVID I-News software. They will work with print and photography students to show them video techniques in exchange of their sharing their writing and photography skills with broadcast students. We intend to integrate writing and photography stills from the non-broadcast students into the completed work of the broadcast students while the photography and print students will be posting their own stories on the school WEB site. The length and content of a summary video will be based on the amount of material gathered during the 30 day trip. All students must have a valid U.S. passport with an expiration date to one month following the groups return to the US. Application deadline for the trip is March 1, 2013 Before leaving for Italy, students will meet for a briefing period (TBA dates) in February, March and April prior to departure. We will also have one final meeting to assign and distribute equipment the week of finals. Day TBD. In the first meeting, students will: 1) list their strengths and weaknesses as related to broadcast news, print and still photography. Video students will need to demonstrate practical knowledge of the equipment to be used with a hands-on operation review of the Sony 150/Canon GL-2 camera. Prof. LeTourneau will assess the print students and we will ask for a referral from the photo department for photography students. We will show video of some stories from previous study-abroad trips 2) Based on their strengths, the students will be assigned their primary roles with a secondary role to be rotated into the trip. 3) Students will be briefed on the daily expectations of each day. They will understand that each early evening, prior to individual or group student activity of their choice, short meetings will be held with the instructors to summarize the progress of the days work and to confirm the expectations and plans for the following day. Those assigned to produce the daily news story will complete its production before their own personal activity. Readings Students will read "Media in Italy" , by Matthew Hibbard ($ 38.31 New; $ 28.75 used). We will use comparisons mentioned in this book between US and Italian media. Students will also be assigned a blog address to write their daily experiences. Students will have available the operation manual of the Sony 150 and Canon GL-2 video cameras. They may also acquire a copy of: Eyewitness Travel: Rome, by DK Publishers, 2012-13 edition. US cost 25.00+ tx.(paper copy or download version). Also advised is "Fast Phrase Translator; English to Italian:" pocket Guide. $ 13.00 + tx or any other compact Italian to English translation book. Grading: Grading will be strictly A, B, C, D, F
The grading criteria will be based on two parts: a) Instructor observation of the student pre-production ideas and planning for assigned story. b) Instructor observation of student fulfilling story production upon return from the location assignment.
