Welcome to JRN 521!

Community Video – What does “community” mean to you?

Shoot a video story that personalizes a community event or events.

• Interview a person or persons deeply involved with the community.
  • List questions
  • STRONGLY Suggest shooting the interview separately from candid documentary portions.
• Shoot a formal interview using video.
  • • Light the interview and frame it properly.
    • Use a suitable background.
    • Think of the interview as a portrait and make sure the surroundings enhance the story.
    • Do not use a brick wall as a background for the interview.
    • Use a telephoto lens for the interview.
    • Shoot two or three angles to give you good editing resources. Shoot medium and tight.
    • Use manual focus for the interview to avoid focus search.
    • Use a tripod for the interview.
    • Use an appropriate mic for the interview.
• Shoot tons of B-roll.
• Include B-roll audio
• Follow your subject engaged in their community’s activities to visualize the interview. Think of your main subject as the narrative thread that weaves the story together.
• Your video story must be between 1:30 and 2:00 minutes.
• Research and plan your project thoroughly.
• Include natural audio and weave it throughout your story.
• Use title slides, credits and lower thirds where appropriate.
• Vary your camera angle and subject to camera distance dramatically. Wide. Medium. Tight.
• Shoot short clips, 15 seconds max. For most clips, you’ll only use 1-3 seconds, so shooting a 1-minute clip is way more than you’ll ever need. This also helps you manage your project during the editing process.
• Repeat: WIDE. MEDIUM. TIGHT. Shoot way more B-roll than you think you need.
• Repeat: SHOOT WAY MORE B-ROLL THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED.
• Tell a visual story with a beginning, middle and end.
• Use the editing programs of your choice.
• Make your story character driven.
• Write a half-page (500 words) short news story using AP Style and add it to your blog. This is a news story that is in addition to your required 250-word Blog post.
• Shoot enough B-roll so you do not need to rely on interview footage.
• Avoid displaying long scenes of just a talking head. Use B-roll instead.
• Use an external mic

Requirements:

Post your video story before class on September 16, 2025. Be sure to embed your video on your blog.

Blog all of your assignments and write a 250-word conversational essay about what you learned for every assignment.

You must also write a 500-word news story using AP Style and include a headline for each assignment.

Example:

“Not a Day Off” by Becky Particka