Week 15: Kent Hall (Yahoo! Video) Visit

Today we had a visit from Kent Hall, who has the best job title(s) ever: Content Producer, Community Manager/Chief Blogger, Entertainments & Curiosities at Yahoo! Video.

Here's a list of links to stuff Kent showed in class:

• Yahoo! Video home
• Kent's favorite child, the Yahoo! Animation Network
  
• Viral Video Chart (note the RSS feed — handy!)
• Jumpcut online video editing/sharing site\
• TubeMogul uploading tool (multiple-site video distribution and stat-tracking)
  

Did I forget anything? If I did, remind me and I'll get the link.

I shall miss all of you — and I hope to start seeing lots and lots of your excellent videos showing up on the etherwebs. Have a fabulous summer, and if I won't be seeing you next semester, please keep in touch!

HOMEWORK (OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT)
Write another piece between 3 and 10 minutes in length. This can be another episode of your series, a new series, or a completely different type of piece — up to you. Please proofread, spell-check and format meticulously! Turn in to my BECA Office mailbox (check for hours) by Friday 5/23, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want your work back (or you can drop by next semester and pick it up from me).

Week 14: "Break a Leg" Guys Visit!

Today we had a visit from Vlad Baranovsky (writer) and and Dashiell Reinhart (editing, visual effects) of Break a Leg, who bravely fielded questions and shared their experiences in producing an online show — and promoting it, and pitching it to cable/TV execs, and keeping their day jobs. You can reach them at info@breakaleg.tv if you'd like to talk with them more.

Next week is our last week together, and we've got another great guest coming in: Kent Hall from Yahoo! TV will be here to talk about new media and user-generated video from a programming point of view.

Also, we'll do class evaluations next week — very important!

HOMEWORK:

1. Check out the Webby Awards, especially the Film & Video and Interactive Advertising categories. Nothing to write; this is purely for your enlightenment and edification.
   
2. Check out the Yahoo!Video site. Post a comment to today's class blog discussing a) the overall design and function of the site, and b) three videos featured on the site (any category). Come in next week with good questions for our guest.
   
3. If you didn't do last week's blog-comment assignment, go back to last week's post and get it done!
   

Week 13: Workshops and "Break a Leg"

Good workshopping today, writers!

Next week, Yuri Baranovsky (writer/director/actor, "Break a Leg") will be visiting us, possibly with more writers, cast and crew, to talk about the realities of making online media.

Please continue to watch more episodes of the show; Yuri suggested Episode 3 and Episodes 4-10 as best eps and also good examples of how they transitioned from longer to shorter installments.

I'd also like everyone to take a thorough tour of the show's home site and its YouTube page to see how the creators have built an environment to deliver and promote the show. Notice what interactive features are included in each site, how aesthetics and writing style are used, and how the show "presents itself" to the world.

SPECIAL NOTE: Extras (and other forms of help) needed on a shoot this Saturday at 1:00 in Sebastopol. If you're interested, contact Yuri at Yuri@breakaleg.tv.

HOMEWORK:

1. Finish, proofread and polish your scripts. Next week, you'll turn in the first version, the final version, and a piece of reader feedback (with both names!).
2. Watch a lot of TV! But not just any TV. Watch "Break a Leg" and watch a lot of it!
   
3. Post a comment to today's Class Blog in which you discuss writing elements of two different episodes. (Writing elements can be story structure, character development, dialogue — don't get too distracted by production/camera/acting stuff. You can talk with Yuri about those things, but for this assignment I want you to think about writing.)
   
4. Come in next week with good questions for Yuri and his comrades.
   

Week 12: Political Video Extravaganza

Today we plowed through most of the videos you all posted on the class wiki. For future reference, please note that Flash sites don't always let me pre-load (and therefore might not be watchable in class) — but it's perfectly OK to post them on the wiki for other people to watch on their own.

Next week we're going to be watching some episodes of Break a Leg, a popular and pretty long-running online sitcom by some former SFSU Cinema folks (who are also going to visit us in a couple of weeks). We'll also workshop your scripts, which you'll turn in next week.

The format example and template for 2-column scripts is downloadable in the sidebar now. Don't be afraid to try it out — it really does work better for short spots and videos where the story isn't exactly linear as your pilots were.

HOMEWORK:
Write a short (1-2 page, 1 page is fine) treatment and full script (no absolute minimum, keep it under 10 minutes) for workshopping next class. The script doesn't have to be "finished" (polished) but it must be complete (beginning, middle, end).

Week 11: So What Really Was the Greatest Joke?

Congratulations to Ryan, Sean, Andrew, Danielle and Katie — your scripts were chosen by the TV Directing class to be produced. Well done! Jen Vaughn came to class today to thank everyone for submitting great scripts.

Today my laptop went on the fritz, so we didn't watch the videos you've been posting to the wiki. We'll watch those next week, so if you haven't posted yet, please do! Instead, we watched The History of the Joke (originally broadcast on The History Channel).

We also talked a little bit about the next writing assignment. For next week, all you need to do is decide what kind of thing you'd like to write next. Then we'll have a workshop on 4/29 and you'll turn in a final version on 5/6. NOTE: People interested in collaborating on a script together should post ideas to the the Team Writing page on the class wiki.

Have a good week; see you next Tuesday.

Week 10: Freestylin'

Everyone noticed the use of the apostrophe in the post title, right? How 'bout that for an effective contraction? (And how 'bout that "'bout"? Pretty cool, I know.)

Today we'll be watching the videos that you all posted on the Class Wiki and talking about the writing techniques on display. Hopefully, we'll see some things that inspire you for your next script project.

HOMEWORK:

1. If you haven't yet posted any videos to the Class Wiki, please find at least one political video (related to the 2008 presidential campaign or a current political candidate in another race; local and regional politics count, too!) and post it to the Wiki. Those of you who have already posted videos are also welcome to post political videos as well. Next week, we'll have a Political Video Extravaganza!
2. Write 5 ideas for your next script project. This is just brainstorming; you're not stuck with anything, so feel free to experiment. No special formatting required — just 12-point font, double spaced.
   

Week 9: Writing Mechanics Intensive

Welcome back from spring break! And thank you for writing such wonderful scripts. I sincerely enjoyed reading each and every one and would love to see all of them on-screen.

Today we did not watch The History of the Joke as planned (the DVD has not shipped yet, I'm afraid; I'll show it as soon as it arrives).

Instead, we had a long heart-to-heart conversation about writing mechanics. (Check out that hyphenated compound modifier! Pretty fancy, eh?) My hope and belief is that every person in here can and should get an A on every paper for the rest of the semester. In support of that goal, I invite you all to use my office hours (Mon. 4-5 and Tues. 4-6), the BECA Writing Lab, and the L.A.C. to get extra help with mechanics. And remember to do your proofreading a) separately from the writing, and b) on paper, not on the computer screen.

Those of you who were absent today MUST retrieve your graded work from the BECA Office receptionist (ask her to get it out of the green folder behind the front desk). Your final script will be considered incomplete if you have not incorporated my format/mechanics corrections. You don't have to incorporate my story/content suggestions if you choose not to, but I do expect you to see them before finalizing your script. I will put them in the office tonight, so they will be available starting Wednesday morning.

HOMEWORK:

1. Finish your script for handoff to Jen Vaugn's class; due 9:15 a.m. next Tuesday!
2. Find some fun online video for us to talk about (focus on writing); post links to class wiki so I can download and show in class.