For my breaking news story, I plan on being at Central Park’s Bethesda Terrace on April 8th to watch the solar eclipse from about 1pm to 5pm. I will be looking to interview people to get their perspective on the event and see if I could capture different people’s reactions. I will use B-Roll and a mix of iphone and camera content using the mic for audio.
For the Breaking News assignment, I plan to visit Central Park during the eclipse. Several people are expected to visit the park during the eclipse’s peak period. I will interview atleast two or three people and asked them about their experience witnessing this one of a kind phenomenon. I plan to use my phone or camera to film the B-roll and interviews.
For the breaking news story, I plan to cover the eclipse on April 8th. Prospect Park is having a solar eclipse community event from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. I plan to do man on the street interviews in the park and ask visitors about their reasons for coming to the park to view the eclipse, their thoughts and feelings about the big event, and anything interesting that they’ve observed. Hopefully there will be some type of expert present at the event, so if there is, I plan to ask them about why this solar eclipse is so significant.
I will be doing my assignment on April 6th. The assignment will have me covering my little cousin middle school basketball game. What makes this event news is the fact that if my cousin’s school wins Saturday it will be he school first championship. I hope to get interviews from people who attend his school. Preferably from people who has been apart of the school for a long time.
Announcements/Upcoming Dates
Guest Speaker
On Wednesday this week (April 3), we will be joined by guest speaker Ed Ou, an award-winning photojournalist and documentary filmmaker. We watched part of one of his documentary films recently, about fatherhood at the intersection of George Floyd Square. For homework for next class, please watch this film as well (it’s one of the shorter ones) and come prepared to ask Ed some questions.
—
Breaking News Assignment
Monday next week, April 8, we don’t have class as normal because it’s the day you’ll be shooting your breaking news assignments about the eclipse. Also by next class, please write a short paragraph (even a few lines) letting me know what your plan is for covering it. We won’t have a pitch workshop for this, but make sure you have an idea of where you’re going to go, who you’re going to interview, etc. Are you going to an event? A watch party? A great viewing location? What angle do you have in mind?
Remember that your video file and dopesheet should be submitted to me by midnight that same day. I recommend using WeTransfer for this.
In addition to the material you film with the school cameras, you will cover the story on social media. I’ve set up an Instagram account for our class where you will post at least one photo to the grid and three Stories updates before you leave the scene. Please save them and submit them to me along with your other materials so I know which posts belong to which person. Password: studioh160
What makes a good (or fun) journalistic Instagram post and an informative series of Story updates?
—
Rough Cut
The rough cut of your 5-7 minute doc will be due Monday, April 15 so that you can get feedback before we break for spring recess.
Audio/Interview Practice Exercises
We’ll take some time today to look at your practice assignments with the microphones and make sure everyone is comfortable using them, not running into any issues, etc.
Young Love is a video poem focused on two young parents in Queens, NY. This is an insight into two minutes of their everyday lives.