Honors Seminar
JOUR-UA 352.001
Fall 2017
Honors Seminar:
Broadcast & Multimedia Convergence
Professor: Jason Samuels
Room 653 Cooper Square
Wednesdays 10:30am-1:30pm
Email:
Twitter: @profsamuels_nyu
Tumblr: profsamuels.tumblr.com
Tumblr: honorsmultimedia.tumblr.com
Cell: 917-817-3945
Office Hours: Wed 2-4p, and by appointment. Room 728.
Office Telephone: 212-992-7981
Introduction:
For your entire senior year, the fall and spring semesters, you will work on one long-form project of your choosing. It can be a 20-30 minute video documentary or a multimedia project, consisting of audio, photography, graphics, video and/or text.
The objective of the course is to produce a heavily reported, thoroughly researched and beautifully crafted piece of journalism – the equivalent of an academic senior honors thesis.
In class, we will support, encourage and help each other to overcome the inevitable challenges of producing high quality journalism.
During the fall semester, you will produce a fully fleshed out treatment, and a 3-6 min “demo/sizzle” reel, which will serve as a preview of your documentary or multimedia project. The quality of this proposal and reel will play a large role in determining your grade for the fall semester.
During the spring semester, you will work to complete your documentary or multimedia project.
The spring semester will conclude with a screening of your work and the posting of your project online.
Class Requirements:
Textbooks:
- There are no required textbooks in this class.
- You are required to follow me (@profsamuels_nyu) on Twitter and subscribe to my tumblr page (profsamuels.tumblr.com).
- You will be required to keep an online blog to record a weekly update of your progress on your final project.
Project Story Ideas:
Make sure you choose a project that will sustain your interest for the entire school year.
Obviously, some topics and stories will be better served produced as a linear documentary; other topics may be better served produced as a non-linear multimedia project.
Research:
We will begin the fall semester researching and developing on your ideas and pitches. You will create your own reading list of books, articles, documentaries and multimedia projects to help educate you on your topic and to ensure that the idea you choose to focus on is fresh and rich enough to sustain a project of this length.
Reporting:
In order to inspire and expose you to a diversity of multimedia storytelling techniques, during the fall and spring semesters we will watch compelling documentaries and multimedia projects. Some of these projects we will watch during class time, others will be assigned to watch outside of class and reviewed as homework. When you are not in class you will need to be “in the field” - researching and reporting. When we meet weekly, each of you will provide updates on your progress and receive valuable feedback from your classmates and professor.
Warning: this is NOT the kind of class where you can procrastinate and succeed.
Guests:
Throughout our journey we will welcome award-wining documentary and multimedia producers to class to share their work and insights.
One-on-Ones:
As we proceed into the school year, from time to time we will use class time to schedule individual meetings where you will report on your progress and present rough cuts of your final project.
DURF Proposals:
Some of you may wish to apply for a Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fund grant to support your research. In the past, these grants have made it possible for students to travel abroad to report their stories and purchase production equipment. I will work with you on crafting a winning proposal.
Please note: We will not support projects that require travel to countries where there is violence or a threat of war, particularly countries with travel warnings.
Plagiarism:
Any incidents of plagiarism, falsification or fabrication will be punished with an automatic F and the Institute Director will be notified. Please consult the Department Ethics Handbook and be sure your signed Ethics pledge is on file with the Undergraduate Administrative Aide.
Attendance:
Attendance is vital for this class. Unexcused absences will be noted and reflected in your grade.
Assignments:
Don’t miss deadlines. There will be several throughout each semester to ensure that your projects remain on track.
Grades:
Please be aware that your final grade for the first semester will have a huge impact on whether or not you will be permitted to graduate with Honors.
Grades will be allocated as follows:
Class Participation 20%, Progress/Effort 5%, Written Assignments 5%, Final Project 70% (each semester)
COURSE OUTLINE: (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
Wed., Sept. 6 Class #1.
Topics: introductions; syllabus; discussion of initial project ideas;
2017 media landscape; diverse forms of video and multimedia journalism;
Wed., Sept. 13 Class #2:
Topics: project ideas; objectivity; fairness; advocacy
journalism; importance of good characters; story arc; “the samuels guide”; researching the story;
Wed., Sept 20 Class #3:
Topics: project updates; shooting 101; interview techniques; recording audio; photography basics; equipment overview; a
*assignment: pick multimedia/doc project for review
Wed., Sept.27 Class #4:
Topics: project updates; present review; effective narration; project organization; lighting; creative shooting; storyboarding
Guest: Sacha Jenkins
Producer/Director
CNN Films
Wed., Oct. 4 Class #5:
Topics: project updates; present review; editing 101;
Wed., Oct. 11 Class #6:
Topics: project updates; cinema verite;
Wed. Oct 18 Class #7:
Topics: building a story arc; character development
Guest: Alyse Shorland
Vice News Tonight
Wed., Oct. 25 Class #8:
Topics: project update; how to write a script;
how to build a storyboard;
Wed., Nov. 1 Class #9:
Topics: project update - one on one sessions;
* Project Treatment Due*
Wed., Nov. 8 Class #10:
Topics: project update; advanced editing;
Guest: David Scott
Producer/Correspondent
HBO Real Sports
Wed., Nov.15 Class #11:
Topics: review: scripts, rough cuts
Assignment: edit sizzle reel
NOV 23 – NO Class Thanksgiving
Wed., Nov.29 Class #12:
Topics: review sizzle reel rough cut
Wed., Dec. 6 Class #13:
Topics: review/screen sizzle fine reel
Wed., Dec. 13 Class #14:
Screen Final Cut; Outline production plan for winter break
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