Let's "WRITE!"

VIDEO-ESSAY ASSIGNMENT:

 

In Philip Lopate's (1992), "In Search of the Centaur," he explains the five qualities that all "essay-films" (what we now call "video-essays") must exhibit: 
 

1. They must have words, in the form of a text either spoken, subtitled, or intertitled;

2. The text must represent a single voice;

3. They must represent an attempt to work out a reasoned line of discourse on a problem;

4. The text must have a strong, personal point of view--not just impart information; 

5. The language should be eloquent, well written and interesting;
   (It should be polished and result from multiple drafts).

 

For this assignment, you will use iMovie, Adobe Premiere, or Videopad to remediate your audio-essay as a video-essay that is 6-8 minutes long. Remediation occurs when one type of media is repurposed and refashioned as another type of media. Thus, RE-MEDIA-TION. 

 

Although simply copying and pasting a printed alphabetic essay into your digital blog is technically a remediation, our remediation in unit two will not be a straightforward translation of your audio essay. Rather, your remediation will involve a thorough revision of the unit one project, including but not limited to the following: a complete rewrite of the alphabetic essay (begin thinking about this revision now, but it may also be a recursive process as you start working with the visual mode), a complete reconsideration of and re-recording of the aural mode (the reading of the narrative), and a rethinking of sound effects that illuminate and enhance your visual choices. This is not to say that you can't use any of your work from unit one, because you can and you should, but remediation requires a reconsideration and rethinking of all media choices. 

 

Although you should not try to use everything you learn about video in this one project, you should demonstrate that you can apply what you learn from the tutorials and class about video production and editing and make wise choices about what kinds of effects to use.

 

You should not use a pre-established theme in your software. Please start from scratch. 

 

You must provide attributions (citations) for all found images, video and music. The attributions should roll (like credits typically do in a movie) at the end of your video. Media you create does not require attribution, but you might like to create a license for images or video you compose. Creative Commons provides quick and easy methods for attribution HERE.  

Embedding your license on your Wix site is super easy. The license will look like this:

• Click Add.

• Click More.

• Click HTML Code or drag it to the relevant place on your page.

• Click Enter Code.

• Paste the code.

• Click Update. 

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For non-WIX sites, you may need to screenshot your license and insert it like any other image.

Place your license directly below your video. 

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In the same post as your final video-essay, submit a design rationale (650+ words) in which you explain 5-6 primary choices that you made in creating your project and defend those decisions. Please be honest, but please also be very specific about how and why you made these choices. When appropriate, you are encouraged to use images, sounds and links as part of this reflection.  (This is worth 20 of 100 total points). 

 

You will have opportunities to submit drafts for feedback prior to the final due date, which will be near the end of the semester.