Writing For Broadcast: Who Is Jerry?
Tom shares his presentation on writing for news by introducing “Jerry.” This presentation was toured throughout 2023-2024 in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.
The BIG 4: The FOUNDATION of FILM ANALYSIS in THE IB FILM CLASSROOM
Adam, your resident IB film teacher, wants to help your students walk the talk. How understanding the Big 4 (mise-en-scene, editing, cinematography, and sound design) can transform student analysis and filmmaking.
TWO KEY APPROACHES TO HELPING STUDENTS MASTER THE EXTENDED ESSAY IN IB FILM
Adam, your resident IB film teacher, has two key pieces of advice to help students navigate the 4,000 extended essay in IB film.
And the oscar goes to…
Adam, your resident IB film teacher, discusses how incorporating an Academy Award style ceremony in class raises the bar for student films.
BUT/THEREFORE STORYTELLING APPROACH
Before you ask your kids to go write a script, start here with the But/Therefore storytelling approach and watch your kids become better storytellers.
REVISITING A SCRIPT: FOCUS on CONFLICT & CHARACTER
Consider this: most films that you see focus on two characters talking up on the screen.
Sometimes, they’re doing something, but most times, two or more characters are sitting down (maybe they are eating or drinking) and talking -- we call that a talking heads scene because the audience is literally watching two huge heads (on the screen) have a conversation
LEDE To Succeed Presentation from GSPA
On March 27, 2023, Tom presented at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Spring Conference. This is the audio and slideshow from the presentation.
6 Apps to Help Film Students Develop Writing Skills
The importance of these skills for a student is not hidden in the sense that they are a sort of filmmaker, turning their piece of writing into a real-time picture through the description. Hence, the students need to learn these skills to make their writing more intriguing and captivating for the desired audience.
How to Write a Live Stream People Actually Want to Watch
Based on Find Stack, 67% of viewers say that quality is the most important factor when choosing which live stream. 87% also admit to watching live streams because they like to get a behind-the-scenes insight about their favorite content creators. Writing a live stream script that people will want to watch is a matter of practice and know who you want to become as a streamer.
How to Find the Perfect Monologue
While school drama departments and community theaters across the country are currently on hiatus, what better time to hone your acting chops than by identifying and practicing monologues you can use for future auditions and sizzle reels?
7 Easy-to-Follow Steps for Writing a Video Script
Writing a video script that will meet your goals and convey your vision into reality is a challenging process. What can ease up is that the whole process is a step-by-step organization that will eliminate the stress and help you take on this assignment strategically.
Front Page News
It started as a drowning call. We heard the code over the police scanner on Monday night. A backyard swimming pool. Three children. An unforgivable accident. Startling, obviously, but nothing out of the ordinary. We cover shootings and collisions and burglaries all day, every day. It takes a lot to get a newsroom’s undivided attention.
How to Know Which Shots to Use for My Storyboard
The ultimate power in filmmaking and cinematography is how shots and camera movement are able to affect us subconsciously. They can steer us toward reactions or understandings without us being aware it’s happening. Films of all genres, including documentaries, manipulate audience’s emotions through shot, camera movement and editing choices.
What Chekhov Knew About Sitcoms
His heyday was long before the advent of prime time comedy but I often paraphrase Anton Chekhov whenever an aspiring screenwriter suddenly throws a contrivance into the third act that had nary a passing reference in the first or second. The objective is always the same: to try to jumpstart a floundering plot with a last-ditch surprise in order to keep it from dribbling off with a whimper.
Ethical Considerations in Good Journalism
The pillars of journalism (accuracy, fairness, and objectivity) are among the major ethical considerations for those who work in the news industry. Additionally, there are ongoing debates over bias, objectivity, favoritism, and a number of other ethical issues.
How to Get Media Permissions for Your Videos and Other Media
Media permissions are a very important part of the modern, digital age in which we live, and are an integral part of digital citizenship as creators of works that applies to us all. Following it as a procedure will not only protect your network, but will also prepare students in their careers. This applies whether you are seeking media permissions of someone else or granting permissions for your own image, brand or works to be used in a media format.
Writing Compelling Leads for Broadcast News
While there are few "perfect" leads, some are better than most. As you pursue a career in journalism, you'll encounter those leads that are memorable, those leads that are acceptable, and those that are simply not very good. And because all news stories are different from one another, you'll also learn that different methods can solve the challenges in writing good leads.
Two-Column, Split-Page Script Format
The two-column, split-page script format is used for multiple-camera productions, as well as for advertisements and corporate and instructional videos. Here’s how to lay it out, from characters to dialogue to scenes.
How to Anchor Like a Pro - Part 2
The best anchors in this country do not waltz onto the set and read their scripts cold; they have spent time writing, re-writing and practicing their scripts. Here are a few tips on how to make sure you read like a pro when you deliver the news.