Final Exam Assignment - Video Montage

Final Exam - Metaphorical Montage Project.  Students will work individually or in groups of 2 to shoot a short video segment (1 minute exactly) that implies a message or theme (not topic) indirectly through video photography and non-continuous montage editing. Music and/or sound effects should be used as background, but no lyrics or narration should be used. The message or theme may be intellectual, emotional, or spiritual in nature and could be expressed in a written statement (noun and verb) or phrase. This will be handed in on a USB thumb drive on exam day with a paper in an envelope stating the intended message and how it was achieved. Groups/students are not to share their message with other students until after the showing of their video in class. No assignments will be accepted before exam day. Participation by the class is part of the final exam assignment during the exam session. Students working in pairs must fill out a self and group evaluation sheet and everyone provides individual pre-production storyboards in writing.

Specific guidelines:

1. You need to shoot the footage you need yourself. The only exception is that you could not possibly have shot the footage because it is historical or far away. Limit how much stock footage you use. A montage that uses all stock footage will receive a low grade.  If you can shoot it yourself, you should do so.  NO MORE THAN TWO SHOTS MAY BE STOCK FOOTAGE.

2. Keep to the time limit. Montages are to be 1 minute long. Points will be docked if the length is less than 57 seconds or more than 1 minute 3 seconds.

3. Do not tell a story with this. This is an idea-associative montage. The comparing of two or three images together creates meaning. There should be no plot, dialogue or story. To create cause and effect, show the cause first, then the effect.  Avoid sequential montages unless there is no other way around it.

4. Long shots don't fare as well here. Keep shots shorter - repetition of the message is acceptable, if needed.

5. Think about symbolism. Read the Zettl chapter on complexity editing again. You are somewhat trying to tell us something using code. For example, what can a rose represent? Does the color of a rose mean anything? If you use a cross, are you referring to Christ or crucifixion? Does the Bible refer to God, to God's Word or to a book? What makes a symbol specific is what goes with it. What you show before and after the image, makes a difference. How you show it (context) means something too.

6. This is not a cheap and easy project. Use good lighting. Use a good sound mix. Have interesting shots.

7. Some audio is required, but doesn't have to be music playing or constant sound. If you use music, no lyrics. Remember that sounds and music have meaning that can help or hurt your montage. Make sure it fits.  Everything should have a purpose.

8. The video should start with a slate that contains the names of the producers, the date, and the words "Final Exam Montage." The slate should be 5 seconds, then 5 seconds of black before the montage.  Render your video as Vimeo 720p HD at whatever frame rate you used.  These files should be in wide screen with no letterboxing.

9.  Finally, before exam day, upload a storyboard of your project to the dropbox.  Each person needs to do this for his/her own idea.  Storyboards are not shared.  Yes, if you had a partner, you made a video together, but both of you should have had an idea for a montage in storyboard form. Each individual storyboard will be evaluated for points.  You only have to make one of them for the video portion if in a partnership.

Procedures on Exam Day:

1. Bring your drive and paper to class. Make sure the file will play in the 315 lab. If it doesn't work, you receive a zero. The filename should have the names of you and your partner (if you had one) written in it.  Also - MAKE SURE TO UPLOAD YOUR MONTAGE TO STUDIO SO THAT IT CAN BE EMBEDDED FOR THE DROPBOX.  Partners only need to do this for one person, but each person should have a note in the text box as to who your partner is and who uploaded the video.

2. When it is your turn to play your video, you (and your partner) will come up to the podium and put the drive in the PC.   Put the video in pause on the slate and wait for the professor to give you the signal to play. Either you or your partner should turn out the lights during playback. After playback, turn the lights back on and wait for the class to guess your message.

3. After playing your video, the class will try to guess your montage's message. You can tell us if we are partly correct, or getting hot or cold. If someone gets very close, then read your message, and you are done.  Give your paper to the professor.

4. Your paper should include the message of the montage. It should then describe in detail how you think the images and sound created this message. You also need to turn in a self and group evaluation if you had a partner.  This is due in class.

5. Grading will take place at the dropbox on Canvas.  Grading is based on quality of production, use of montage, complexity of montage and message, and following assignment guidelines.

6.  Students trying to guess will get credit for their participation and getting it right.