Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Let's begin this week's "Update" by going over some of the details of
your two remaining out-of-class recording/editing/mixing projects this semester.
PERSONAL
STORY #3 PROJECT
The theme for your last personal story recording is "First
Time." In 60 seconds, you will talk about and describe the first time you attempted or accomplished something, went
somewhere, had something done to you, etc.
In addition to effectively writing and voicing your story, you need
to add/mix music to the open and close of your project. You should use the "natural" beginning and the "natural" ending of
the music you choose. You can go to the "Links" page of this Web site to access the titles of the 63 Fresh Music Library CDs
we have in La Salle's Audio Studio (Com Center Room 103) to help you search for music. You also can search/sample/listen online
at Fresh Music's Web site. Look for the link to the "Royalty Free Music" page and the disc titles are in alphabetical order on the left hand side of
that page. Your music must come from one of La Salle's CDs. There is a duplicate set in the Building
Manager's Office. Remember to not use track one (1) on the CDs – which Fresh Music calls "Quick
Shots" – because the music is an edited compilation of the music on that CD and may not be adequate/appropriate
for this use.
The development of your story from beginning to middle to end will determine
whether you should use the same music cut to start and close your story, or if you should use two different music cuts/tracks
to reflect a change (in mood, tone, setting, etc.) that occurs in the progression of your story.
Some students like to include a sound effect or two in their story/audio production. You are welcome
(even encouraged) to do so, but your voice and the music are the only required elements.
FINAL PROJECT (AUDIO STORY)
You will need to produce a Final Audio Story this semester, which you
should start thinking about and working on (pre-planning) NOW. It's the culmination of a semester spent emphasizing audio
and storytelling. Your mission is to record/edit/mix an interesting and entertaining 2- to 4½-minute story using voice, music
and sound effects.
I want you to take a published (maybe a scene from a novel or short
story) or original story or poem (or whatever!) and "bring it to life" in an audio production. You may need to adapt
the story to fit the audio medium (and time limit). You will need to take care when selecting/recording voice, keeping
in mind everything we've talked about concerning proper microphone use, voice technique and recording method. You are not
limited to your voice nor the voices of students who will work with you on the project (as a group/team). You can ask anyone
in/outside class to lend a voice to your project, but it's your responsibility to direct them appropriately.
Be sure to choose a story where you have to use voice, music
and sounds – possibly even silence – to effectively paint your audio picture(s). Some productions do not necessarily
need music nor sounds, but you must include a little bit (or a lot!) of everything in your production.
Please let me know ASAP if you plan to write/record/edit/mix this final
production on your own, or with one or two other students. If you want to work in a group, please try to organize it
yourself and let me know who you want to work with so I can approve the arrangement.
"A
CONVERSATION WITH RANDY THOM" AUDIO CD
Your current
LISTENING ASSIGNMENT is the National Audio Theatre Festivals (NATF) CD I handed out Tuesday morning which features a conversation between NATF members and sound
effects expert Randy Thom at a 2003 workshop. Your job is to write a reaction paper (one or two pages) – based on your
listening – where you detail at least five major points concerning sound (effects) in audio productions.
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
#1 and #2 (of 8)
On Tuesday morning (November 14) we listened to a Garrison Keillor story
entitled "Memories of Pain." Somewhat fittingly, his radio program, "A Prairie Home Companion," originally is named after
what? (Correct answer is worth two points.)
In an article entitled "Confessions of a Listener" (you can find a link to it on this
COM 304 Web site), Keillor says that when he listens to the radio he wants to be ... what? (Correct answer
– three words! – is worth three points.)
#3, #4 and #5 (of 8)
On February 27, 2005, Randy Thom (with Michael Silvers)
won the Sound Editing Oscar® for "The Incredibles." He said the film "was by far the most demanding project
he'd ever worked on." Why did he say that? (Correct answer is worth two points.)
What is the difference between the Best Sound
Editing and Best Sound Mixing categories at the Academy Awards? Note: The answer
is not something you can guess at; the distinction is something specific. (Correct answer is worth two points.)
Where did Randy Thom get his start in the sound business?
(Correct answer is worth two points.)
#6 and #7 (of 8)
Here are two audio phrases. Each correct explanation is worth two points.
What is someone doing if s/he is "spotting a script"?
(Note: It doesn't mean s/he is spilling coffee or some other substance on it.)
What is the problem if your recording is "in
the mud"? (Note: It doesn't mean you're recording outside in the rain.)
#8 (of 8)
What is the purpose of the traffic department at a radio station?
(Note: It has nothing to do with road congestion. Correct answer is worth two points.)
E-mail me (Jim) the correct answer(s) by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21, to earn up to seventeen (17)
points on your "Homework" grade sheet.
Remember ...
... that you should bring a "busy" picture to class on Thursday (November 16) that your group can (possibly)
build a multiple sound effects mix around.
... that your Weekly Essay #11 is due Tuesday, November 21. Then your final journal
entry (#12) is due Tuesday, December 5.
... that there is a $15.00 ($14.15 + Tax) materials fee
for this course (to be paid to Jim Templeton).
... that the majority of class time the remainder of this semester you will spend working in groups. Be sure
to manage your time well as you plan and execute the two assignments (the picture/sound effects mix
and the Communication Department audio segments for a commercial) you will be working on with your group mates. The goal of
both is to increase your knowledge of – and practical experience in – audio production.
... that the Communication Department wants to offer a new interdisciplinary minor in Film Studies and needs
students (you!) to take an online survey, even if you are not in a situation where you can take (advantage of) any or
all of the potential courses. Please consider helping the department and students who are interested in film by taking the
time to complete this survey, which also will put you in a lottery to win a $50 gift certificate to – according to the
introduction page of the survey – Borders Books.
Click here to access/start the survey.
As always, please be sure to let me know (phone call, e-mail, in person) if you have any questions
or concerns as we continue through the last weeks of the semester.
Jim Templeton
P.S. You can access earlier "editions" of this
semester's "Latest News" by clicking on the appropriate date/link:
