MADISON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
TV Production Curriculum
Authored by: Rachel Bonnema
Reviewed by: Lee Nittel,
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Thomas Paterson,
Supervisor of Science and Technology Education
Approval Date: January, 2013
Members of the Board of Education:
Lisa Ellis, President
Patrick Rowe, Vice-President
Kevin Blair
Thomas Haralampoudis
Linda Gilbert
James Novotny
David Arthur
Shade Grahling
Superintendent: Dr. Michael Rossi
Madison Public Schools
359 Woodland Road, Madison, NJ 07940
www.madisonpublicschools.org
I.
OVERVIEW
TV Production is a full year course designed to instill each student with the knowledge and skill sets
required to grow from being a talented media amateur into a talented media professional. This course
will focus on the three primary stages of all production: preproduction, production, and post-production.
It will also focus on five fundamental qualities: production knowledge, consistency, creativity, efficiency,
and responsibility. As students progress through the course, they will learn and utilize the necessary
hardware (production and broadcasting equipment) and industry standard software (Final Cut Pro for
post-production purposes) in order to create a full production. Students enrolled in this course will also be
responsible for completing a variety of projects including news broadcast segments for both MSG Varsity
and MHS 21/34.
II.
RATIONALE
TV Production will provide students who have an interest in movie making, advertising, and broadcasting
to acquire the tools of media professionals as they explore four primary components: an overview of the
process and system, preproduction, production, and postproduction. Through this exploration, students
will develop and/or strengthen their communication, leadership, team-work, technical, and analytical
skills. In addition, they will learn how to adapt, be flexible, and be creative in different film locations.
Work for this course will be aired on both MHS 21/34 and MSG Varsity, therefore, there is great
emphasis placed on student work, productivity, and editing. As students expand their technical
knowledge, they will assess film situations, technical needs, as well as their individual computer skills
through the utilization of Final Cut Pro in the editing process.
This course will expand students’ knowledge and expertise inline with industry standards, and it will
provide them with a foundation of understanding and creating industry based footage. This will be vital
particularly if they would like to pursue a career in film, advertising, journalism, or broadcasting.
III.
STUDENT OUTCOMES (Link to New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards)
STANDARD 8.1 Educational Technology: All students will use digital tools to access, manage,
evaluate, and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively and
to create and communicate knowledge.
B. Creativity and Innovation
• 8.1.12.B.1: Design and pilot a digital learning game to demonstrate knowledge and skills
related to one or more content areas or a real world situation.
STANDARD 8.1 Educational Technology: All students will use digital tools to access, manage,
evaluate, and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively and
to create and communicate knowledge.
C. Communication and Collaboration
• Digital tools and environments support the learning process and foster collaboration in
solving local or global issues and problems.
• 8.1.12.C.1: Develop an innovative solution to a complex, local or global problem or issue
in collaboration with peers and experts, and present ideas for feedback in an online
community.
STANDARD 8.1 Educational Technology: All students will use digital tools to access, manage,
evaluate, and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively and
to create and communicate knowledge.
D. Digital Citizenship
• Technological advancements create societal concerns regarding the practice of safe, legal, and
ethical behaviors.
• 8.1.12.D.1: Evaluate policies on unauthorized electronic access (e.g., hacking) and disclosure
and on dissemination of personal information.
• 8.1.12.D.2: Demonstrate appropriate use of copyrights as well as fair use and Creative
Commons guidelines.
STANDARD 8.1 Educational Technology: All students will use digital tools to access, manage,
evaluate, and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively and
to create and communicate knowledge.
E. Research and Information Literacy
• Effective use of digital tools assists in gathering and managing information.
• 8.1.12.E.1: Develop a systematic plan of investigation with peers and experts from other
countries to produce an innovative solution to a state, national, or worldwide problem or
issue.
STANDARD 8.1 Educational Technology: All students will use digital tools to access, manage,
evaluate, and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively and
to create and communicate knowledge.
F. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision-Making
• Information accessed through the use of digital tools assists in generating solutions and
making decisions.
• 8.1.12.F.1: Select and use specialized databases for advanced research to solve real-world
problems.
• 8.1.12.F.2: Analyze the capabilities and limitations of current and emerging technology
resources and assess their potential to address educational, career, personal, and social needs.
STANDARD 8.2 Technology Education, Engineering, and Design: All students will develop an
understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design, and the
designed world, as they relate to the individual, global society, and the environment.
A. Nature of Technology: Creativity and Innovation
• Technology products and systems impact every aspect of the world in which we live.
• 8.2.12.A.1: Design and create a technology product or system that improves the quality of life
and identify trade-offs, risks, and benefits.
STANDARD 8.2 Technology Education, Engineering, and Design: All students will develop an
understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design, and the
designed world, as they relate to the individual, global society, and the environment.
B. Design: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision-Making
• The design process is a systematic approach to solving problems.
• 8.2.12.B.3: Analyze the full costs, benefits, trade-offs, and risks related to the use of
technologies in a potential career path.
STANDARD 8.2 Technology Education, Engineering, and Design: All students will develop an
understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design, and the
designed world, as they relate to the individual, global society, and the environment.
C. Technological Citizenship, Ethics, and Society
• Knowledge and understanding of human, cultural, and societal values are fundamental when
designing technology systems and products in the global society.
• 8.2.12.C.3: Evaluate the positive and negative impacts in a design by providing a digital
overview of a chosen product and suggest potential modifications to address the negative
impacts.
STANDARD 8.2 Technology Education, Engineering, and Design: All students will develop an
understanding of the nature and impact of technology, engineering, technological design, and the
designed world, as they relate to the individual, global society, and the environment.
F. Resources for a Technological World
• Technological products and systems are created through the application and appropriate use
of technological resources.
• 8.2.12.F.1: Determine and use the appropriate application of resources in the design,
development, and creation of a technological product or system.
IV.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND CONTENT
A. Introduction to the Production Process & System
a. What is the Production Process and its components?
b. How is this process essential in the creation of footage and a finished product?
c. What are the fundamental principles and roles within this process?
d. What are the primary stages of this process and what is the purpose of each stage?
B. Understanding Ethics & Copyright Law
a. What are ethics?
b. Why is understanding copyright law and maintaining ethical behavior essential for the success
of any production?
c. How are ethical and copyright violations handled within industry?
C. A General Overview & Introduction to Technical & Television Production Systems
a. What hardware is included within a ‘production system’?
b. How does a basic production system compare to an extended production system?
c. Why software components exist within a ‘production system’?
D. An Introduction to the Basics of Preproduction & Production
a. What are the roles that individuals must fulfill to create a production set that works
effectively?
b. Why is it essential to complete the preproduction stage followed by the production stage?
c. In the pre-production stage, how are projects organized?
d. In the pre-production stage, what is a script and a shot list, and how are they vital to the
preproduction stage?
e. In the pre-production stage, why are storyboards vital?
f. In the production stage, how is the equipment utilized to create the right shot?
g. In the production stage, why is it important that lighting, sound, and shot are accurate?
E. Creating a Simple Footage Using the Preproduction & Production Phases
a. Utilizing the very basic fundamentals of the two phases, how would a 20 second commercial
be created and shot?
b. Utilizing the very basic fundamentals of the two phases, how would a news segment be
created and shot?
c. How do the preproduction and production phases for a commercial and news segment
compare?
F. An Introduction to the Post-Production Phase
a. What is the industry standard post-production software used for editing in television
production?
b. How is footage transferred from a camera to a computer for editing purposes?
c. What are the primary features of the Final Cut Pro interface?
d. What are the four steps in the Final Cut Pro workflow?
e. Why is logging and capturing necessary and how does one complete this task?
f. How is footage transferred to the timeline within Final Cut Pro?
g. How is a finished file converted into a Quick Time file for finalization purpose?
G. Conducting the Post-Production Phase on Simple Footage
a. Utilizing the basic fundamentals of the final phase, how would a 20 second commercial be
downloaded, edited, and converted within Final Cut Pro?
b. Utilizing the basic fundamentals of the final phase, how would a news segment be
downloaded, edited, and converted within Final Cut Pro?
c. What are some common technical glitches associated with the basic fundamentals of the postproduction process?
H. Stage 1: Preproduction - The Main Aspects & Thorough Analysis
a. Why are the production schedule, script, summary, and budget necessary for preproduction?
b. Why do script formats differ based on the type of production?
c. What are the necessary roles among all productions?
d. What is the director’s role in preproduction?
e. Why is it important for a director to understand the talent’s point of view prior to production?
f. Why is it vital to prepare colors, costumes, makeup, and sets?
g. What legal documents are required prior to any shoot?
h. What is the main question that all producers and directors must ask themselves before
following through with the production phase?
I. Stage 2: Production – In-Depth Work and Analysis
a. What are the various types of shots that can be utilized during the production phase?
b. Why is it important to utilize the proper shots?
c. How does lighting work with a camera shot to create the proper mood and scene?
d. How does color and set design play a role in the production phase?
e. How is sound captured during the production phase?
f. What techniques should be followed in order to ensure sound is adequately captured?
g. Why is it important to have cohesion between the producers, director, talent, and studio techs?
J. Stage 3: Post-Production – Editing Rules, Guidelines, & Software
a. What guidelines should one follow when editing?
b. Why is it important to understand files and directories when working in post-production on
Final Cut Pro?
c. What tools are utilized regularly to delete footage, divide footage, piece footage together, and
import additional files from external sources?
d. How are video clips, sound clips, and transitions created, placed, and layered?
e. Why is it vital to understand when to layer video clips, sound clips, and transitions?
f. How do you create visual effects and animated text?
g. How do these effects enhance the overall quality of the edited footage?
h. Why is it important to convert your final production to a Quick Time file?
K. Creating a Short Film
a. Using the knowledge of all three phases of television production, how would a short film be
created from start to finish?
V.
STRATEGIES
In order to effectively teach the various skills and content of this course, the following strategies will be
utilized throughout the units of the course:
• Group Discussions
• Guided Practice and Demonstration
• Individual Classroom Practice Activities
• Individual & Partner Based Film Submissions
• Tier-Based Activities
• Unit Pre-assessments
• Additional Differentiated Instruction Techniques
VI.
EVALUATION
In order to effectively evaluate each student’s participation, understanding, application, and completion of
the course material required, the following measures of evaluation may be utilized throughout the course:
• Formative assessments
• Unit Benchmarks
• Unit Projects
• Daily Participation (This is defined within a rubric provided to all students on their weekly goal
sheets, as well as on the course website. Participation is a combination of classroom conduct,
time management, staying on task, and completion of activities associated with the day’s
objectives.)
• Final Project
• Electronic Portfolio (This is created at the end of the semester containing three pieces the student
chooses of their work, of which the student then presents one of the three to the class.)
VII.
REQUIRED RESOURCES
The resources utilized within this course are:
• Website Tutorials (i.e. Lynda, Apple)
• Search Engines (i.e. Google)
• Prior Files & Footage
• PDF Notes & Tutorials via Course Website
VIII. SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
This semester course is divided into units that provide the student the ability to develop a strong
foundation in 3-D multi-media animation, and from that foundation build upon their skill sets to enhance
their expertise and create advanced animations and presentations.
Unit 1: Introduction to the Production Process & System (4 Days)
a. The Production Process
b. Production Components
c. Fundamental Principles of Production
d. Roles within the Production Process
e. The Primary Stages and Purpose of the Process
Unit 2: Understanding Ethics & Copyright Law (2 Days)
a. Ethics Defined
b. Understanding Copyright Law
c. Ethical and Copyright Violations
Unit 3: A General Overview & Introduction to Technical & Television Production Systems (4 Days)
a. Hardware within a ‘Production System’
b. The Basic Production System
c. The Extended Production System
d. The Software Components within a Production System
Unit 4: An Introduction to the Basics of Preproduction & Production (20 Days)
a. General Roles within Preproduction & Production
b. Organizing Projects
c. Understanding the Purpose of Scripts & Shot Lists
d. Creating Basic Scripts
e. Outlining Using Storyboards
f. Equipment Basics in Operating & Shooting During Filming
g. Incorporating the Basics of Lighting & Sound
Unit 5: Creating a Simple Footage Using the Preproduction & Production Phases (20 Days)
a. Creating & Shooting a Commercial
b. Creating & Shooting a News Segment
c. Analyzing Case Studies of Footage
Unit 6: An Introduction to the Post-Production Phase (10 Days)
a. Understanding Post-Production Software
b. Transferring Footage for Editing
c. Primary Features of the Final Cut Pro Interface
d. Four Steps in the Final Cut Pro Workflow
e. Logging & Capturing
f. The Timeline within Final Cut Pro
g. Converting into a Quick Time File
Unit 7: Conducting the Post-Production Phase on Simple Footage (4 Days)
a. Downloading, Edited, & Converting Footage
b. Common Technical Glitches
Unit 8: Stage 1: Preproduction - The Main Aspects & Thorough Analysis (30 Days)
a. The Production Schedule, Script, Summary, and Budget
b. Script formats
c. Required Roles for All Productions
d. The Director’s Role
e. The Talent’s Point of View
f. Preparation of Colors, Costumes, Makeup, and Sets
g. Legal Documents Required
h. The Deciding Factor
Unit 9: Stage 2: Production – In-Depth Work and Analysis (30 Days)
a. Types of Shots
b. Utilizing the Proper Shot
c. The Impact of Lighting
d. The Impact of Color & Set Design
e. The Impact of Sound
f. Techniques for Sound & Lighting
Unit 10: Stage 3: Post-Production – Editing Rules, Guidelines, & Software (30 Days)
a. General Editing Guidelines
b. Importance of Files & Directories
c. Final Cut Pro Tools to Delete, Divide, Piece, & Import Footage
d. Layering Video Clips, Sound Clips, & Transitions
e. Creating Visual Effects & Animated Text
f. Overall Quality of the Edited Footage
g. Converting to a Quick Time File
Unit 11: Creating a Short Film (20 Days)
a. Focusing on Implementing All Three Phases
b. Analyzing Case Studies & Film
c. Creating a Short Film