Introduction to Television Production, COMM 227
Professor Adam Chiara
email: achiara@ccsu.edu
Website: professorchiara.wordpress.com
Summary: This is an introductory level course for the student who wishes to learn about
the technical and creative aspects of visual communication and TV production. It is
intended for students who have little, or limited exposure to video production techniques.
The course will cover the basics of TV studio operations, field video shooting, and video
editing techniques. We will do all editing using the program Final Cut Pro X, which is in
the editing lab in Vance. Additionally, we will spend a few classes in Central’s TV studio
in the basement of Willard.
Throughout the semester, students will be expected to demonstrate a technical mastery of
the equipment and achieve an understanding of television aesthetics and visual
storytelling. This means a major focus of the course will be to practice basic hands-on
production and to learn how to work across different media platforms. Students will also
learn about new trends in media and manage their own YouTube site.
Ultimately, the purpose of the course is to make students ready to produce videos for
jobs. There are numerous positions in the communication field where knowledge of video
production and visual storytelling is essential. Students will learn skills that will enable
them to create promotional and informational videos for businesses, non-profit
organizations, government agencies, health care facilities, religious and educational
institutions, and many other entities.
Format: The experience in this class will mirror a real life, professional communication
venue. As instructor, I will serve as both teacher and production supervisor. Information
and guidance will be presented in areas such as visual conceptualization, equipment
operation, interviewing techniques, scripting, storyboarding, visual storytelling, and
editing aesthetics.
Students will then work on projects as a group and individually. While some class time
will be available for project work, significant outside time will be needed to complete
assignments. During this production phase, I will provide guidance and assistance. Once
completed, projects will be critiqued in class. The atmosphere in this class will be
"hands-on" with a philosophy of learning by doing.
Grading: There will be 5 projects (each will be 15% of your grade).
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TV Commercial done with a partner, promoting CCSU (60 seconds)
Visual Story (two) done with a partner, focusing on a campus topic or event (60120 seconds)
Studio Interviews (10 minutes)
Music Video done solo
On all projects you will be graded on creativity, scripting, production techniques, your
work within the group, and the execution of the final product. Late projects will not be
tolerated.
Your classroom participation, particularly your work as crew for other student
productions, will count for 15% of your grade.
You will also be assigned chapter readings, in which you will be responsible for a 10bullet point summary of each chapter you read; due one week after it’s assigned. Each
student will be responsible for presenting the chapter’s summary to the class at least once
during the semester (10% of your grade).
Communication: I will use my site professorchiara.wordpress.com to post the
syllabus, content material, and useful links. I will use students’ CCSU email keep in
touch with the class and for last-minute announcements.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken and excessive absences will result in a reduced
grade. Four absences will result in a loss of one full letter grade. Six absences will result
in loss of two full letter grades and eight absences will lead to a reduction of three full
grades.
Cell Phones:
Please place phones on vibrate or silent and put it away before entering the classroom. If
a student’s cell phone rings at any time during the class, I may answer it.
Text: Television Production Handbook, Eleventh Edition, by Zettl
WEEKLY OVERVIEW
This schedule may change and you are responsible for noting changes made in class,
even if you’re absent when alterations are discussed.
Week 1
* Introductions. Overview of visual storytelling and video production across
different mediums. Create a YouTube channel.
* Introduction to camera operations and best practices.
Read: Chapter 8 — pgs. 147-151, 154-162
Read: Chapter 2 — pgs. 26-37
Read: Chapter 4 — pgs. 68-75
Week 2
* Introduction to field shooting and interviewing.
* Writing treatments and storyboarding an idea.
Read: Chapter 19 pgs. — 424-438
Commercial treatments and storyboards.
Shoot footage to edit.
Week 3
* Introduction to video editing and discussion of editing aesthetics.
Read: Chapter 20
Shoot commercials.
Week 4
* Editing of commercial.
* Shooting the visual stories. Writing and structure.
Read: Chapter 18— pgs. 384-393
Read: Chapter 5
Brainstorm story ideas for visual stories with your partner.
Week 5
* Critiquing commercials.
* Functions and aesthetics of audio in video production.
Read: Chapter 9 — pgs. 164-183
Shoot visual stories.
Week 6
* Editing of visual story.
Read: Chapter 1 — pgs. 2-21
Week 7
* Critiquing visual stories.
* Logistics of a TV studio. Tour of studio.
Read: Chapter — 4 pgs. 58-67, 76-80
Week 8
* Discussion on Pre-production.
* Pre-production for TV studio interviews.
Read: Chapter 17
Read: Chapter 14
Read Chapter 10 — pgs. 194-205
Week 9
* Guest speaker.
* Studio interviews.
Week 10
* Critiquing of studio interview. Pre-production for second TV studio
interviews.
* Studio interviews.
Week 11
* Critiquing of second studio interview.
* YouTube and social media copyright laws.
Week 12
* Discussion of music video genre.
* Treatments and storyboarding for music videos.
Shoot music video.
Week 13
* Jobs in video and TV production.
* Guest speaker.
Week 14
* Editing of music video.
Exam Week * Critiquing of music videos.