Final Project Guidelines

DUE: Tuesday, April 26 at 9:30am

This project is intended to provide experience and a demonstration of your knowledge about the process of developing media for television. You have four choices on which to base your project. Pick one:

Anti-smoking public service announcement (~60 seconds)
Safe sex public service announcement (~60 seconds)
Promotion for a political candidate (an actual candidate or a spoof candidate; ~60 seconds)
Music video (this is likely to be longer than the other options, probably 3-4 minutes. The piece of music you choose MUST have lyrics.)

Every project is required to contain the following elements (note the few exceptions in parentheses):

Premise (1 sentence)
Theme (1 sentence)
Log line (1 sentence)
Treatment (one full page using the format on pp. 82-87 of Writing Treatments That Sell)
2-column script (for a music video, use the lyrics in place of dialogue)
Master scene script (for a music video, use the lyrics in place of dialogue)
Storyboard of the entire script with dialogue or lyrics and shot descriptions indicated (a minimum of 24 shots for a 1 minute program; maximum of 60 which is typical for a music video). Use this storyboard sheet. Be sure that your notes are neatly hand written.

Submit this assignment in the following format:

A cover sheet that includes your name, discussion section number, AI’s name, and the title of your story.
One page with your story's log-line, the premise, and the theme.
One page with the treatment that describes your story in detail.
24-60 storyboard frames. When you draw, think about framing, composition, Rule of Thirds, and the correct aspect ratio just as you did when working with a camera earlier in the semester. Label each frame according to the shot you want to use. The following labels describe the shots we discussed in class: XLS, LS, MLS, MS or "two-shot", MCU, CU, XCU. If camera movement is required, be sure to indicate pan, tilt, dolly, truck, crane, hand held, or other movement. Neatly print the shot label below each frame in the storyboard sequence. Use this storyboard grid.
All projects must use music. Sound effects should be used as appropriate. These and any other audio elements should be noted in your scripts.
2-column scripts should match this format. Note the spacing and use ALL CAPS as appropriate. All text should be set in Courier 12 pt. Use this MS Word template to help get started.
Master scene scripts should match this format. Note the spacing and use ALL CAPS as appropriate. All text should be set in Courier 12 pt.
All components MUST be fastened together in some fashion—bound, stapled, etc. Projects turned in as loose sheets will have 30 points deducted.

THIS PROJECT MUST BE AN ORIGINAL PROJECT THAT YOU CONCEIVED, WROTE, AND STORYBOARDED. COPYING FROM ANOTHER SOURCE IS BOTH PLAGARISM AND COPYRIGHT INFRINGMENT. THESE ARE SERIOUS ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES. ANYONE FOUND COPYING ANOTHER PERSON’S WORK (IN THIS CLASS or ANYWHERE ELSE) WILL AUTOMATICALLY FAIL THIS EXERCISE AND THE COURSE. YOUR BEHAVIOR WILL ALSO BE REPORTED TO THE COLLEGE AND THE DEAN OF STUDENTS.

Late assignments WILL NOT be accepted. However, students may turn their projects in April 15-19 and receive five points of extra credit. Students may also deliver early projects between April 20 and 11am on April 25 to earn three points of extra credit. Early projects should go to your instructor or AI.

Your projects will be evaluated using this rubric. Please download this document (.docx format) and review it to fully understand the expectations of the project. The points breakdown for the assignment is as follows:

Points	Project Components
15	Master scene script
15	2-column script
15	Storyboard composition
15	Storyboard mise-en-scene
15	Storyboard shot description & camera movements
6	Treatment
4	Log Line
2.5	Premise
2.5	Theme
10	Overall impression

100	TOTAL

Return to: T206 Grading | T206 Schedule