TV Production SyllabusTu-Th, 12:15-2:05 pm
Your Host: Mr. B (Steve Beverly)
Office Phone: 5380 | Home: (901) 783-5295
E-mail: emceesteve@unforgettable.com or sbeverly@.uu.edu
Important Instructor Websites
misterb.iscool.net
learn.at/comarts
here.at/ubs
welcome.to/ubsnews
Let's not waste time on this. You should find this a course, whether your concentration is in broadcasting or a related communications area, which sharpens your skills, teamwork, and creativity in the field of communication. If you go into public relations, you may one day have to supervise production of a promotional video for a corporation or agency. If you plan to go into television, you will learn basic skills for on-camera and behind-the-scenes performance. If you are in theatre, hopefully this course will enhance your performing or production talents. You will be involved in course work which will result in actual on- air television programming, including our newsmagazine Jackson Tonight!, our game show I've Heard That Song!, and Union basketball. So, the opportunities for genuine hands-on experience is what this course affords.
Materials Needed
- Read your textbook, Video Basics, Zettl, when chapters are
assigned. College students don't like to do that today.
But how can I say it any more specifically? You can't do
well on exams or keep up with concepts if you don't read
daily as assigned. Either read it or weep.
- Access to a computer with internet access---either
your own, or one in the computer lab or library. You
will be expected to have downloaded and
read assigned occasional online material. You will click in at
http://learn.at/comarts
and click the link TV Production. I will
post material there regularly, as well as your grades
on exams (under confidential nicknames).
Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT come to class and complain, "Mr. B, I couldn't get through to the website." Servers do go down, but usually the fault is the part of the student who will try one or two times for five minutes and then never again before coming to class. Be persistent at different intervals if you cannot make a web connection the first or second time after an assignment is made.
Your readings will be assigned as daily episodes. You will be expected to download them by number assigned on a specific day to be prepared for the next class session. Get used to this. This will be the wave of the future in the classroom.
- Tests: Midterm, 100 points.
Final exam, 200. Test dates and tentative daily planned
class assignments are posted on your class calendar
pages for
M-W and
Tu-Th.
No, I don't make up tests for absences on the day a test is given or a project is due, unless it is a university-approved absence and documentation is given. No matter how much I like you and your family.
- Projects: Two in-studio projects during class days, worth 100 points each; one field production team project worth 200 points---100 for a rough cut and 100 for a finished product; and 100 points for overall work on in-class production of Jackson Tonight! and in four required out-of-class projects:
- I've Heard That Song!: Both classes will combine for the Saturday, Oct. 2; Monday, Oct. 4; and
Thurs., Nov. 18 tapings. Both classes will be required to
attend a two-hour rehearsal on Thursday night, Sept. 30,
from 7-9 p.m. This is a mandatory project, as
are all of these listed. We will do one day of in-class taping of
I've Heard That Song! in November, as well.
- Union University Basketball: Both classes
will combine for the Monday, Nov. 22 doubleheader vs. Lambuth. We will likely be switching camera operators between games but each class will be required to work at least one of
the two games.
- Projects: Two in-studio projects during class days, worth 100 points each; one field production team project worth 200 points---100 for a rough cut and 100 for a finished product; and 100 points for overall work on in-class production of Jackson Tonight! and in four required out-of-class projects:
- Grades: You'll get some. The numbers:
94-100 (A), 86-93 (B), 75-85 (C),
65-74 (D), Below 65 (lovely parting gifts of Turtle Wax
and Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco Treat).. Don't even
come to my office and tell me, "I need an 'A,' Mr. B."
I need $100,000 but Dr. Dockery isn't going to give it
to me because I go up to him and tell him I need it.
You'll get and "A" if you make one. My charitable giving
and community service ends in my gradebook. You will receive
what you make---plain and simple!
- Bonus: You will be responsible for helping
fill the audience for I've Heard That Song!, on the Oct. 4 and Nov. 18 dates, for bonus points on the midterm and final exam. Those are always good bonus points and the easiest points
you'll obtain in this class. To be explained later.
- Since most of you have
had me previously, you know my primary attendance policy
is BE HERE! I don't penalize for university-approved
absences, but even in those events---I frown in this class
VERY, VERY STRONGLY against absences on the days
of assigned rehearsals and projects. Even one absent
class member creates chaos in having enough crew people
to do a project. I will be bringing in past students
from time to time to assist with projects, but nothing
is more irritating to another student than for you to
fail to show on a day you are supposed to be on the crew
for his/her project or rehearsal. Your excuse better
be MAJOR for missing project days or rehearsals. Just
don't make up one.
I also expect you here ON TIME. One of three primary reasons for firing in the television industry is being late for work. We will learn that discipline. In this class, if you are tardy more than two times, you will lose one point per late appearance.
One other item: I recognize we have some theatre people in these classes. I am very supportive of our drama program. But you are in an academic course which has some evening requirements because of the nature of our program. I have deliberately tried to work our scheduled programs around play dates, so we do not conflict. But I am going to expect you to fulfill required dates of our productions for your academic credit in this course.
NOTE: If you call me and leave a message, please leave your return phone number. I am not going to have your number automatically at my disposal.
This syllabus is also available at this address online: https://members.tripod.com/~emceesteve/tvsyllabus.htm
Let's quit talking about it and just do it! And remember....the best music is the Music of Your Life! Goodnight, everybody.....
