Week 5 EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology

The PSA above was created by Michael Alves, Pam Comer, Janie Fryar, Emily Priesmeyer and Emily Wisbrock for EDLD 5363 Multimedia and Video Technology and is licenced for limited use through Creative Commons.


Working with my group on the PSA over the past two weeks has been a refreshing change. I was concerned about how we would accomplish our task when we live in different parts of the state. My PSA team experience has not only taught me what goes into creating a video, but also how to effectively manage a project through the use of Web 2.0 tools when the team members live and work in different areas.
Pre-Production
My group began the video production process by collaborating through email and a on Google site created by Emily Wisbrock. We began brainstorming ideas for our PSA on the website and decided to address the issue of cyber bullying. Also on our Google site,we assigned roles based on our talents and areas of expertise. A tinychat.com web conference, organized by Pam Comer, afforded us valuable time to talk face-to-face and establish our timetable. I believe the web conference was vital because it helped us focus on the individual tasks and the direction the project took . Accountability moved to the forefront of the project when the group members saw each other, rather than just exchange words in an email. With our topic and a schedule completed by Pam Comer, we were ready to write a script and put together a shot list to guide our production. Michael Alves wrote the shot list and I wrote the script outline and narration script. Originally, the script outline and shot list did not match, but the more we talked and shared ideas, they came together to create the final PSA. Janie Fryar edited the script and narration, while Emily Wisbrock maintained the web site and kept us organized throughout the pre-production process.
Production
With a timeline to guide us, we each completed our tasks and shared them on the web site and email. I shared the video footage and narration recording with Michael. Using the footage and narration, Micharl put together a rough PSA and we followed-up with another web conference during which we discussed changes we wanted to make in the video, audio, text, and additions we needed on the web site. Constant communication on the web site kept everyone informed and the web conference proved to be an invaluable means of exchanging ideas and sharing so that we stayed on track. Once again, Emily Wisbrock made changes and additions to the web site, Pam Comer organized the web conference and maintained the timetable. Based on our web conference discussion, I reshot two scenes, shot an additional scene, and rerecorded the narration, Janie Fryar edited the script and narration, and Michael edited the video, audio, added music, and edited the text for a second rough PSA. The group followed-up the second rough PSA with third web conference in order to be sure that each member agreed with the changes. The third web conference also gave us a chance to share what we learned in the class web conference and to revisit the rubric. All of the raw footage and narration was posted on the group web site so that the group could collaborate on the shot selections and editing decisions.
Post-Production
Once the final PSA was completed, the group met again on tinychat.com to debrief about the changes we made and to discuss the final submission of the project. We determined that we would post our PSA on YouTube. We discussed our overall impression of the project, the problems we had, our solutions to those problems, and what we needed to turn in as part of our final project.
Improvement and Team Collaboration
As far as improving our PSA is concerned. I think a better quality camera and video footage would improve the overall quality of the PSA. I shot the footage with a Flip camera, and that was fine, except that I was not happy with the quality of the video-it definitely looked like an amateur shot the video. I learned a lot about how not to shoot video when I had to reshoot scenes over and over, but I would like for my footage to look more professional.
At our final web meeting, we discussed our strengths and weaknesses. Everyone in our group contributed to the production of the PSA in some way, and some more than others. The Google site was the best way for each person to contribute to the documentation aspect, and we did use email quite a bit to let everyone know as changes were taking place. The group web conferences were, by far, the most beneficial. It helped tremendously to see faces and know that we were all working toward a common goal. The only collaboration problems we encountered were related to busy schedules outside of class. We were able to overcome this problem, however; by being flexible and maintaining communication throughout the process.