How to plan for your Video Project Social Studies 8/9 Term 2 Lochiel 2013 - 14

Step 1: Finalize your Focus. You may have chosen topic, but that's just part of the first step. Once you have your topic, you need to decide the focus of your video. Ex: Napoleon ... Fantastic topic, but there's so much to talk about, it's nearly Impossible to fit it all in to a 4 minute video. Instead of talking about Napoleon, try a certain aspect of his personality, a highlight of his rule or maybe even one of his military conquests. The more focused your topic, the easier it will be to stay on task and on time

***REMEMBER TO KEEP TRACK OF ANY SOURCE YOU USED FOR YOUR RESEARCH*** Step 2: Get the Goods. Conduct your research; take notes, then double check your information. Once you've done your research you may find that your focus may or may not need to change based on what you find. During your hunt for details, you might stumble across a much cooler topic, so it's a lot easier to change gears at this point than later when you've already written your script. Finally always double-check your sources. Just because you found it on the Internet or a book, doesn't necessarily mean it’s true. ***REMEMBER TO KEEP TRACK OF ANY SOURCE YOU USED FOR YOUR RESEARCH***

Step 3: Plan your Approach: Whether you are working alone or with a partner, it's really important that you are on the same page before you start shooting your video. To keep it on track, discuss (or consider - if you're working alone) the following questions BEFORE beginning your script or storyboard. <WATCH VIDEOS ON SCRIPT WRITING & STORYBOARDING>

What style of video will you do What style of video will you do?? (Live action, puppets, stop motion, animated, etc...) What approach will you take in presenting your information? (Remember your video can be fun or even goofy...the information needs to be accurate.) Will you be serious in your approach (like a documentary or news story) OR will your video be more goofy, fun and factual (like Horrible Histories or BrainPop)? What information MUST be in your video and what could be left out if necessary. (Staying within the time restrictions is going to be tougher than you'd imagine, so be prepared to add to or take away from your video.)

Step 4: Have a Plan. No one ever plans to fail, but those who fail often don't plan. Have a script or storyboard to guide you. It's much easier to adapt something that is already there, than to create it as you go. (This isn't fingerprinting, it's a high school Socials project...it will be obvious if you didn't plan.)

Step 5: Get Cracking. If you haven't begun already, get started as soon as possible! Very few people can accomplish their work under the stress of a looming deadline, even fewer can produce something that's worth handing in at the last moment. Don't procrastinate.

Step 6: Set aside time to be successful! Give yourself time to do the best job you can. Major motion pictures take years to plan, shoot and edit. Consider Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings.” He first saw the original animated movie in 1978. In 1995 he began jotting down ideas for a new version of the film. In 1997 he got studio approval to begin scripts. Filming didn't begin until late 1999. The first of the 3 films was released in December 2001. (Add to all this, that it took J.R.R Tolkien nearly 12 years to write the novels!)

If you do, it will shine through in your video!!! Be Smart and Have Fun!! Book time off in your (and your partners) schedule to shoot your video footage, edit your video and add graphics and details. Most of all…HAVE FUN!!! If you do, it will shine through in your video!!!