Lyrical Interpretation - Digital Story Style Music Video Project 100 Points
Rotation 4 : Due Friday, March 13th, 2015
Part 1: Gathering Media - Days 1- 4
First...
STEP 1 : Choose an interesting lyrical song.
Choose a school appropriate song that is between 3 and 6 minutes in length.
Avoid pop songs that are repetitive or shallow lyrically. Songs that are about "something" tend to lead to better visual imagery and ideas. Research your song's meaning if needed. It is a good idea to save the lyrics to your desktop or print a copy out.
STEP 2 : Acquire the song file. (This should definitely be done by day 4 - you can proceed without it but the sooner you bring it in, the better.)
It is up to you to acquire and bring in the song file.
Tip: Bring the song file in on either a flash drive, CD or through google drive as a file.
If you don't own it, a good idea is to buy it & help support the artist whose work you happen to be using.
(NO iPods/phones! - they won't sync with school computers)
Then....
Step 3: Gather High Quality Media (Video& Photos)
LOG IN USING THE CLASS HARD DRIVE ACCOUNT (r#p#)
A) In the Finder Window, go up to FILE > NEW FOLDER & create a New Folder on your desktop. Name the folder "Your Username DSMedia" This is where you will put all of your photos /video clips and the song file for your project. Keep everything organized all in one place - Avoid a messy desktop screen.
B) Search for non-watermarked, non-pixelated, non-blurry internet images related to your song lyrics and add them to the desktop folder you've just created. Remember to "View Image" in order to save the full size image, DO NOT a drag and drop the small thumbnail photo which is a compressed copy of the image. Also avoid, photos with small pixel dimensions that are under 400 X 400. Even if they are not the thumbnails, they will look pretty bad when blown up in iMovie.A good way to know if you are accidentally using thumbnails is to check the photo file names in your folder. If they have a generic name in sequential order such as "unknown1, unknown2, unknown3 etc. or photo1, photo2, photo 3 etc. - it means you have been using thumbnails and will lose 40 points automatically.
C) Remember, your imagery can be literal, symbolic or based on a concept you have for the song. Try to find out what the song is really about (research the song meaning, references, inspiration etc.). Be Patient! - It may take time to find the best image or video clip for a particular part of the song.
D) Do not repeat images!
E) For instrumental parts, gather video or photos that fit the mood of the song or the feel of the music as best as you can.
F) If your searches are blocked too much by the filters here at school or if you start to fall behind, you can always gather photos at home and either upload them to your google drive (as a file - not in a document!) or bring them in on a flash drive.
Step 4) You must find at least 3 video clips related to your song lyrics by clicking on the following link: videoblocks.com and following the directions below:
Do not fill out any log in info. Instead click on the word "here: at the bottom of the log in screen where it says, "If your account is IP Authorized, click here".
Download the files (either size quality is fine but the lower file size will download much faster) and add them to your desktop folder as well.
(You will then find them in your downloads folder).
5) (Optional) You may also use a small amount (up to 45 seconds) of original video footage (shot by or including you). For this, iPhones are a viable option if I do not have other camcorders available for you to take home. Any optional filming should take place away from school as much as possible since our locations are limited this year.
Digital Story Project Rubric - Please Read!!!!!
| Digital Story Rubric.pdf |
Part 2: Assemble/Edit your project using iMovie - Days 5 -7
1) Create a New Event.
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2) Create a New Project.
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3) Select Command J to bring up the movie properties.
Click on Settings from the upper right corner and A) change Photo Placement to "Fit" B) Uncheck the "Trim Background Music" box.
4) Create an opening Title(s) that includes: The name of the song, the name of the musical artist or group and your name as the "project created by".
5) Use the Import button OR simply drag and drop your media files into your timeline from your desktop folder in the proper order of your song. They should all be 4.0 seconds and there shouldn't be any zooming or movement when you play them yet if you followed step 3 correctly. (You will need to add Ken Burns (movement) later as described in step 7).
6) Drag and drop your video blocks movie clips directly into the timeline in the correct order.
7) Drop your song into the timeline.
8) Adding the Ken Burns Effect (you must use the Ken Burn Effect at least 5 times)
Simply Click on the crop tool icon. Select Ken Burns from the choices that appear and adjust where you want the photo to start and end by dragging the selection boxes. Click the "check mark" icon when done.
*Remember to add variety when using the Ken Burns effect. For example, follow up a "zoom in" with a "zoom out" and vice versa. Just don't use the same movement over and over again consecutively.
* Remember that making the photos with the Ken Burns effect a little longer in time makes the movement slower.
* Adding transitions inbetween photos that helps soothe them out and blend better together.
9) Add at least 5 transitions. Yes, you may add more.
10) Adjust Timing (clip/photo duration) and pacing to flow with the music. remember that you can easily drag in or drag out any items in the timeline to make them longer or shorter.
Part 3 - Receive honest peer feed back & revise.
(Day 8 & 9)
1) Get honest feedback from a friend or two. Make any necessary adjustments/revisions. It is easy to replace a photo or video by dropping the new clip on top of the old and choosing "replace from start". This would keep the timing and duration the same.
Part 4 - Share File (Export) and Submit
Go up to Share and choose "File".
3) Make sure "Add To Theater" is NOT checked.
4) Make sure your project is properly named (R#P# Username MV Digital Story) and save it to the Desktop. (You may have to click on the downward triangle in order to navigate to the
desktop option). Make sure you wait until the white progress circle finishes exporting before you close iMovie or transfer the file to the flash drive!
5) Submit the final file onto the class flash drive into the correct folder.
*You may bring in your own flash drive in order to take home a copy of your project!
VIDEO TUTORIALS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION - FOLLOW WRITTEN STEPS ABOVE!!!!!!4) Create an Opening Title. |
5) Add Your Audio Track. |
6) Add Your Images |
7) Adjust Your Images (Time Duration) |
8) Adjust Your Images (Ken Burns Effect) |
9) Add Your Downloaded Videoblocks (.mov) Clips |
10) Add Your Video Footage From a Memory Based Camcorder/iPhone (If Needed - Optional Step) |
11) Add Transitions To Your Project. |
12) Fade Your Audio In/Out (if needed) |
13) Add A Closing (The End) Title |
REMINDERS & TIPS BEFORE SUBMITTING:
*Adjust the timing of your visuals/transitions etc. to flow with the music.
*Add the Ken Burns Effect at least 3 times and elsewhere when appropriate. Alternate movements (don't use the same effect (i.e zoom out) every time to add variety).
*Add appropriate transitions to help blend together the visuals and enhance the flow of the project.
*Be patient - Find the RIGHT image or video clip for the lyric. If omething is not working, delete the image and search again for a better replacement.
14) Sharing (Submitting) Your Project. |
