JMS

362: Documentary Storytelling

Summer 2017

Laura Fong, MA Journalism Kent State University
Journalist In Residence, Visiting Assistant Professor
Center For Collaborative Journalism

Office: CCJ 115 Phone: 478-301-2935 (office) OR 330-414-6075 (cell)
email: fong_lc@mercer.edu Skype: Laura_c_fong


Office Hours: For summer, call, Skype, email, or text me anytime. Im here to support
you through the whole Mercer On Mission experience.

Course Description: This course is an n introduction to the principles and procedures of
DSLR video production, storytelling photography and audio gathering, with focus on the
competent use of equipment and technique in the field and in post-production.
Students will be refreshed on videography, sound recording, shooting still images and
editing of photos and video stories specifically tailored for Mercer On Mission. These
assignments will focus more on documentary style storytelling, interviewing skills, audio
gathering, and post-production in Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe
Audition.

Students will have the opportunity to publish or air their finished assignments with
our partners at GPB, The Telegraph, The Mercer Cluster, and WMUB/MVP.

Course Objectives: Students in this class will learn and develop basic skills associated
with digital video production and international storytelling including:

Understand the use of camera and basic photojournalism skills to create and
capture storytelling images.

Understand the technique of location sound recording and basic audio editing
and mastering.

Understand the production process including production roles, pre-production,

production, and post-production planning prior to travel.

Understand and practice digital video shooting and editing.

Understand documenting another culture, interacting respectfully with the

program with which you are documenting, and travelling safely as an American
journalist.
Equipment: You will be able to borrow a Canon Digtal SLR camera for the summer, and
additional equipment based on your Mercer On Mission programs needs and your skill
level IE) lights, lenses, etc. In individual consultation we will outline an equipment list to
suit your needs. You can find the manual for the T5i here HERE. If you need an external
hard drive we have a few available. You will return the hard drive at the end of the
summer. Loss or damages to this equipment will be your responsibility.

You are required to provide your own SD cards for use in the DSLR cameras that are 16
gig or larger. ($10 and up on Amazon)

Required Assignments:

1. Three Minute Narrative Video:
This is a video where you determine what the final project will look like, and the
narrative. It will be a storytelling video about the program that simply explains the
purpose of this particular Mercer On Mission trip. The narrative will be told by the
trips professors, Mercer students, and local contacts through interviews you shoot
and transcribe. Think of your audience as someone who knows NOTHING about this
Mercer On Mission program. Shoot for about 3:00

The best way to edit this kind of a video, is to nail down the narrative first and
then add in your b-roll. We will talk more about this in class.
A draft of this narrative video is due one week after your return from travel. You
dont have to have transitions and title slides, but you will need to have all b-roll
placed. You will have ideas for the title slides and transitions, and what you will
have left to complete after this draft is audio mastering, transitions and title
slides. The draft is ALL that is required for this class. You can finish the video in
your spare time if you like, but it is NOT required.
please refer to the required shooting list for elements I will be looking for when
I am grading, interview, variation of shots, developed story line, clean audio,
etc.

OR

2. Photo/Audio Story
This will be a visual narrative that includes the major characters on this Mercer on
Mission, and your challenge will be to take photos that tell the story, and present
them in an order that clearly tells the story. Think of your audience as someone who
knows NOTHING about this Mercer On Mission program. There is no maximum
number of photos, but you want you finished project to be about 3:00, so if each
image is on the screen for roughly 3-5 seconds, thats about 35-45 storytelling
images. You will conduct audio interviews, transcribe them and edit the narrative. A
draft of this slideshow is due one week after your return from travel.
 You MUST have clean audio, and all of your images need to be edited
The draft is ALL that is required for this class. You can finish the video in your
spare time if you like, but it is NOT required.

3. Gallery of Portraits and 50-100 of your favorite images: (both videographers and
photographers MUST complete this)
You will shoot a portrait of each person on your trip-students, faculty and local
contacts. The best thing to do is choose a location for your portraits, and set up at a
specified time to shoot all of them. Choose the best light and location. This will give
unity to the images and provide shots for the programs use that include all of the
participants.
Submit these on Blackboard with a link to a Google Drive folder with images
edited and named
2017_MOMnameofcountry_NameofIndividual_yourinitials_01
Your 50-100 photos will be uploaded elsewhere, directions to follow

Required Texts And Materials: There are no required texts, however, there are selected
videos and readings that will be provided in class and on Canvas.

From the Student-Faculty Agreement:
JMS students will follow the same schedule as the rest of the students on the
Mercer On Mission trip.
JMS students will respect the rules of Mercer On Mission professors while in
country. The same rules their students have to adhere to also apply to you.
Students will attend a week of JMS classes the week immediately following exam
week (May 8-12 2017) Class will be held 9-4 Mon-Friday.
The Student is required to sit in on the Mercer On Mission groups classes
(usually one week prior to travel) for your JMS 198 Journalism and Social Change
class requirement. You will attend for one full week (to be arranged with
individual professor, and this will be confirmed by Faculty survey conducted
upon your return)
Students will spend a required 12 days of shooting while in-country. The
remaining work days can be spent helping with the service project .
One week after return, student will submit a rough cut video for grading,
photo/audio story completed for grading and all photos uploaded (portraits and
50-100 best images)
Student will post Mercer on Mission assignments in an Adobe Spark
presentation. Student will turn this link in to Laura Fong via Canvas, and they will
be forwarded to MOM program professor after evaluation.
Student will have an exit interview in September following your trip for
evaluation and feedback provided by your groups professors.
Students will have all subjects sign photo/video releases and may need faculty
help translating them if you will be working with non-English speakers.
 Students will work with MOM faculty to schedule a time to take portraits of
everyone on the trip. This should take about an hour and a half, once the
photographer is set up and can be done at any time on the trip.
Students who wish to travel with a laptop must take their own, and are
personally responsible for it.
Students are responsible for providing their own media storage, ie) external hard
drive, SD cards, etc. Also securing cloud space using Google or Amazon Prime is a
good thing to arrange so that you can back your images up to the cloud also, in
case something happens to your media storage.

Your Mercer Email Address: Is the official form of communication while you are a
student at Kent. You are responsible for checking your @mercer.edu email address for
all communications regarding this class. I will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Please note that emails and voicemails left after Friday at 5pm are likely to be returned
the following Monday.

Submitting Assignments: Assignments are to be submitted to me by email. You will post
a gallery of portraits and your 20 favorite images on Google Drive or your website or
blog, and both of your videos need to be hosted on YouTube or Vimeo, and the links
emailed to me.

Grading: Each project will be graded on both the TECHNICAL and TECHNIQUE aspects.
1. Technical: Understanding and Use of equipment
2. Technique: Approach, Planning, Creativity, Direction & Execution

Required Assignments:
1 Three Minute Narrative Video Final Draft
1 Audio Photo Story Final Draft
1 Gallery of Portraits of each person on your trip and a gallery of your top 50-100
images, edited and uploaded (instructions to come)

Trip Leader Evaluation:
Professors will fill out individual evaluation forms for each of you, covering the
following: your participation, your independence, professionalism, courtesy, manners,
and your ability to function within their schedule and accomplish what is required by
me, and also anything additional you have agreed upon. This feedback will contribute to
your final grade in this class.

GRADING SCALE

90% - 100% A
87% - 89% B +
80% - 87% B
77% - 79% C+
 70% - 76% C
67% - 69% D+
60% - 66% D
Below 60% F

Assignments: Nothing will be accepted late. Our department has a policy about this, and
journalism is all about being able to manage your time properly and meet deadlines.
NOTHING WILL BE ACCEPTED LATE. Late work receives a ZERO with no chance to re-
submit or raise the grade.

Policies and Expectations:
Students are to RESPECT each other and the equipment. Any damage to
equipment borrowed for the purpose of Mercer On Mission will be the students
responsibility.
Students are to read/watch all assigned materials.

Documented Disability Statement: (From Provost Office)
Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the
first class meeting or as soon as possible. If you are not registered with Disability
Services, the instructor will refer you to the Student Support Services office for
consultation regarding documentation of your disability and eligibility for
accommodations under ADA/504. In order to receive accommodations, eligible students
must provide the instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form from Disability
Services. Students must return the completed and signed form to the Disability Services
office on the 3rd floor of the Connell Student Center. Students with a documented
disability who do not wish to use accommodation are still strongly encouraged to
register with Disability Services and complete a Faculty Accommodation Form each
semester. For further information, please contact Disability Services at 301-2778 or visit
the website at
http://www.mercer.edu/stu_support/swd.htm

Academic Integrity:
Mercer University operates with an honor system. You have agreed to abide by that
honor code by enrolling in the university. Any violations of the Honor Code will be
referred to the Honor Council.

Intolerance and Harassment:
The University is committed to maintaining an environment in which the dignity, worth,
and point of view of all members of the institutional community are respected. Sexual,
racial, religious, and political intolerance or harassment harm the environment the
University seeks to maintain and are unequivocally prohibited.

Ownership and Use: Please be aware that the professor may keep copies of ANY and
ALL student work for future teaching purposes only. If anyone has issues with this policy
regarding a student project, it is up to the individual or group to notify the instructor.
Also when shooting your interview subjects, either a verbal and written release is
required. A customizable release is available for you to use, just insert your name and
print out a bunch for your use, both in English and in any language your subjects may be
speaking.

Tentative Schedule:
3 Weeks of International travel
1 Week of Group Classwork with Laura Fong
1 Week of Class with MOM trip leaders and students