Mini Project- Multimedia Montage

Mini Project: Multimedia Montage

Author: University of HertfordshireDate created:Date revised: 2009

AbstractThe following resources come from the 2009/10 BSc (Hons) in Music Technology (course number 2ELE0077) from the University of Hertfordshire. All the mini projects are designed as level two modules of the undergraduate programmes.

Project Objectives: To demonstrate abilities to: To plan, generate, source, evaluate, refine, manipulate, edit and present audio / video content Apply creative digital project development methodology Create and manipulate a range of media types such as animation, stills, clip art, drawn art, video and

audio content using optimum software technologies Identify and utilise correct communication and presentation methodology Design and produce a short story to be delivered over the internet using multimedia applications Effectively respond to a brief

ContentsSection 1. Project Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 2Section 2. Project Specification........................................................................................................................ 3Section 3. Project Day 1 Brief........................................................................................................................... 5Section 4. Project Day 2 Brief........................................................................................................................... 7Creative Brief.................................................................................................................................................... 8Project Research Brief.................................................................................................................................... 11Credits............................................................................................................................................................ 13

In addition to the resources found below there are supporting documents which should be used in combination with this resource. Please see:Mini Projects - Introductory presentation. Mini Projects - E-Log.Mini Projects - Staff & Student Guide.Mini Projects - Standard Grading Criteria.Mini Projects - Reflection.

You will also need the ‘Mini Projects – Multimedia Montage’ presentation.

© University of Hertfordshire 2009 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

License.

Mini Project- Credit the Edit

Section 1. Project Introduction

Project Title: Multimedia Montage

Project Objectives:

To demonstrate abilities to: To plan, generate, source, evaluate, refine, manipulate, edit and present audio / video content Apply creative digital project development methodology Create and manipulate a range of media types such as animation, stills, clip art, drawn art, video and

audio content using optimum software technologies Identify and utilise correct communication and presentation methodology Design and produce a short story to be delivered over the internet using multimedia applications Effectively respond to a brief

Project Summary: (50 words max)

This project requires students to apply the creative digital project development methodology whilst using up to date software applications to brainstorm, write, design and produce a short (approximately 2 minute) story on a topic of their choice, with effective use of different media artefacts including a combination of the student’s choice of animations, gifs, drawings, stills, clip art and video amongst others, whilst fully integrating said visual artefacts with an audio stream.

Introductory Lecture (2 hrs) Content:

General concepts and ideas of storytelling How to brainstorm and storyboard multimedia content ideas. Researching and evaluating multimedia software applications usable for video and audio editing Sourcing content via the web Planning and continuing research after this session

Preparation Session (3 hrs):

This session is specifically designed so that the student learns about the tools they are required to handle during Day 1 & Day 2 tasks. It will include Multimedia development software familiarization. Students will be encouraged to broaden their research footprint by sourcing, analysing and testing a variety of software.This session will allow the students to evaluate the relevant software solutions which are available in the Lab to answer the brief given at the start of the Mini-Project. There will be some lecturing but mainly this session is about familiarisation with software. Different levels of software tutorials will be available to the students to brush up on their skills.

The lecture materials in this session will concern themselves with the Visual Language of Media as applied to editing, transitions, use of point-of-view etc. they will learn to tell the story in the edit.

Students will be set specific questions. They will be sent to look for specific content. They will be observed doing this and advised on better methods of researching and locating appropriate content

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Section 2. Project Specification

1. Learning Outcomes assessed (as taken from the DMD)

All Learning Outcomes specified in the Definitive Module Documentation are assessed as part of this miniproject, the specific Learning Outcomes are:

Knowledge and Understanding Be able to analyse and breakdown problem tasks into manageable steps. Integrate previous and concurrent learning and to use it to solve technology-based problems. Be able to describe the project life-cycle appropriately. Be able to select appropriate Music Technology and techniques for a given situation.

Skills and Attributes Produce a solution to a defined Music Technology problem. Carry out a simple critical evaluation of their solution. Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a team, small groups and individually. Demonstrate an ability to manage time and resources effectively.

2. Project Title: Multimedia Montage

3. Project Objectives: (technical, specific to this project)To demonstrate abilities to:

To plan, generate, source, evaluate, refine, manipulate, edit and present audio / video content Apply creative digital project development methodology Create and manipulate a range of media types such as animation, stills, clip art, drawn art, video and

audio content using optimum software technologies Identify and utilise correct communication and presentation methodology Design and produce a short story to be delivered over the internet using multimedia applications Effectively respond to a brief

4. Project Summary: (50 words max)This project requires students to apply the creative digital project development methodology whilst using up to date software applications to brainstorm, write, design and produce a short (approximately 2 minute) story on a topic of their choice, with effective use of different media artefacts including a combination of the student’s choice of animations, gifs, drawings, stills, clip art and video amongst others, whilst fully integrating said visual artefacts with an audio stream. 5. Introductory Lecture (2 hrs) Content:

General concepts and ideas of storytelling How to brainstorm and storyboard multimedia content ideas. Researching and evaluating multimedia software applications usable for video and audio editing Sourcing content via the web Planning and continuing research after this session

6. Preparation Session (3 hrs):This session is specifically designed so that the student learns about the tools they are required to handle during Day 1 & Day 2 tasks. It will include Multimedia development software familiarization. Students will be encouraged to broaden their research footprint by sourcing, analysing and testing a variety of software.This session will allow the students to evaluate the relevant software solutions which are available in the Lab to answer the brief given at the start of the Mini-Project. There will be some lecturing but mainly this session is about familiarisation with software. Different levels of software tutorials will be available to the students to brush up on their skills.

The lecture materials in this session will concern themselves with the Visual Language of Media as applied to editing, transitions, use of point-of-view etc. they will learn to tell the story in the edit.

Students will be set specific questions. They will be sent to look for specific content. They will be observed doing this and advised on better methods of researching and locating appropriate content

7. Day 1 Tasks (6 hrs):

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Mini Project- Credit the Edit Analyse possible target audiences and derive potential user requirements regarding re-purposing

material for different platforms Internet research on existing web-based flash, film, video and audio content Brainstorming ideas and producing detailed storyboards Producing original, or downloading existing, content materials including code, video clips and audio

clips, flash movies and assets, samples and loops according to their individually relevant specification requirements.

Deliverables: Clear documentary evidence of a correctly completed Digital Project Process document. Report on user requirements. Some documentary evidence of brainstorming sessions, mind maps, iMaps. Some high level Storyboards. Full listing, with high level detailing and cataloguing, of self produced or downloaded materials for

use in mini-project.

8. Day 2 Tasks (6 hrs): Complete finalised storyboards Evaluating text, graphics and video/audio elements sourced on Day 1 Produce the film Test and evaluate the film based on modified user requirements set on Day 1

Deliverables: The actual finished story in the designated format All completed project documentation

9. Facilitator guidance (key ideas to draw out from students):Day 1: Identifying user requirements clearly through user analysis; producing proper projected Content Flow Chart, Navigation Diagram and Storyboard, brainstorming session records, clip management and manipulation, iMap.Day 2: Planning & producing the story according to the plan; ensuring all the modified user and technical requirements have been met

10. Required Resources:Day 1: Multimedia PC with the Adobe® suites; internet connection.Day 2: same as Day 1

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Section 3. Project Day 1 Brief

You have been briefed by your clients, a local wealthy Philanthropist and his wife, who want you to create a Digital Multimedia Montage illustrating a story themed on ‘Community’. They have in mind using your created story on social networking website such as MySpace, YouTube and Facebook to try to create a better world for everyone. They have no fixed ideas about how they want this story to look. The brief is deliberately vague and ambiguous in order to give free reign to your creative abilities, which they have heard a lot about.

The title of the ‘product’ they are interested in publicising is ‘Community’. It’s not a perfume or a TV show – simply the concept of ‘Community’.

Morning Session: 12pm - 2pm12:00-12:30 Introductory presentation, briefing and questions12:30-1:00pm Task 1: Creative BriefAnalyse possible target audiences and derive potential user requirements for your final work. This analysis will help you compile a report/creative brief on user requirements.

Deliverable: Creative Brief detailing user requirements. UPLOADED

1:00-1:30am Task 2: Research BriefHaving first prepared an appropriate Research Brief, carry out Internet research on existing web-based film, video and audio content that might be suitable for use in the execution of this brief.

Deliverable: Research Brief detailing research specifications. UPLOADED

1:30 -2:00pm Task 3: SMART Sourcing of MaterialsSourcing, gathering, evaluating and editing original or pre-existing, content materials possibly including code, flash movies, video clips and audio clips, samples and loops according to the students own specification requirements. Remember to work S.M.A.R.T.

Afternoon Session: 3pm -7pm3:00-4:00pm Task 4. The Written StoryThis task is all about you actually deciding what type of story you are going to create. You should remember the ‘Motivations’ of human activity that we looked at last week.

Then actually write the story as a TREATMENT. This should only be about a page or so and needs to be UPLOADABLE as a word doc. Do not ‘over write’ this element of the project. You are structuring a coherent story that engages users on an emotional level. You might include some snippets of dialogue that you want to see, perhaps some ideas about how you want your piece to ‘look and feel’, how do you want it to sound?

You may have some good ideas about what type of camera angles or shot types you are going to use, or some PowerPoint effects, or some Flash Movie wizardry. There are some files and videos in ‘Media Language’ on the ‘M’ drive to help you with this aspect, if you require them.

REMEMBER: It is a TREATMENT not a finished script.

Deliverable: The written story. UPLOADED as a word document

4:00-7:00pm Task 5. Digital Storyboard

This element is about you actually creating some storyboards that can be viewed by the client to give a strong indication of what your vision is.A full Asset List must be prepared, with high level detailing of clip management, manipulation and storing processes, and implemented cataloguing processes of self produced or downloaded materials for use in this mini-project. These elements will be visible in your uploaded work. Create this asset list in Excel.Some documentary evidence of brainstorming sessions, mind maps, iMaps should be visible during both sessions although you will not need to upload these.

Deliverables: Digital Storyboard: UPLOADED Asset List in Excel: UPLOADED

Recording the evidence of your progress during Day 1 When you have completed this mini project (both days 1 & 2) you will need to write a report describing the work you have done. It is vital therefore that you keep a record of your progress during the day, both as written notes and a digital diary. The exact style and format you use is up to you as your notes will not be

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Mini Project- Credit the Editassessed. You will have difficulty remembering everything you did when you come to write-up your work so make notes! Also, if you don’t, you will have to waste time repeating work so that you can capture screen-shots. Digitise all your assets afterwards to help you compile your report.

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Section 4. Project Day 2 Brief

You clients are the same two local philanthropists who asked you to create a Digital Multimedia Montage entitled ‘Community’ for Day 1 of this Mini Project. Having been thoroughly impressed with your work and creative/technical abilities they now wish you to expand on their original theme. They reveal to you that their true intention is showcase different types of community, starting with yours.

They have a slogan “Community? It’s Up 2 me”

Their target audience is the networking sites generation.

They aim to impress like-minded individuals and change the way community is perceived and enjoyed in England, both locally and nationally.

They wish you to produce a short, two minute, multimedia montage to be posted on social networking sites; they have no particular preference as to what software you use to create the montage only that the montage is fresh, exciting, informative, technologically sound and fit-for-purpose. It should act as a recruitment message to the target audience, getting them enthused enough to want to celebrate their own ‘communities’.

They will be taking part in a global, web-linked video conference with some other interested parties located elsewhere on the planet that is due to begin at 7pm. They want to have seen your work and had a chance to discuss it amongst themselves for at least 15 minutes before the video conference begins.

First Session: 12.00pm - 2.00pm Afternoon Session: 3.00pm – 7.00pm

12:00-12:10 Introductory presentation, briefing and questions12:10-2:00 Writing, sourcing materials, storyboarding and general preparation

3:00-6.30pm Task: Digital Multimedia Montage Production

Deliverable: Digital Multimedia Montage: UPLOADED. You need to produce this multimedia montage as a single file and upload it to the server.

You may not use any unsupported software.

Recording the evidence of your progress during Day 2When you have completed this mini project (both days 1 & 2) you will need to write a report describing the work you have done. It is vital therefore that you keep a record of your progress during today, both as written notes and a digital diary. The exact style and format you use is up to you as your notes will not be assessed. You will have difficulty remembering everything you did when you come to write-up your work so make notes! Also, if you don’t, you will have to waste time repeating work so that you can capture screen-shots. Digitise all your assets afterwards to help you compile your report.

Some Tips:Make sure that you make accurate notes of timings of image changes on your storyboard so that you can accurately match up any sound files that you source or create.

You have had ample time to get to grips with Adobe® Premiere Pro®. You can download a trial version to your home computer that you can use to learn on. No excuses permitted of ‘I don’t use Premiere’ etc.

You can use Adobe® Photoshop® to manipulate images that you have sourced and downloaded. Remember CROPPING the image is a useful basic Photoshop skill to have.

It is YOUR CHOICE as to what university supported software configuration you use to complete the task.

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Creative Brief

Client: XXXXX Ref:Project: Intranet Re-design Date: Description: Re-design and development of the Incubator Intranet

SiteJob Number:Creative Days: Junior

Designer6 Senior

Designer3 Multimedia Total

Budget: 18kDeadline:

What does this communication need to achieve?

The communication needs to convey a message of innovation and opportunity. The web site should be a hub for a global community of innovators within the company.

The web site needs to cater for a variety of audiences. Many visitors to the web site will have little or no knowledge of the Incubator in terms of what it is, how it is run, who is in the core team and why it has been created. The communication needs to address all of these issues.

The communication needs to give people an understanding of the following: What is innovation? Why is innovation important? In what way does the company benefit from Innovation? What is an Incubator? How does the Incubator capture innovation? What can the Incubator do for me? How can I join the Incubator and what can I offer to the Incubator? What types of ideas is the Incubator looking for? How do I express my idea so that I give the Incubator team all the information they need to start the

process? What is the Incubation process? How does the Incubation process work? Where and when are the upcoming Incubator events and how can I take part? Who can I contact to find out more? What other resources are there so that I can learn more about Innovation, being entrepreneurial,

what is happening in the 'new economy', etc.?

Who exactly are we talking to?

The Incubator web site will be an internal intranet site; there will be no external access. The audience will be global and could literally be from any country in the world. The Incubator is available to any permanent employee in any position within the company. Therefore we cannot assume a certain base knowledge of the visitors to the web site except a general knowledge of the company.

What do we know about them that will help us?

Because of the huge variety of the audience there are not many common factors, some key points are: They have an understanding of the current trends in the company They speak English They are intelligent They will generally have expertise in certain areas They will not have a detailed knowledge of Incubation.

What single-minded response does the communication need to create?

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Mini Project- Credit the EditThe communication needs to convey an image of innovation and opportunity. Visitors to the web site should feel excited about the opportunity to take part in highly innovative activities and to have the chance to help create new opportunities for the company as well as for themselves. To try to capture the response in a phrase: "The Incubator sounds like an excellent initiative, I understand why the company want to run an incubator and I understand how I can best contribute and learn from the Incubator." To put in a more structured why:

I understand the Incubator I think the Incubator is great I want to join the Incubator so that I can learn and help others too It is an exciting innovative company to work for.

What is the most powerful thing we can say to achieve this response?

"The Incubator is your chance to take an active role in innovation within the company, use it!"

Personally I like the following slogan that I saw on a TV advert "The greatest risk is not taking one". I guess that the most powerful messages will be those promoting successful incubator projects, that way people will see that it works and want to be a part of it.

Why should they believe this?

News of existing success stories will give the web site visitors a reason to believe this. The web site will also explain how the incubation process works and will give people the opportunity to join the Incubator on line. The web site should be an innovation experience for the visitors.

What tone of voice or brand personality do we want to develop in this communication?

The tone of voice should be one of a knowledgeable, helpful listener and also a person who takes action. The brand personality is one of innovation and opportunity, much like how Silicon Valley is perceived. The Incubator is the Silicon Valley of the company which would be a good brand personality.

How will we know this communication has been successful?

The community of innovators in the company will grow The Incubator will be a common subject of conversation in a positive way. The number and quality of ideas sent in to the Incubator will grow Positive feedback will be received.

Executional guidelines:

The points above have covered a lot of the detail concerning the creative side of the site. As well as the creative message another key use of the web site is to allow the Incubator core team to manage both the ideas submitted to the Incubator and the people who are actively involved in the incubator community. This should be done through some sort of online database functionality which allows certain users to easily read and write content to the database. A Skelton framework for these databases can be achieved by looking at the existing databases.

Some key factors for the web site are: Ease of use Compatibility with a variety of browsers Easy of maintenance

Competitor/Sites of interest:

The existing Incubator site

Issued by: Brief Date:

Client Approval: Review Date:

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Creative Team: Storyboard Presentation:

Design Director Approval:

Storyboard Presentation:

Producer Approval:

Storyboard Presentation:

Sales Director Approval:

Storyboard Presentation:

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Project Research Brief

Name: Ref:Client: Date:Project:Deadline:Budget:

Summary of iDTV project and key fish4/client objectives?

What is the research intended for?

Give research focus (outline any specifics)?

Indication of how in-depth the research should be?

What do you hope to achieve from the research?

Do you require any further Company information or insights? (E.G. financial performance, structure, major competitors, products/services, etc.)

Other comments:

Issued by: Brief issued Date:

Approved by: Completion Date:

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Mini Project- Credit the EditApproval Signatures:

Client Presentation Date:

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CreditsThis resource was created by the University of Hertfordshire and released as an open educational resource through the Open Engineering Resources project of the HE Academy Engineering Subject Centre. The Open Engineering Resources project was funded by HEFCE and part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER programme.

© University of Hertfordshire 2009

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.

The name of the University of Hertfordshire, UH and the UH logo are the name and registered marks of the University of Hertfordshire. To the fullest extent permitted by law the University of Hertfordshire reserves all its rights in its name and marks which may not be used except with its written permission.

The JISC logo is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence.  All reproductions must comply with the terms of that licence.

The HEA logo is owned by the Higher Education Academy Limited may be freely distributed and copied for educational purposes only, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Higher Education Academy as the copyright holder and original publisher.

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