2nd Semester; Television (introduction)

Welcome to Semester 2! We will pick up our course with our next unit: Television. To start today, please post on YOUR blog the following:

Writing Task #1:

• What is your favorite television program or show? What is the program about (its premise)? Why do you like this program? Is the show still running? What have others said about the program? 
• Add a video clip or photograph of the show to your blog post.

Task #2: Television, An American Pastime

Please read, take notes on the graphic organizer (Cornell Notes), and check out the links where applicable... Turn in your notes by the end of class today for participation credit.

Television originally was meant to be a radio with visual projection capabilities. However, TV has changed American culture in many ways. Here are some details about important milestones. Tune in:

• In the late 1800s, Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, a student in Germany, developed the first ever mechanical module of television. He succeeded in sending images through wires with the help of a rotating metal disk. This technology was called the ‘electric telescope’ that had 18 lines of resolution.  
• Around 1907, two separate inventors, A.A. Campbell-Swinton from England and Russian scientist Boris Rosing, used the cathode ray tube in addition to the mechanical scanner system, to create a new television system. From the experiments of Nipkow and Rosing, two types of television systems were created: mechanical television & electronic television. Philo Farnsworth is credited as the inventor of the first electronic television.
• The first television station in America was W3XK. This station was the brainchild of Charles Francis Jenkins, who is also remembered as the father of American television. The station aired its first broadcast on 2nd July, 1928. Yes. 1928.
• WRGB television station in New York is the first American station that has the honor of being a continuously operating station from 1926, when television was invented, until now.
• The first commercially produced television sets were based on the mechanical television system. These sets were made from John Baird’s designs for television. The sets were shown to the public in September of 1928.
• The first American electronic television sets were mass produced in 1938 and were an instant hit. All the early television systems were black and white.
• The first ever remote control for television was invented in 1948. Known as the ‘Tele Zoom’, it cannot be called a remote control in the true sense of the word, as the device could only enlarge the picture on the tube and not change any channels or turn the television set on and off. The Flash-matic from Zenith, produced in 1955, was the first ever real remote control that could do all of the above and was completely wireless.
• ‘The Queen’s Messenger’ is believed to be the first television program in America. It was broadcast by WRGB station in 1928.
• 1st July, 1941 is the day when the first ever commercial broadcast took place in America. All broadcasts prior to this day were regarded as experimental by the FCC, thus making this day very important in American TV history.
• 1941 is also when the first American advertisement was aired. The commercial was for a Bulova Watch and lasted all of 10 seconds. It was aired on the NBC network. 
• The color television war was fought by CBS and RCA. CBS was the first to develop a mechanical color television system, inspired by John Baird’s color TV design. By 1950, the FCC announced the CBS color system as the national standard. RCA sued CBS as their system could not be used with the millions of black and white televisions, most of which were RCA sets, thus creating a potential monopoly. RCA were finally available to the buying public in 1954. Although available, not many people bought color sets as there were not even a handful of color programs being broadcast. Star Trek was one of the first series to use color.
  
  Here's some facts and statistics about TV viewing in America from 1939 until now.

check out this link about the history of television.

Writing Task #3: (Blog Post #2): TV Tropes
As a writer's tool, check out the following site for ideas for your own television project.

• TV Tropes (look under media tropes...focus on TV)

For writers, knowing some tropes can be helpful in analyzing and writing a script for television, the media, or film. A trope is a storytelling convention that a viewing audience can easily recognize. You're likely to be familiar with some of these tropes.

On YOUR blog, create a post in which you discuss some of these TV Tropes. What shows have you watched that use some of these tropes? What do you think of them? Does the trope make the show better or worse in your opinion? Explore.

Finally, TASK #4:
Check out some of these links. Choose a show or two and in a short explanation identify the clip you're examining, what contemporary television show seems similar to one that you watch or have watched in the past? What are those similarities? What are some differences? How are some of these shows "dated" by their own culture/time period? What do you notice about the show? How might the show have changed over the years (some of these shows have created spin-offs or sequels). Explore.

TV programs:
The Ed Sullivan Show (with guest star Elvis Presley) and from 1969 (The Jackson 5)
I Love Lucy clip
Howdy Doody episode
The Flintstones clip
Rocky & Bullwinkle
Dick Van Dyke Show (with Mary Tyler Moore) clip
Brady Bunch clip
Sesame Street
MASH clip
Scooby Doo clip
All in the Family clip
The Jeffersons clip
Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids
Bob Newhart Show clip
Happy Days
Dallas
The Muppet Show clip
Different Strokes clip
Cheers clip
Friends clip
Seinfeld show clip
The Simpsons clip
Cops clip
American Idol clip
CSI clip

Submit your answer in the COMMENT section of this post for participation credit.

If you finish all 4 tasks (see above) before the end of class, please work on your upcoming homework involving Chapter 6: Television & Cable.

HOMEWORK: For Monday, Feb. 3 please read the packet on TV & Cable and answer the questions.

Radio Play Project Draft: extension; Radio documentary; Good Night & Good Luck Screening: Day 1

Please use period 7 to complete your radio play script drafts. These are due by 11:59 tonight. Please complete the scripts and upload them into our Google Classroom. Late work will be accepted up to Friday night for MP2. Extra credit for MP2 may be turned in no later than Friday, 3:00 on January 25.

If you have completed your radio script before the end of period 7, please consider this:

Extra Credit Option (Radio): Watch the following short documentary about radio: "Generation Radio" (34 minutes). Use the Cornell note taking graphic organizer to take notes on key or important details in the film. Turn in by Friday, Jan. 25 at 3:00 for extra credit for MP2.

Period 8: Good Night and Good Luck (2005, film) directed and written by George Clooney.

One of the more important jobs of the media is to alert the masses and help inform us (American society) of issues and civil discourse to self regulate our democracy. One enemy of media journalists is the threat of censorship.

• Do you think it is right and just for the media to report the truth--or is truth an impossible objective?
• Should the media take on the role of defender of our civil liberties or freedoms? Why or why not?
• Should the government influence or censor the media (particularly if the media is delivering a message the government does not support or may be dangerous to its audience)?
• Should the media take political action or sides on an issue? If so, what actions might be most effective? or what rules should govern the media to limit their opinion?
• What is media's role in the security of the American people?

As you view the film Good Night and Good Luck, based on a true story and set in the early 1950's during the beginning of the Cold War, take notes on questions raised for our discussion after the film (and for those of you who need more extra credit, an essay...). We will continue our screening and discussion of the film Friday.

Friday is also the last day of the marking period for Arts classes. Midterm week starts after Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

To celebrate Dr. King, listen to these speeches:

• Your Life's Blueprint (from the speech to the students at Barratt Jr. High School, for the full speech check out: this and the transcript.)
• The Three Evils of Society (and the transcript).

Extra Credit Option (Radio/Speech): After reading and listening to these two speeches from Dr. King, consider the role of mass media in delivering his message (even decades after his assassination). What "dangerous or courageous thinking" does Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak about that might change our lives for the better in our American society? You might also reflect on the film Good Night and Good Luck and the current government administration's issues happening to us now. Write and reflect on these ideas. Turn your ideas into a speech draft that might be recorded on the radio. Reference these sources in your speech to support your own ideas. Turn in by Friday, Jan. 25 at 3:00 for extra credit for MP2.

HOMEWORK: None. If you haven't completed your radio draft, please do so on your own time and turn in by next class. See extra credit options for struggling students (or students who want to take advantage of your education...)

Radio Play Projects: Day 5

Take a look at this article. It may help...

Please continue to work on writing your radio play projects. These drafts are due at the end of class today. Use your time wisely!

HOMEWORK: Read chapter 5, Radio & Broadcasting, Part 2 and answer the questions on our Google Classroom form for Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Radio Play Projects: Day 4

Please continue to work on writing your radio play projects. These drafts are due Monday. By the end of class today you should have added between 3-6 pages of your script. Use your time wisely!

Consider using some of these techniques in your script:

• V.O.: Voice Over (indicates a character who is narrating (your narrator, for example, should always have a V.O. after their name to indicate this...; Also used when a character speaks over music, a sound effect, or other characters
• Beat/Pause: indicates silence or a pause in the dialogue or line
• Bridge: a musical interlude to indicate the change of one scene to the next.
• Off: indicates the actor should be further away from the microphone; indicates distance
• Close: indicates the actor should be close to the microphone; indicates...closeness
• D (Distort): indicates that the speaker/actor's voice should be altered in some way (for example, as if the voice is coming through a telephone or some other voice alteration device)
• Atmos: indicates there should be an ambient sound or background noise during the scene
• Break: indicates a break, usually for an advertisement or commercial
• Background: sound or sound effect that occurs under the dialogue of a scene in a radio play
• Back Anno (back announcement): words spoken by an announcer, after playing a song or report
• Drop In: a pre-recorded sound that is a sound byte from another media source (radio/television/film, etc.)\
• Reverb: the effect of sound bouncing back to create an echo
• Stereo/Mono: mono = sound comes from one speaker; stereo = sound comes from bother left or right speaker to indicate position of actor/character in a scene. Stereo Left or Stereo Right.
• Teaser: a short script to remind listeners as to what program or radio station they are listening to.
• Ad Lib: The actors make up the line on the spot. They are not written in the script.
• Fade: sound fades out (or in) to indicate the end of a scene
• FX: short for sound effects. You should use this one frequently in a radio script.

HOMEWORK: Please continue working on your radio scripts (particularly if you did not reach the required page # today in the lab.) Read chapter 5, Radio & Broadcasting, Part 2 and answer the questions on our Google Classroom form for Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Radio Play Script Project: Day 3

RADIO SCRIPT PROJECT

• Your script episode should be between 6-12 pages, formatted in proper radio script format. 
• Your script should include a title page and cast list (these pages do not count as part of your required 6-12 page length!) You may put your cast list on the same page as your title. See the copy of "Hitchhiker's Guide" or "The Hitchhiker" or "War of the Worlds" as models.
• Your script idea can be taken from an already published source (or from your own story drafts, adapted for a radio show). You may, of course, make up a new original story.
• You may write in any genre. Popular genres include drama, comedy, science fiction/fantasy, mystery, romance, or children's programming (which is usually fantasy). See notes below...
• Rely on SX (sound effects). Consider your scenes to include ambient noise or sound cues that signal to the listener as to where the scene takes place (setting), or what action is happening during the dialogue of your characters (plot). 
• Consult the handout scripts I gave you and that we have heard in class for ideas, formatting ("The Hitchhiker" or "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for example), or select one of the play scripts from the BBC as further models/examples. See link here. You can change the genre/format at the drop down box on the webpage.
• Note: fantasy, science fiction, and action work nicely as radio scripts. This is because all special effects are sound effects, and there is no budget other than imagery to describe expensive sets for the settings of the world...
• See, read, and follow the radio script format for this project. Your formatting will count as part of your grade.
• Brainstorm some ideas first and outline your basic plot (exposition, rising action, turning point or crisis (good place for a cliffhanger), climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Write a 1-sentence premise (what is the play or episode going to be about?) My radio play/episode is about...
• For further tips writing a radio play (or coming up with an idea) check out this article from the BBC.

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Drawing your listener in is important. Each "episode" or "scene"  should be interesting enough to compel a listener to keep listening. This can be done by creating interesting characters, including suspense and mystery to your plot, or writing riveting dramatic lines concerning topics that are interesting or beautiful to listen to.

Character's voices are important. Try to contrast your characters. Deep voices, high pitched voices, sound effects (SFX), ambient noise or music to suggest setting, etc. Alternate noisy scenes with quiet ones. The more important a line, make sure it is not being drowned out by a SFX. Lots of noise can help create a chaotic tone--the threat of danger. Alternate  interior scenes with exterior ones can help. Consider what background sounds might be included to clue your audience into knowing where your scene takes place. A scene set on a farm sounds different than a scene set in an urban school cafeteria.

Read a few more hints about writing radio plays. Feel free to follow this advice, as it might help you understand what you're doing or expected to do. Use the play scripts we read to help you as well.

By the end of today, you should have written 2-4 pages of your radio script.

HOMEWORK: None.

Radio Play Project: Day 2

RADIO SCRIPT PROJECT

• You may work alone or with a partner. 
• If you work with a partner, please use Google docs (and share privileges with your partner) so that both authors can work on the script at the same time. Note: both students should type and add to the project, not just one person giving dictation to the other. One bit of advice is to have each writer on your team work on a short "episode". If you write the beginning and cliffhanging ending of the story, then your partner can complete the cliffhanger and conclude the story, for example. That way, 6-12 pages is really only 3-6 for each writer. This, of course, may not be preferable.
• Your script episode should be between 6-12 pages, formatted in proper radio script format. 
• Your script should include a title page and cast list (these pages do not count as part of your required 6-12 page length!) You may put your cast list on the same page as your title. See the copy of "Hitchhiker's Guide" or "The Hitchhiker" or "War of the Worlds" as models.
• Your script idea can be taken from an already published source (or from your own story drafts, adapted for a radio show). You may, of course, make up a new original story.
• You may write in any genre. Popular genres include drama, comedy, science fiction/fantasy, mystery, romance, or children's programming (which is usually fantasy). See notes below...
• Rely on SX (sound effects). Consider your scenes to include ambient noise or sound cues that signal to the listener as to where the scene takes place (setting), or what action is happening during the dialogue of your characters (plot). 
• Consult the handout scripts I gave you and that we have heard in class for ideas, formatting ("The Hitchhiker" or "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for example), or select one of the play scripts from the BBC as further models/examples. See link here. You can change the genre/format at the drop down box on the webpage.
• Note: fantasy, science fiction, and action work nicely as radio scripts. This is because all special effects are sound effects, and there is no budget other than imagery to describe expensive sets for the settings of the world...
• See, read, and follow the radio script format for this project. Your formatting will count as part of your grade.
• Brainstorm some ideas first and outline your basic plot (exposition, rising action, turning point or crisis (good place for a cliffhanger), climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Write a 1-sentence premise (what is the play or episode going to be about?) My radio play/episode is about...
• For further tips writing a radio play (or coming up with an idea) check out this article from the BBC.

The excellent thing about writing for the radio is that you can SET your story ANYWHERE! You can travel through time, visit strange and beautiful lands. Your setting can be anywhere you need it to be: In a deep, dark cave at the dawn of time, on a spaceship hurtling through space on a mission to visit 10 planets--each one unique and culturally amazing, in a science lab and the backwoods of Arkansas during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods. No sets means low production cost.

Your imagination can run wild. You can also structure your narrative story to include a variety of times and places or locations. You can have just one character, or several. Minor characters in a film would mean you'd have to spend your budget paying these actors. On the radio, an actor can play several small parts, each with a unique voice! Possibilities are endless!

You can also write about any subject. You can also adapt other writers' work (or your own) into an epic story that could be told through a series of episodes.

				"Television, for example, never does science fiction very well because it can't afford the production values that are required, whereas with radio you really do have a theatre as large as the universe in that sense. You're using the muscle of the listener's imagination - they're doing the work with you - and I think that's absolutely terrific." Mike Walker

You need to know whether you are working alone or with a partner. If cooperating with another writer, take a few minutes to talk about what kind of story you both want to write.

Then you should think up a premise for a story. Pick a genre. Make a character list. Sketch out a few ideas for conflicts, scenes, or settings. Make an outline or decide on the break down of your structure. You can have several scenes if you need to, but you should also note you need an intro and outro musical theme, and at some point you need to alert your listeners as to what they're listening to.

Drawing your listener in is important. Each "episode" should be interesting enough to compel a listener to keep listening. This can be done by creating interesting characters, including suspense and mystery to your plot, or writing riveting dramatic lines concerning topics that are interesting or beautiful to listen to.

Character's voices are important. Try to contrast your characters. Deep voices, high pitched voices, sound effects (SFX), ambient noise or music to suggest setting, etc. Alternate noisy scenes with quiet ones. The more important a line, make sure it is not being drowned out by a SFX. Lots of noise can help create a chaotic tone--the threat of danger. Alternate  interior scenes with exterior ones. Consider what background sounds might be included to clue your audience into knowing where your scene takes place. A scene set on a farm sounds different than a scene set in an urban school cafeteria.

Read a few more hints about writing radio plays. Feel free to follow this advice, as it might help you understand what you're doing or expected to do. Use the play scripts we read to help you as well.

By the end of today, you should have 1. Sketched out an outline or scenario with a break down of potential episodes for your story, 2. Read this advice and the advice at the link, and 3. Begun writing your play script (use the handout guidelines to follow the proper format for radio plays).

HOMEWORK: None. You are welcome to work on your radio play scripts.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Radio Script Project: Day 1

Today, we will listen and read along to the radio show: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As we read, notice how sound and sound FX are used to help tell the story. Notice also the creative use of a "narrator" to describe setting, plot, characters, conflicts, or themes in the story so the listening audience can follow the main story plot. For more information about the radio play and its prodigious pop culture success, check out this article.

After listening to this example and learning about Douglas Adams' ideas for the show, let's do our own brainstorming ideas. You don't have to be drunk in a field in Innsbruck to come up with a snazzy idea for your radio play script project. Here are the rules/directions to help you get started:

RADIO SCRIPT PROJECT

• We will be writing our own radio play scripts. Here are a few rules/guidelines:
• You may work alone or with a partner. 
• If you work with a partner, please use Google docs (and share privileges with your partner) so that both authors can work on the script at the same time. Note: both students should type and add to the project, not just one person giving dictation to the other.
• Your script episode should be between 6-12 pages, formatted in proper radio script format. We'll cover radio format next class.
• Your script should include a title page and cast list (these pages do not count as part of your required 6-12 page length!) You may put your cast list on the same page as your title. See the copy of "Hitchhiker's Guide" or "The Hitchhiker" or "War of the Worlds" as models.
• Your script idea can be taken from an already published source (or from your own story drafts, adapted for a radio show). You may, of course, make up a new original story.
• You may write in any genre. Popular genres include drama, comedy, science fiction/fantasy, romance, or children's programming (which is usually fantasy). 
• Rely on SX (sound effects). Consider your scenes to include ambient noise or sound cues that signal to the listener as to where the scene takes place (setting), or what action is happening during the dialogue of your characters (plot). 
• Consult the handout scripts I gave you and that we have heard in class for ideas, formatting ("The Hitchhiker" or "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for example), or select one of the play scripts from the BBC as further models/examples. See link here. You can change the genre/format at the drop down box on the webpage.
• Note: fantasy, science fiction, and action work nicely as radio scripts. This is because all special effects are sound effects, and there is no budget other than imagery to describe expensive sets for the settings of the world...
• See, read, and follow the radio script format for this project. Your formatting will count as part of your grade.
• Brainstorm some ideas first. You may find it helpful to outline or sketch your idea first. Write a 1-sentence premise (what is the play or episode going to be about?) My radio play/episode is about...
• For further tips writing a radio play (or coming up with an idea) check out this article from the BBC.
• After you have come up with a premise, you may begin grabbing our attention with the beginning of your script. Use the rest of your time in the lab today working on your play or play idea. This project is not due yet.

HOMEWORK: None. Make sure you have a premise for a radio play by next class--you will be expected to work on your radio play scripts Friday...