Just For TV Teachers

Lesson plan: “Create a 90-second ‘mini-movie’ using this short script. Watch for specific directions, and take your time framing each shot.”

That is basically what I handed out Wednesday to my Study Skills class, made up of 20 freshmen. This particular section of Study Skills gets to use video equipment to create various projects, all designed to enhance their educational experience and provide some “hands-on” opportunities with technology.

But here’s where “Mr. Veteran TV Teacher” messed up. In my little script, written by me, off the top of my head, is a sequence where the main character, already having a bad day, loses a dollar bill in a vending machine. I provided insightful tips about shooting this scene (”make sure you get a tight reaction shot”), and thought to myself, after handing out the assignment, that this would be a very productive activity. The kids would have to think about each shot, actually “direct” a movie, and polish it off in the edit bay.

The only thing I did not anticipate was this: Three of the four groups, made up of four students each, did not have a dollar between them. They had no cash for my cute little vending machine scene.

So I happily provided the money, because I was the screenwriter who came up with that scene, and because I warned them this project would weigh heavily on their second quarter grades.

Just when you think, after 23 years in the classroom, that you pretty much know how to anticipate problems, and are prepared to solve them, an unexepected complication hits you in the face, and in the heart.

This little reminder was worth much more than the dollars I coughed up. Some of you may say the kids probably could have pooled their resources to come up with a buck. They may have even had the money when they left home, but blew it on junk food or cigarettes before they got to my 1st block class. It’s possible. I was born, but it wasn’t yesterday.

But kids in three different groups needed a dollar to shoot my script, and had the courage to ask me for help. Trust me, the script I wrote was not worth a dollar, but the lesson I learned certainly was.

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Inspired by the almighty bean on this crisp, post-Thanksgiving morning, here are some “for what it’s worth” comments about all sorts of unrelated items of interest to, well me.

Warning–the gloves are off.

KRAMER! Michael Richards went crazy the other night. His racist diatribe during his not-funny stand-up routine in LA was offensive, hateful, and totally uncalled for by anyone’s standards. Time for him to just go away. Rehab is just around the corner, I’m sure, but the Betty Ford Center can’t cure what he’s got.

CUBBIES KEEP TRYING: Aren’t they cute, those so-called “lovable losers”
from the Windy City? The Cubs just emptied the vault to sign young Soriano for eight long years. I mean, eight years in a Cub uniform should qualify as cruel and unusual punishment. Hearing Cub fans crow about this will just make the winter that much more tiresome. But by next August, when “the fade” begins, everything will be as it should be in the baseball universe. I don’t blame Cub fans for bragging in the off-season. During the real season, that’s just not an option for them.

GREY’S (GROSS) ANATOMY: We have watched this ABC primetime soap (diguised as a medical drama) from the start, and last night we caught the special 70-minute episode to cap off our Turkey Day fun. The characters on this show are so flawed, but likeable, that it’s hard not to root for them. Sometimes. Last night, we wanted to slap George. And the scene in the OR where the blood spews from the chest of a young, expectant mother reminded me of this: The Gore Factor is starting to really bother me. I have a weak stomach when it comes to close-ups of internal organs and all the medical procedures that we now see every night, thanks, I believe, to the original CSI in Vegas. Since that show hit the airways, we can’t eat supper while watching TV anymore. Crime scenes on CSI and Law and Order are downright blood-soaked. Make-up artists are having a blast, I’m sure. But we long for “Hawaii 5-0″ or our all-time fav, “Hill Street Blues.” Less gory, and more about the story.

CHANNEL ONE NEWS: Evidently, the “One” stands for the one studio camera they use to tape their anchors with. I hate to say it, because I’ve been a big supporter for over a decade, but since the move from LA to D.C., the budget cuts are showing. No real anchor set doesn’t say “We’re serious.” It says “We’re cheap.” Guess what? There is no reference to “Student Produced Week” on the Channel One website. Search for it. I did. Does this mean there will be no SPW this year? Even if kids promise to bring their own cameras?

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: I saw our school musical last weekend. I had not been to one in ten years. “Kudos” go to the kids and teachers who made it happen. At our school, there is almost no money for the musical. So the sets were lean and the costumes were “affordable.” It’s a tribute to the kids on stage, and the folks behind the scenes, that things went so well. Was it ready for Broadway, or off-Broadway? Nope. But it was just fine for North Grant Street.

HOOP SCREAMS: Basketball season is underway in the Ozarks. It’s the area’s number one high school sport. Teams from this part of the state fare very well when state playoffs come around in early March. Bitter rivalries help fill gymnasiums all winter long. Which brings me to my point. When did it become fashionable to stand for an entire game? Fans do it all the time, but I just don’t get it. For one thing, it is a little silly when your fans stand while your team is getting thoroughly whipped. “Scream, guys, we just cut the lead to 19.” Plus, the standing fans render meaningless those moments when everyone sitting erupts into a standing ovation after a great play. If you stand the entire game, every cheer is equal. Not good. Save the standing “O” for the good stuff.

FAITH AND CARRIE: Faith dissed Carrie at the CMAs, reacting on-camera with a snarl, shouting “WHAT?” and walking off in a huff when Carrie was named Female Vocalist of the Year over Faith. Later Faith said she was just joking. But we all needed a photo op of Faith and Carrie together afterwards to soothe our suspicions. It didn’t happen. Here in country music territory, a lot of folks say Carrie should not have won both the Horizon Award for best newcomer AND Female Vocalist of the Year. To them I say, “wrong.” My analogy is from baseball, of course. If a rookie has an incredible season and leads his team to the pennant, he can certainly win “Rookie of the Year” and “Most Valuable Player.” It’s possible, and it’s appropriate. A great year is a great year. Fred Lynn accomplished both for the Red Sox in 1975. That said, I was rooting for Gretchen Wilson. Oh well.

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I received an e-mail six or seven months ago from a colleague in Texas. She is someone I can not remember ever meeting in person, but I may have. I meet lots of broadcast teachers at our summer camp, and at the STN Affiliates Convention each year. When I read her note, it really got to me. She basically said, “We have entered lots of STN contests, but we’re losing heart because we never, ever place.”

It was a moment that hit me hard, and reminded me of the double-edged sword scholastic broadcasting contests offer to those who choose to compete. When I was a kid, one of my best friends, Greg, used to say, “It’s a fun game to win.” He was referring to baseball, or poker, or whatever contest he had been enjoying at the time.

One of my college baseball coaches used to say, “As long as someone’s keeping score, you might as well win.” At the time he was playing badminton (no kidding) and doing his best to pulverize his opponent, which in badminton means slamming the birdie to the open court where it makes a resounding “poof” audible only to nearby dogs when it lands. Being competitive is something we Americans perfected a long time ago, isn’t it?

But back to my colleague in the Lone Star State who said she and her kids were “losing heart” because of their frustration in STN contests. What do we do about that? It seems to me one of the biggest responsibilities we have as TV teachers is to make sure every contest experience is educational, no matter what the results are. It’s not always easy. But thank goodness STN provides critiques and judges’ comments in all contests. Sometimes forms get lost, or misplaced, but in every case, a serious effort is made to make sure the contests provide a teaching moment with written feedback, even if it’s just a score and a brief sentence. Sometimes it’s much more thorough.

Preparation of broadcast kids for contests is crucial as well. As a teacher, you simply have to lower the expectations. You have NO idea who is going to enter what, and how many schools will participate. So don’t make remarks to your kids about winning. Why? Because winning is getting tougher. There are more broadcasting programs in the schools now than there were ten years ago, and many have discovered contests like the “STN Fall Nationals,” which recently received just under 500 entries from over 90 schools. If you tell a kid they are going to win or place in a national contest, you are crazy, and you are asking for heartache.

I am a total softy when it comes to contests. I want every kid to win something. It’s so fun to see the STN Closing Awards Ceremony each year at the national convention. The recognition kids receive that day is so fulfilling to those who work so hard to make the contests happen. One of my favorite moments was at the 2004 convention, the first one, when a teacher and her kids went nuts when one of their own got an “Honorable Mention” in an on-site contest. I’m guessing the teacher did not tell her kids to expect any awards that day. When they won, they were truly thrilled.

To sum it up, contests should provide teaching moments about what we need to do better. Written feedback is crucial if that is to happen. Teachers need to lower expectations, and never tell kids they are going to win. They should also make sure they celebrate any recognition students earn in national contests, because these days, it’s only getting tougher.

In the end, yes, “losing heart” happens. For the kids who keep entering, but don’t win, they need to understand that the process of competing, with proper feedback, is worth the effort. It is totally up to the teacher, and to the people running these contests, to make sure that comes through loud and clear.

I finish with remarks I heard the great Nebraska football coach, Tom Osborne, make at a banquet 20 years ago. He was talking about a conversation he had with a high school coach in his area. Osborne asked him what kind of year he had. The high school coach said, “Oh, we went 7 and 3, just missed the playoffs.”

Osborne looked at him and said, “I didn’t ask how many games you won. I asked you what kind of year you had.”

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Ah yes, it’s that time of year.  Time for my staffers who have fallen behind in their efforts to meet deadline to come to school on a Saturday to catch up.  A day of editing without the pressure of tardy bells and those pesky non-TV classes.  I have found through the years there are certain important rules to the Saturday work day that must be adhered to if the day is to be truly productive.

Rule # 1  There must be food. 

I usually bring in assorted snacks when we begin in the AM, but then it’s up to the kids to take care of lunch.  I expect them to take orders from each other (and me) and to pick up lunch in a timely fashion.  Anyone ordering a salad will be frowned upon.  Work-Day lunches are to be high in calories and trans fats.  Health food on a work day is simply unacceptable.  And if anyone brings food from home, it will be shared (especially cookies).

Rule #2  There must be sports.

There simply must be sports on the main TV.  That’s right, while the volume will be turned down, there will definitely be sports on-screen on the classroom TV at all times.  No music video channels, please.  Today it will be the Michigan-Ohio State game.  Last month it was the baseball playoffs.  Sports, junk food, and video editing.  What a combination.  (Of course, since the adviser is the one doing most of the eating and watching, this is considered non-negotiable)

Rule #3  We leave at the appointed time.

Since the spouse of the adviser has final approval of any Saturday work day, a right that supercedes any pending HTV deadline, it is extremely important that the work day end on time.  If it’s set to end at 5 p.m., then it will end at 5 p.m.  Lights out, door locked, motion detector activated.  Weekend work days shall not go past the agreed-upon finishing time.  (I actually think that’s in the Bible somewhere)   

Rule #4  Those who show up may act superior

When school resumes on Monday, the dedicated students who spent all day Saturday editing will strut around the room acting superior to all who did not show up.  They get to make snide remarks about dedication and going the extra mile, about putting HTV first.  Of course, the adviser will be allowed to point out that those who did not show up had already met deadline and didn’t need the extra day–but that only happens after the Saturday Slackers get in a few pointed jabs.  After all, spending a weekend working on an HTV story is like a badge of honor, a tradition that goes back to about 1989.  Slackers Rule!

Rule #5  Exception to the “Slacker” label

There are legitimate reasons some students will need to work on Saturday now and then.  Let’s face it–some of our kids are so busy, they barely have time to do anything.  We have kids coming in for the work day who are performing in the school musical this weekend, others who are doing a community service project until noon, raking leaves for senior citizens.  Some have been busy with sports, church, you name it.  So a Saturday work day is like a respite from the craziness of the regular routine for many of them.

For those broadcast teachers reading this who never have to open up their classroom for a Saturday of production work, you are so on top of your world that I can’t really relate to you.  Much of the work we do behind the scenes of “HTV Magazine” is so frenzied and unorganized, I think some of my more structured colleagues would have a stroke if they had to inhabit my world for a week.  You don’t want to see the chef make your dinner, and you probably don’t want to see us put together an “HTV Magazine.”  It’s often messy, it’s often chaotic, and it usually involves long hours, loud yelling, fattening food, and ultimately, something we can be proud of.  That’s a recipe for success if I ever heard one.  

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6:05 a.m.  Rise, shower, iron clothes, grab a cup of coffee at “QT” and arrive at school around 6:50.  That is what my buddies in college used to call “an ungodly hour.”  I agreed then and now. 

7 a.m.  Attend the monthly faculty meeting.  We had an agenda with so many items on it, there were Roman numerals used I didn’t even recognize.  One of our assistant principals ran the meeting and she did a great job.  We finished in 51 minutes.   

8 a.m.  Broadcast II Production.  This is the class responsible for our weekly in-house show, “Static.”  Today was show day.  It turns out we had about eight segments that would be ready by 9:35, the end of class.  I helped get the two anchors’ wrap-arounds shot (my big contribution) and turned the tape over to this week’s Line Producer.  While editing was furiously wrapping up on four or five computers, we had a fire drill.  Yeah, right in the middle of class.  Now we really had a scare of some kind somewhere in the building, evidently, but really, we were on DEADLINE.  Unless there are some serious flames somewhere, I was thinking, this was just not acceptable.  We’re on DEADLINE and I don’t smell smoke!

9:45 a.m.  We must have “Static” done by 10:15, and well, we’re cutting it close.  Another one of our assistant principals drops by.  We have a talk in the hallway about some of the Production staff not being where they are supposed to be.  Yeah, well, thanks for the fire drill by the way.  Yes, I’ll get them to their proper places.  He was right, and my kids were not in their assigned area during the class we call FOCUS, which is kind of a glorified “study hall.”  Did I mention the DEADLINE thing???  Antar, this week’s Line Producer, notifies me the show is good to go.  At last.

10:15 a.m.  We make five dubs for the classrooms where Channel One is not working.  Meanwhile, I have story meetings with two “HTV Magazine” (our monthly cable show) teams whose stories have various challenges.  Looks like the primary source for one of them, a teen mother who is also a military wife, is absent (again).  Time to go with their ‘Plan B’ story because HTV’s DEADLINE is Monday, and they haven’t shot a bit of footage yet.  Good ole ‘Plan B.’

10:35 a.m.  I share my fond memories of seeing Monty Python’s “Spamalot” in St. Louis over the weekend.  I actually act out a couple of the scenes.  Let’s just say you had to be there.

10:45 a.m.  I sprint to the Library like O.J. in an airport, hook up the mini-dv deck to the front of the Channel One system, and playback the 12-minute ”Static” show for all to see.  It includes a few random features, including a clever parody of “Tommy Boy” where a deer meets its fate.  Or does it?  Fun stuff.

11:01 a.m.  An HTVer comes by just as my lunch break begins and asks me to watch her edited story.  I do.  I see good things and bad things.  But I’m really hungry.  So I tell her we’ll talk tomorrow about it, and she should keep working on the video inserts.

11:15 a.m.  While I sit in the room wolfing down a sandwich, a former HTVer drops by.  I chew, she talks.  She’s in the middle of making some big decisions about her education.  I listen.  And chew (ham on wheat, by the way).

11:36 a.m.  The Broadcast I kids arrive, and they are wormy.  Time to get their attention and keep it.  After much discussion about them producing their first real stories, to be shown on “Static” in December, they decide they would prefer to produce the entire show on the 7th instead of just contributing stories to the show throughout the month.  So we have our “pitch” meeting and the class of 30 comes up with about a dozen segments.  Others will be added later.

11:55 a.m.  Justin, from the “Static” staff, comes into edit a special feature for next week.  I’ll give it a look later.  He works quietly in Edit Bay 4. 

12:40 p.m.  I am tired after the pitch meeting, so I let the kids work on their stories, have mini-meetings here and there, and some begin brainstorming a couple of what will be humorous features.  At least that’s what they hope.  Most chose to do regular news packages, thank goodness.

1:11 p.m.  After helping sweep the hallways of tardies, as assigned, it’s back to my room to capture some video stills, then get them ready for the HTV website.  All the while, there are volleyball girls (who are also in Broadcast I) working in Edit Bay 7 on tonight’s banquet video.  I help when asked.   

1:55 p.m.  I help haul a light kit to a room down the hall for two HTV girls conducting an interview with a teacher. 

2:05 p.m.  I make the mistake of checking my e-mail.  This and that about the STN convention I had to deal with.  Then the phone rings and it’s a friend asking to borrow a piece of equipment for a couple of hours.

2:36 p.m.  I look at a feature for next week’s ”Static” that pokes fun at kids skipping school.  It’s clever, and will be a big hit.  Especially the part about the principal catching the skippers off campus.   

2:52 p.m.  School is out, and in come HTVers to check out equipment or to edit.  I look at the STN website and am reminded that this Friday is the DEADLINE (there’s that word again) for the Fall Nationals mail-in contest.  Gulp.  We haven’t done anything about it yet.

3:40 p.m.  Once things are calm, and everyone is where they should be, and all of today’s shoots are well underway off-site, I decide to go home, knowing tomorrow we’ll work until 6 p.m. shooting HTV wrap-arounds. 

4 p.m.  Arrive home, drink a cup of coffee, and prepare for a lazy night watching TV and wondering if anyone will actually care about this blog.

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Now that World Series Euphoria, a disease that strikes every 24 years, evidently, has eased up a bit, it’s time to put on my “Chairman’s Hat” and update you on some of the things you can expect at the 2007 STN Affiliates Convention in Anaheim next March.

NEW:  The Sweet 16

This contest is starting to really stir up interest.  Just this past week I heard from three teachers whose kids are pumped about it.  It’s a 16-hour production challenge for entire TV staffs.  A one-word ”theme” is given to you on March 7 at orientation, and from 8 a.m. until 12 midnight, teachers and kids brainstorm and produce an entire show built around that theme.  There are three categories, one for schools in their first five years of broadcasting, one for schools where they’ve been producing for six or more years, and then a very interesting “collaborative” category which allows two schools to form one team.  There is a mixer on March 9 for all participants, where clips will be shown, and judges will talk about what they observed, good and bad.  This is the only convention competition that allows (actually, it requires) schools to provide their own editing equipment.

Returning:  The “Five Freedoms” PSA Contest

Information about this one will be released soon, but for the second year in a row, Channel One and RTNDF, with the generous support of the Knight Foundation, will sponsor two PSA contests, one for 15-second spots, another for 30-second spots, and the topic is simple:  Convey the importance of one or all of the “Five Freedoms” guaranteed by the 1st Amendment.  Winners in each receive $500.  They will be announced and screened for the first time at the STN Closing Awards Ceremony March 10.  Not many entries last year–time for STN to step up for this one.  Why?  Because only STN schools may enter.  Let’s show the sponsors how much we value our freedoms and see if we can have about 50 entries in each category.

NEW:  Faces and Sessions

We are making an effort to revitalize the breakout sessions by bringing in some new professionals as presenters, and to add new topics for them to cover.  We have heard from a number of you and have taken your ideas to heart.  As the weeks go by, we’ll announce sessions and speakers as they are confirmed.  We already told you about Bill Whitaker from CBS News joining us.  He spoke at the first convention in 2004, and has agreed to come back next March.  We are also adding several new film and production sessions in addition to some great broadcast journalism breakouts.

NEW:  Schedule Changes

Some significant changes have been made to the schedule of the convention activities.  One big one is moving the largest on-site contest, “Music Video,” to Thursday evening/night.  Getting that event done on Thursday makes contests on Friday a lot less hectic.  There are a few other on-site contests on Thursday the 8th as well, part of our effort to make contest management much easier for everyone.  It’s great that the contests are so popular, but there are always headaches associated with growth.  NOTE:  We will offer many more breakout sessions on Friday the 9th, so those in RTNDF’s teacher training sessions can rest assured there will be plenty of things going on for the students not involved in contests that day. 

NEW:  (On-Site Top Ten) Music Video Screening 

Since the Music Video on-site contest wraps on Thursday night, we will have a great event on the Friday night schedule:  “The STN Music Video Screening.”  It will feature the top ten videos from Thursday’s contest, as chosen by our judges, plus the best videos submitted by mail.  The on-site winners will be named at Saturday’s closing ceremonies, as usual.  This screening promises to be a hot ticket. 

Returning:  STN Film Festival

Before the music videos are screened Friday night, March 9, we will host our second annual “STN Student Film Festival,” screening ten “official selections” chosen by judges for their creativity and craft.  The film festival is for short, original student films (ten minutes or less) and this year the festival will include the presentation of awards for directing, editing, screenplay, original score, and a few others.  Note:  There WILL be a compilation of the ten selections made available in the STN Store in Anaheim, and later in the new STN Online Store, which launches in a few days.

NEW:  Compilation of Winners

We have worked out the details and can finally announce something exciting.  There will be a compilation DVD made with all the winners from the 2007 On-Site Contests.  This will be a valuable item for teachers as they prepare for future STN conventions, and we are very happy to make this available in late March.

MUCH MORE:  More Teasers Coming

Yes, this is just the first “tease” blog of the year.  I will keep filling you in every month or so about things we’re planning for scholastic broadcasting’s biggest national convention.  If you haven’t registered yet, there is plenty of time.  I know a certain school in southwest Missouri that has yet to register.  Ahem.  Gulp.

 

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