Write a proposal for a 5-7 minute, reality-based video. The proposed video can be in any nonfiction genre (e.g. theatrical documentary, television news or news feature, public service announcement, publicity video, training video). Everyone in the class will read your proposal, and we will vote as a class on the best three proposals to work on this semester.
Shooting for your proposed video must be achievable given the following constraints:
- You have zero budget;
- Your audience will be the CSU campus community;
- Your crew will consist of you and two or three of your classmates. One or more of these classmates probably won't have a car, so unless you can fit the full crew and equipment into your car, you will need to stick close to campus;
- Your full-time equipment will consist of one miniDV camera and a tripod. (You will be able to check out the portable lighting kits, the steadycam unit, scrims, stands, and other equipment that we have on hand, but you will need to share this equipment with the other crews.)
- You will have approximately one month to shoot. Shooting must begin and end on the dates listed on our schedule.
Proposal Format
The proposal must be typed, double-spaced, and should be about 5 pages long. Your name and the page number should appear in the upper-right margin of every page. To be considered on time, the proposal must be sent to me by 9 a.m. on the date listed on our schedule, in an MS Word document attached to an email message. The file's name and the email message's subject line should both be "4410-YourLastName-proposal.doc."
Proposal Sections
Using Hewitt and Vazquez pages 62-74 as guidance, the proposal should consist of the following sections.
Hypothesis (one paragraph)
This is a detailed paragraph presenting an overview of the project and its theme.
Research (two pages)
This should consist of two or more pages presenting the results of your research into the topic's background and contexts (cf. Hewitt and Vazquez 63). Note: You will need to complete this research, including preliminary interviews, in order to write this section. Include detailed information on the research, including books, web sites, and articles consulted.
Conflict and Challenge (half page)
Audiences are engaged by tension, usually tensions affecting people. What are the sources of this tension in your video?
Characters (half page)
This section should profile at least two of the video's major characters. See Hewitt and Vazquez 64-65 for details on this vital part of your project.
Treatment (one page)
This should cover the first two minutes of your video. See Hewitt and Vazquez 73-74 for a model.
Style and Format (half page)
Will the video include an on-screen host? Will there be voiceover? See Hewitt and Vazquez 66 for additional information on this section.