In lab your group will produce a professional looking two-minute news update. The update will consist of:

• 10 second opening
• 30 second lead story (studio)
• 5 second segue
• 30 second "remote" story (on-location in the field)
• 5 second segue
• 30 second wrap-up story (studio)
• 10 second wrap-up

It is vital that your update fit into the provided two-minute time slot.

Each student must provide:

• 30-second news story/script. Bring two copies of a typed script. Please make sure it's a real story on an actual event. It should contain just the anchor's copy (no camera shots or graphics) and that it has your name on it. Read it out loud to make sure it fits into 30 seconds.
• Two JPEG graphics that correspond to your story: an "over the shoulder" graphic and a "location" background image. Both of these graphics need to be created ahead of time and ready via Oncourse. You can also bring them in on a thumb drive or CD. To turn these in, please make a folder called "your user name" in the Oncourse/T356/NewsGraphics folder. Place your two JPEG graphics in your folder.
  • Full-screen background / location image for "remote" chromakey location. This is the image that will appear behind the "on-location" talent. (Like behind the weatherman, or as seen on The Daily Show). Because this will be used as a fake location graphic, make sure there are no moving elements frozen in time. (People, dogs, cars, etc) or it will look fake. It is highly recommended that you start with the 1920 x 1080 HD Photoshop template. You'll probably want to find a relatively large photo to copy into and scale as necessary to make this work. (Video clips can also work.)
  • Over the shoulder graphic. This graphic should be created in RGB mode and can be sized anywhere around 500 x 500 pixels. Becuase it is occupying only a portion of the screen (as an "over the shoulder" graphic) be sure NOT to have any small or finely detailed text or images.
• For general tips on making graphics check out Jim's graphic tips.

During lab each group will select three stories for the news update. Two students from other groups will serve as the studio and field reporters. Each group will rotate through their update so that everyone will get a chance to direct. You will be graded on your story & graphics, and your directing.

After you carry out the News Exercise, write a one-page (minimum) critique about your experience and success (or lack of it).

Be sure you remember the main points about lighting someone against a blue or green screen and how the look ahead feature of the switcher works.

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