Courses for Academics
Course Financial Model
Direct TV Training courses can be financed in three ways:
1. From existing training budgets. Course fee £500 for the day for up to ten participants
2. Self financed by academics. Course fee £130 per participant. Min four. Max ten.
3. Self financed by academics with a proportion of the course fee going to the University. Course fee £150 per participant. Min four. Max ten.
These figures include camera and edit kit. Course participants receive hand outs at the end of each course. Course can be adapted for different needs and expanded to two days if necessary. All courses involve practical exercises. For more info: e mail [email protected]
The Courses
Course 1: Filming for academic purposes
A one day course specifically designed to help academics film material for teaching and research purposes.
It can be adapted for different needs, but the general layout is as follows:
You will acquire the skills to film the following scenarios using a broadcast quality Sony Z1 camera and a domestic camcorder…
· A lecture / seminar
· An interview with a research subject
· A piece to camera
· A commentary track for research footage
· Research in the field – eg a ritual, an archaeological dig, local institutions
You will learn the following…
- Familiarisation with the camera
- How to frame shots like the professionals – ‘head room’ and ‘eye room’
- Using a tripod and separating subjects from background
- Exposing shots correctly - using available light and a lighting kit
- Directing in your head - filming action sequences and internal cutaways
- Recording sound like the professionals
- Presenting skills including pieces to camera and commentary
Course 2: Presenting on camera – especially web videos
What you will learn on this one day course…
The Holy Trinity of Presenting – Interviews, Pieces to Camera, Voice Over!
· Conducting an interview on camera – do’s and don'ts
· Formal and Informal Interviews
· Different types of interviews – web video / documentary / research
· Open and closed questions
· Coping in front of the camera and doing PTCs [pieces to camera].
· How to look good and come across well on camera
· How to engage the viewer - looking down the tube!
· Exercises in audio and camera presentation techniques
· How exterior presenting differs to interior presenting eg on a field trip
· Voice over technique - exercises and examples
Course 3: Filming and Directing Web Videos
A one day course specifically designed to help academics find out how to film and direct web videos for teaching, research, archive, website and broadcast purposes.
The course can be adapted for different needs, but the general format is learning how to direct the following scenarios;
· A lecture / seminar
· An interview with a research subject
· A piece to camera
· A commentary track for research footage
· Research in the field – eg a ritual, archaeological dig or ceremony
You will master the following…
- Familiarisation with the camera
- How to frame shots properly – ‘head room’ and ‘eye room’
- Using a tripod and separating subjects from background
- Exposing shots correctly - using available light and a lighting kit
- Directing sequences in your head
- How to create shooting scripts
- How to film lectures, seminars, interviews and actuality sequences with broadcast TV production values
- Recording sound like the professionals
- Working with crews and filming solo
Course 4: Podcast Presentation and Production
A one day course specifically designed to help academics produce and present podcasts.
The course can be adapted for different needs, but the general layout is…
Acquiring the skills to prepare, produce and perform podcasts to a full broadcast standard.
· The Holy Trinity of Presenting.
· Interviewing.
· A piece to mic – talking directly to the listener.
· Voice over.
You will learn the following…
- Do’s and don’ts of interviews for podcast.
- Doing pieces to mic like a natural.
- The three stages of podcasting, preproduction, production and post.
- Choosing the best quality kit and recording environment.
- Structuring your podcast and writing the script.
- Briefing the contributors and setting the tone.
- The role of the Chair.
- Recording podcasts like the professionals
- The importance of the ‘pay off.’
Course participants receive written notes to take away. Exercises can be uploaded to YouTube for later review on request.
Course 5: Media interview skills for academics
Who the course is for: Academics who would like to improve their skills and confidence when it comes to appearing on TV, radio and webcasts.
Objectives: At the end of this one day course participants will be able to:
· Prepare effectively for different kinds of interviews
· Come across well in TV, radio and web video interviews
· Conduct a podcast with confidence
· Spot tricks of the media trade and avoid potential traps!
Course Content: Welcome and Introduction
· Course overview and objectives
· What do you want to achieve today?
How to come across well in a broadcast interview:
- Do’s and don’ts of dealing with the media – and what to expect
- Be accessible but don’t dumb down
- Tricks of the media trade: “Why?” and silence…
- Appearance, tone and body language
- Controlling nerves and boosting confidence on camera
- Preparation is key – decide on your message and do your research
- Put yourself in their shoes – what would you ask?
- Different kinds of interview experiences – hostile and friendly
- Make your best points first and short and often!
- Interviews in different locations – office/home/ studio/‘down the line’ from a booth
- Conducting and chairing podcasts – the conventions
Refresher of key points:
· On camera interview exercises – role playing different scenarios
· Web video and podcast exercises
· Review and debrief
· Most famous gaffes of all time!
Summary and close:
Course participants receive written notes to take away. Role plays and exercises can be uploaded to YouTube for later review on request.
Course 6: Producing and Uploading Web Videos
A one day course specifically designed to help academics film and edit web videos for teaching, research, archive, website and broadcast purposes.
The course can be adapted for different needs, but the general layout is…
Acquiring the skills to film and edit the following scenarios using a broadcast quality camera and Adobe Premiere edit software.
· A lecture / seminar
· An interview with a research subject
· A piece to camera
· A commentary track for research footage
· Research in the field – eg a ritual, archaeological dig or ceremony
You will learn the following…
- Familiarisation with the camera
- How to frame shots properly – ‘head room’ and ‘eye room’
- Using a tripod and separating subjects from background
- Exposing shots correctly - using available light and a lighting kit
- Directing in your head
- Shooting scripts and edit scripts
- How to film lectures, seminars, interviews and actuality sequences with broadcast TV production values
- Recording sound like the professionals
- Editing and uploading skills for webcast, teaching and archive