The Truman Show Paper

The Truman Show Paper

“Who are you?” Truman questioned. “I am the Creator - of a television show that gives hope and joy and inspiration to millions.” replied Christoff. “Then who am I?” Truman asked. Chrisoff answered “You're the star.” The Truman Show was the first of its kind when it came out in 1998. It was confusing to the public that a show all about one person could get so popular even in a movie. The Truman Show was unique because of its creative camera angles, unrealistic plot, but had a disappointing ending.

The Truman Show used many different camera angles to enhance its plot. At first I found some of these camera angles to be annoying because it was different then most of the other movies I watch. But after awhile of watching I fought all the different views to be very creative. First there were camera on all the actors and Truman himself. These provided creative camera angles during all his conversations and interactions with other people. Along with camera shots of him while he thought he was alone. Second there were cameras in items he used everyday like his car radio, or in the newsstand he visited every morning. The radio camera provided views of him in his car at a different angle then most people are used to from the usual movie. Lastly there were cameras on the streetlamps, in his work, at the bank, and in the hospital. These cameras gave the movie tons of different angles to view Truman and covered the whole island so they could always keep an eye on him. These various angles added depth to the movie.

Though I did enjoy the movie I found several aspects of it to be unrealistic. First of all how they managed to keep Truman in the dome for 34 years. It was surprising to me that even though Truman was an explorer and wanted to explore the world he was still confined to the little island. Also sooner or later he would have to go on the water and conquer his fear. The second part that I found unrealistic was the actors. Not their acting but that they would give up many years of their lives just for the show. Also how they managed to stay in character for those 34 years and never accidentally reveal the secret to Truman. The last part that was unrealistic was the amount of camera they had. Chrisoff said they had 5000 cameras but that amount does not seem large enough to show coverage of the whole entire island. Think about it. It takes several dozen cameras to cover a single building and there was his work office, bank, grocery store, hospital, and hundreds of houses. Also all the streets, parks, and coastline had to be covered. For these 5000 cameras, how where they able to keep them all running and also hidden from him. You would think he would find one of the thousands of cameras sooner or later no matter how small they were. These unrealistic parts of The Truman Show hurt the movie’s realistic credibility.

The Truman Show was very enjoyable but had a disappointing ending. With the last view of Truman being him walk out of the dome into darkness I was left with a lot of questions. For one I wanted to know if he and Sylvia ever meet after he got out. Truman had been waiting to see Sylvia again for several years while stuck in the dome so the least the movie could do was show their encounter after all those years. Secondly it does not show what happens to the Truman show. It should have shown if the show ended because Truman escaped or did the show just find a new child to base the show after. Also since Truman was legally adopted by the corporation maybe they forced Truman to come back to the show. And what happened to Chrisoff after? Was he fired for trying to kill Truman? Lastly I want to know what happens to Truman now that he is in the real world. After living for 34 years with his “parents” and best friend did he ever try to see them again? And I can only guess that he decided to travel the world like he dreamed of ever since he was a young child. All the movie needed was an extra five minutes to show what happened to everyone and answer all the questions it left the viewers with. The movie’s open ending left me disappointed.

The Truman Show used creative camera angles and an unrealistic plot to create a unique movie but had a disappointing ending. The Truman Show was very unique for it previewed a world where tv viewers watched a show all about an average person, years before reality shows became popular. Chrisoff was like god in Truman’s world, watching over him for 34 years but he couldn’t hold back Truman forever. It was only time before he discovered that he was a real man in a fake world. The adventurer in Truman helped him to break down the barrier of false reality and walk through the door to freedom.

Notetaking on Camera Techniques

INTERVIEWING:
• What seven items should you bring with you when you are shooting an interview?
(Clocks Tick Tock Making Heads Pound Loudly)
Camera
Tapes
Tripod
Microphone
Headphones
Power Source
Light Source

• Shooting into a light source = Causes a SILHOUETTE

Button to adjust = Backlight button, use Flash


• Where do you want your light source?
Light should be behind the camera

• On what object should you focus the camera?
The person's nose

• No tripod= Bad


• Date and Time= Never put on the actual video


• SP/EP
Standard Play on tape. Extended Play on tape.

• Camera shoots in SP.

• Pre-Roll- 2-3 seconds before you start your interview.


• Post-Roll- 2-3 seconds after interview.


CAMERA SHOTS:

***BACKGROUND:

• 1 Shot= Mid-Chest to top of the head

• 1 Shot with graphic= 1 shot with graphic to the left or right

• 2 Shot= (Show only) For two people or Anchors

• CU- Close Up (Details)

• MS- Medium Shot

• LS- Long Shot

• ECU- Extreme Close Up

• Rule of thirds- Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the images into thirds both horizontall and vertically. Place important images on the lines. (Eyes)


CAMERA MOVEMENTS:
• Tilt- Moving up and down.

• Pan- Moving left and right.

• Zoom- Moving towards the image.

• Dolly- Physically moving your camera on wheels.

LIGHTS
3-point lighting
• Key- Brightest and most important light.

• Fill- Fill in the showdows from the key light.

• Back- Provide depth from behind.


MICROPHONES:
• Unidirectional- Takes sound in one direction.

• Omnidirectional- Takes sound from all directions. All cameras have omnidirectional microphones.

• Cardiod- Sound in one direction (Heart shaped).

• Lav/Lapel Microphone- Little microphone that can clip on to shirt.

• Boom Microphone- Used for movies. Long pole with microphone at the end.

College Search A-Roll

College Search- A-Roll
[Narration: Kyle Granat]
With high school ending soon most students are deciding what to do next year. But just where do they stand in their college search?
[Michael]
I plan on going off to college. Im not exactly sure where my first choice is.
[Shane]
I’m planning on going to either DCTC or Madison, Wisconsin.
[John]
I’ve visited 4 colleges so far since last spring.
[Narration]
Like these three many students have visited many different colleges but have not made their final choice yet.
[Shane]
I’ve visited Iowa State, Am Herst, Boston University, U of M, and Madison. I have narrowed the search down to two.
[Michael]
I’ve been interested in the U of M for a couple years. But I’m still not sure.
[Narration]
And what do these colleges offer that attracts students to them?
[Shane]
I look for a fun atmosphere with lots of things going on.
[Michael]
In college I plan on playing intermerials, probably basketball.
[John]
When I go to college I want to be about 3 to 5 hours away from home... by car.
[Narration]
Well good luck to all students in their search. For Eastview Highschool, Im Kyle Granat, signing off. You stay classy San Diego.

The College Search Interview

Angle: Where do eastview students stand now, in their college search.

Questions:
1. What are your plans after highschool?
2. Where do you plan to go to college?
3. How many colleges have you visited?
4. Where have you visited?
5. What do you look for in a college?
6. How far from home would you like to go?
7. Do you plan on playing sports/intermerials there? If so what?
8. How many scholarships have you gotten to the college?
9. How long have you been interested in this college?


Interview 1: John
- I plan to go to college.
- Ive visited 4 colleges so far since last spring.
- I want to be about 3 to 5 hours away from home... by car.

Interview 2: Shane
- Im planning on going to either DCTC or Madison Wisconsin.
- Ive visited Iowa State, Am Herst, Boston University, U of M, and Madison.
- I look for a fun atmosphere with lots of things going on.

Interview 3: Micheal
- I plan on going off to college.
- In college i plan on playing intermerials, probaly basketball.
- No i have not gotten any scholarships yet.
- Ive been interested in the U of M for acouple years.

Writing a Story Notes

10 Steps to Writing a Story – Broadcast Journalism

1. Find a Topic.
- What is your story about?
- Who is your audience?
- Why is this story important to your audience?

2. Find an Angle.
- What about your topic?
- More specifically, what is important about your topic?
- What should the reader learn?
- Summarize in 3 words: Subject, Verb, Object.

3. Collect Information.
- Who are the experts for this story?
- Do you need opposing points of view?
- What interview questions should i ask?
- What other research must be done to complete the story?

4. Conduct the Interview.
- Ask open ended questions.
- Get GOOD sound bytes. A PIECE OF AUDIO THAT CAN STAND ALONE
- Have the person to restate the question in the interview.
- Interview 3 people with at least thre questions.

5. Shoot your reporter Stand-Up.
- Should have a good idea what stor is about.
- Stand-Up should provide information that audience doesn't know
- Use Stand-Up for transition from one location to the next.
- No first person: I went.

6. Organize your sound bytes.
- What quote should i use?
- How can I organize the quotes to tell a story?
- What are m gold nuggents?
- Sprinkle the nuggets throughout the story!

7. Write segues in your story.
- Use words that tie the interviews together.
- What other information can i add to the story?
- Can the story stand on its own?

8. Write the Beginning and End of your story.
- Write body first.
- Best sound bytes for beginning and end.
- Paraphrase a sound byte at the beginning.
- Leave them with the strongest sound byte at end.
- Leave them with hope.

9. Write the ins and outs (if necessary).
- What should the anchors say to introduce my story or bring it to a close? No scoop went to find out.
- How should the story begin and end?
- Use attention getters at the introduction but avoid rhetorical questions.

10. Collect B-Roll to add to your story (throughout steps 4-9)
- How can video enhance my story?
-
-

*Steps 4-8 in your story are called the A-Roll.
- Anything that is said in story
- Anchor in

We will take notes on Broadcast Journalism Law/Ethics

1. What are the 5 freedoms of the 1st amendment?
-Religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

2. What is the Tinker Standard?
- Student speech cannot be censored as long as it does not "materially disrupt class work or involve substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others."

3. What is the Frasier Standard?
- Because school officials have an "interest in teaching students the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior," they can censor student speech that is vulgar or indecent, even if it does not cause a "material or substanial disruption."

4. What is the Hazelwood Standard?
- Censorship of school sponsored student expression is permissible when school officials can show that it is "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns."

5. What is the Frederick Standard?
- When your on a school authorized feild trip or activity you must still obey the school's rules against vulgar or indecent activities.

6. What is the definition of libel?
- A false written saying that is printed, or boadcasted, and that hurts somebodies reputation.