#digs16 video interview assignment

Assignment Overview

In their Introduction to the second edition of The Oral History Reader Perks and Thompson (2006) note that when one engages in the practice of oral history she is also challenging traditional notions of the construction of history. Correspondingly, by challenging history she is also challenging traditional conceptions that reliable research is the investigation of written texts found in libraries, databases, and archives. Later, in their opening words to Part I, they announce that human beings are now “in the middle of a fourth, dizzying digital revolution in oral history and its outcomes are impossible to predict” (p. 8). They describe this revolution as being a result of the proliferation of information technologies-email, the Internet, digital recording devices-and the potential for ubiquitous access to interviews. In short, “the future of oral history . . . has never been so exciting, or so uncertain” (p. 8). And we are going to make some and make them public immediately.

With smartphone video cameras on a tripod we are going engage that exciting uncertainty by composing one oral history video stories of an important individual associated with the semester-long investigation. So you have a choice of whom to based your digital story on, we are going to conduct interviews with TWO people. You will then select who you want to base your video on.

Our stories will bring together clips from your interviews, historical documents in the form of archival footage, still image (used with Ken Burns effect), and background music. As such, they will not only be about the individual, though we will learn about him or her through their interview. Rather, the stories will explore a issue relating to your investigation as understood by the person you interview. The distinction is subtle, but important. We discuss this in great detail in class as we get closer to the interview drafts.

To complete the in-person interviews, you can use the video recorder of your choice. The department has tripods you can use and special tripod adapters to hold smart phones so your videos are stable.

The fact that we are conducting interviews does not preclude us from engaging in more traditional modes of research. Indeed, oral history presentations depend on it for evidence to support and enhance statements uttered by interview subjects. Interviews also require a substantial amount of traditional research about the particular issue you are investigating, the organizations your subjects might be a part of, and so on. The more prepared we are the better listeners and questioners we will be, and the more effective we will be at helping the subject articulate their memories.

As Kayla tweeted:

Video Archives

Instructional, educational, or ephemeral film footage from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, or 70s can be found most readily in the Moving Image Section of the Internet Archives. Some useful places to start are: productions/collections by Coronet Instructional Films, the A/V Geeks, or the Prelinger Archives. It may help you to find a subject area by exploring the massive tag clouds associated with the collections, but I encourage you to look across subject areas to hep complicate your projects. Contemporary footage can come from anywhere.

Other archives that have great material (most of which is easily downloadable) are:

For information how to download and convert online video, see How to Download and Convert Online Video.

Blog Post Specifics

For ONE of your interview subjects, compose TWO blog posts

  • one that discusses the preparation for the interview
  • one that reflects on how the interview went

The preparation post should be posted before the interview takes place and the reflection post should be posted after the interview takes place.

For the preparation post, discuss at least the following:

  • the interview specifics: who you’ll be interviewing (first names are just fine), where, when, and why you are interviewing this particular person
  • how you plan to use oral history interview techniques to approach the interview (cite the texts)
  • the main topics you hope to cover in the interview (no questions; topics)

For the reflection post, discuss at least the following:

  • how the interview was similar and/or different from your expectations
  • what you learned, what questions you still have, and where you hope to go next
  • what was successful about the way the interview ran and what you might have done differently

Video Draft Specifics

Rough Draft

For this draft, I’d like you to narrow down your interview with your subject(s) to 2 – 4 minutes, highlighting a key component to the story this part of your project will be telling. Your draft should make clear that your video is not just about the person you have interviewed; rather, through them we will be learning about an important issue, place, activity, etc.

Toward that end, I’d like you to include recent and archival clips that illustrate the issue the person is addressing, as well as clips from videos you took of the areas surrounding the location where the person works. As one possible way to include that kind of material, look to how Spike Lee uses clips of Hurricane Betsy when New Orleans residents discuss Betsy. You should also have a montage at the beginning that visually introduces the viewer to the issue(s) your video will address.

Include Creative Commons or Public Domain background music where appropriate from Archive.org, Freesound, Jamendo, or MusOpen.

Make sure to bookmark the videos you are using so you can make a works cited page in the future. The videos in your montage do not need to be Creative Commons or Public Domain. If you are having trouble downloading video from the web, be sure to see How to Download and Convert Online Video. You may use whatever video editor you prefer to complete the draft.

Upload your video to Vimeo or YouTube and email BW a link to it.

Specifics for Rough Draft 2 and Final Draft

Your video final draft must:

  • be 5 – 8 minutes long (plus credits)
  • include historical/archival footage, as described in the rough draft
  • include a list of closing credits that includes
    • for each video used: title, date, and URL
    • for audio used: artist, date, title, and creative commons license that was originally applied to it
  • contain a Creative Commons license (see the link to download a Creative Commons license image to include as the last thing in your video)
  • contain a title slide at the end that provides a clickable URL for users to go to find the larger story

Specifics when Uploading Rough Draft 2 and the Final Video to YouTube

  • Upload the video to YouTube or Vimeo
  • Place a complete meaningful title of your video in the form field when uploading the video.
  • In the Description form field, add the following (copy and paste from a Word doc so that you have spell-checked it):
    • start with a clearly written and well-edited one-two sentence description of the the video and the larger story the video is a part of
    • a link to the full transmedia story, including the title
    • include a complete list of credits and sources
    • Please use paragraphs and complete sentences
    • Do not mention the video was created for a class
  • Add at least five meaningful tags.
  • For the category, select Education (it could fall under “Entertainment” but Education suits our purposes).
  • Make the video public and allow embedding and comments

Assignment Due Dates

In this part of our transmedia digital story, students will be creating a 5 – 8 minute video digital story using oral history interview techniques. The videos will be based on an interview with an important person associated with your investigation. The digital story will include clips from your interviews; video of spaces associated with your investigation; original photography; historical documents in the form of archival footage; and Creative Commons, public domain, or original background music.

The due dates are:

  • 3/1: Must know the TWO people you will be interviewing and have the interviews scheduled
  • 3/5 – 3/18: Interviews must be conducted during this window; do not complete them before
  • 3/25: Interview blog posts must be completed by this time
  • 4/12: Video rough draft 1 due online
  • 4/21: Video rough draft 2 due as part of completed transmediated story draft

To Go Significantly Beyond the Required Coursework

As part of the Grading Criteria, to obtain an A in the course, you must “demonstrate activity that goes significantly beyond the required course work in one or more course objectives.”

Here are a few ways you might be able to demonstrate going beyond the required coursework through the use of video work in addition to the main video assignment:

  • create one or more short videos(no more than 45 seconds) clipped from your interviews that can be used as certain parts in your transmedia story (just as videos were used in Snow Fall)
  • create a series of Instagram videos that, in 15 second bits, tell a story over time
  • create a 1 – 2 minute video mashup on an important issue relating to your investigation area
  • something else you come up with :-)

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