How to Cut in Adobe Premiere - We go over how to make straight cuts, ripple delete, what is the shortcut for cutting, and how to cut using the voice text tool.

Premiere Shortcuts - These are some of the shortcuts I use daily. I strongly encourage students to learn these to help speed up the editing process. 

How to Use Lumetri Color Panel in Adobe Premiere - In this tutorial I breakdown the steps you should take to color balance each shot and how to read the lumetri scopes. 

Adobe After Effects Basic Tutorial - I break down the beginning steps of the extensive program called After Effects. We look at how to make text on screen, drawing boxes, masks, and shortcuts. 

A-Roll Champion Adobe Premiere - A-roll is considered to be the bones of a package. In this tutorial for RTV 153 I show students how to make their audio sound better by using Adobe Audition, Premiere Pro shortcuts to speed up the editing process, how to find footage quickly, and how to edit to music and/or the voice track. 

Using Photoshop and After Effects to make an Animated graphic—This is a combined two-part video in which I show RTV 153 students how Photoshop and After Effects work together. 

Make your audio sound better - This Audition tutorial goes over a few steps to quickly help your audio sound better. 

Teaching Portfolio

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." ― William Arthur War

Teaching Philosophy Statement 

A simple conversation between myself and a student changed both our lives for the better.

She was a student in the Multimedia Club at Calhoun Community College. That particular afternoon we were on location at a production shoot in Huntsville. I had shown her some basic camera techniques, and we were waiting for our interview to arrive. Having a second, I asked her what her plans were after Calhoun. She became somewhat timid but responded, "I want to transfer to the University of Alabama," but then quickly added, "But I don't think I have the grades."

I knew the student. I knew she had the grades. I said, "If this is what you want, let's go apply. We can start your application as soon as we get back to Decatur." She thought about it for a second. She had moved from apprehensive to intrigue. I told her, "This'll be the most important thing we do today. You got this." She agreed. As promised, we got back to my office and I lent her my computer. A few days later she was accepted.

That day we both had new paths.

Sometimes we all need that gentle push in the right direction. The words, "You can do it," can mean so much. I knew I wanted to get into teaching. However, it wasn't until some of my family and co-workers gave me that same advice that I started to pursue the career. What motivates me is knowing that I'm helping someone achieve a dream. That feeling that I helped someone means the world to me.

It is not always easy. I've worked in the multimedia field for over 20 years. There are many days that you don't come home on time or end up missing a big event. You have to have a love and passion for all things video. Most importantly a supportive and understanding family at home. It has been a fantastic career for me. I have gained a collection of stories and real world advice. I tell students that inevitably things can and will go wrong on a production shoot. It will be the training they receive while in school that will show them what to do and how to react. Every time I set up for a production shoot I can hear my instructors and my former Chief Photographer in my head. There are times when a Multimedia Technician will be dealing with multiple projects. You have to be able to work quickly and accurately. That is why I teach storyboarding, shortcuts and hotkeys in Adobe Premiere and After Effects, editing in the camera, and the importance of deadlines. I want to inspire and make sure they have the proper knowledge and skills to be prepared to enter the job field and ultimately advance their career.

Hands-on learning is a must. I have found that typically you cannot become proficient in this field by watching. Mastering techniques takes time and practice. That is why I focus on editing labs- using computers that they will use on the job. We demonstrate the fundamentals of how to set up cameras, tripods, microphone placement, and 3-point lighting. Then the students must do it themselves. I am a visual learner. This is a visual field. My lectures use pictures and videos to show the do's and don'ts of video production. In this business, you cannot have thin skin. We have class critique sessions where students upload videos to YouTube and present their projects to the class. This simulates real world situations where you get final approval from the client. Once they are ready, I find that letting students shoot video on their own can build confidence. When they come back to edit, we have a one on one critique session. I show them what they did correctly and how to fix any potential problems. Next time the student shoots, he or she hopefully learns from the previous mistakes.

The ultimate goal is the preparation for life outside of college. Potential employers want to see what a candidate can do. The most important thing is not the resume but a video reel. These showreels should be a one minute montage of their best work. This video should be on the student's personal website. They need to demonstrate that they know how to write, shoot, edit, produce, and direct amongst other things. I want them to be prepared to walk-in on the first day of the job and know their craft.

Never stop learning. I convey to my students that we're never done learning. My grandfather was an engineer for NASA. He worked on Apollo 11 and designed the tires for the Lunar Rover. One evening we were talking outside. He kept looking up at the moon. I asked him what he was thinking about. He said he had been doing research on the gravitational pull of the moon and its relationship with the Earth. He was 91 at the time. He often said, "If you learn something new every day, you've done good." I have taken that phrase to heart. I am continuously learning. The multimedia field has changed drastically from the start of my career. You must continue to stay on top of trends and learn from those around you. They have different voices and experiences. Now it is my turn to share and pass down to the next generation what I've learned. I want to be the one who shows students the proper fundamental steps and give them the best advice and knowledge I can provide. My goal is to prepare and inspire the next generation of storytellers.

Teaching Evidence 

Course Syllabi RTV 154 syllabus 2023

Sample lesson plan for introduction to Adobe Premiere  RTV 153 Premiere PowerPoint

Premiere Tutorial - Tricks I wish I knew when I started Premiere

Student Feedback - 

RTV 154 students wrote that they appreciated emphasis on the shortcuts/hotkeys that was taught. One of the assignments, students were given a camera and told to shot video that could be used for a :30 commercial. They said that after the assignment was complete, they felt more confident with the camera and editing. What didn't work was I had created an extra assignment on stop motion. It was an extra class that proved to have taken up too much time with not the given pay off at the end. They also mentioned recording editing/video techniques. These tutorials can be used as reminders. It will be an extra step to help them understand the principals of the field better. 

Future Plans and Professional Goals

I love what I do. I want to bring that passion to Calhoun's students. I've been given more leeway about what is taught in RTV 154. I've prepare lesson plans for the semester. I try to teach what will be expected of them when they reach the real world. There are plans to open a Multimedia Center in downtown Decatur. I hope to help teach classes on After Effects and Premiere at the center. 

Summary Reflections From Adjunct Faculty Professional Development

Where Do I Begin? 

Make your students comfortable on the first day. Be firm and upfront. Layout the semester the first day. Personally, it gave me an opportunity to put words on paper. It pointed me the right direction on creating a teaching philosophy, and I included a few more details in the syllabus. I feel more organized. It reiterated my desire to teach hands-on. As I mentioned, You cannot become proficient in the multimedia field by watching. I'm not great with remembering names. I will implement a short/fun writing exercise. This is a good idea because my job requires creating scripts of various lengths. This writing sample will give me a good base understanding of the student's writing style and level.

Student Learning and Motivation

Not one person is the same. Different teaching methods need to be used for individual students. In other words, not focusing on just pedagogy or andragogy. Studies have shown that this generation wants to be included. They want to be a part of beta testing. I started showing my unapproved work to students. It's a win-win for everyone. Students are our target audience, I'm able to get feedback about the multimedia. The students appreciate it because they feel included.  They can give critical information that can help us move forward. I share story. Sharing my struggles may help someone. Conveying to students that you have to be a lifelong learner is important. Failing sometimes happens in life. You can't be afraid to put yourself out there and try. Ask questions. Students are in college to learn. You don't know everything. One of the most important lessons is to simply listen. Many times we're consumed with the daily tasks and we're thinking about how to respond we don't listen to what's being said. Motivating students to turn in work on-time: Finding time to do makeup work on top of current work can prove to be difficult. There are real-world consequences in missing deadlines. This holds true especially in the multimedia field. People expect the videos to be done magically in a moment's notice. It seems the best way for students to turn in work on time is to be clear and upfront at the beginning of the year. Whatever the consequences of the tardiness are, there should be information clearly written in the syllabus.

Student Engagement

Teachers have an important role in student retention. Instructors need to give time, energy, be present, and engaged. Student engagement is increasingly seen as an indicator of successful classroom instruction. Generation Z wants to be a part of something. That is why student engagement is important. With shortened attention spans, keeping their concentration on a lecture that's 50 minutes long is challenging even for the most interesting subjects. Engaging the student with activities and real-world stories can bring course topics to life. It leads to the question: What can I do that's different? From a previous lesson, Gen Z wants a more video game-like learning environment. I play a role-playing game (nerd alert) where the game master gives out bennies (benefits) for moments of awesome. In my game, it gives the player a second chance on a bad roll. For example, I rolled a 5 and needed a 15. Let's bring it back to the topic. As an instructor, I can give out participation points for joining in the discussion. I called them Parti Points on the video I submitted. I'm workshopping the name. For those who don't feel comfortable speaking in class, those students can send messages in a chat window. I can include this in the syllabus. It can be a way to help out with extra credit at the end of the year. My son's fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Renard, gives out Renard bucks. Whenever one of her students does something well in class or is kind, she'll hand her dollars. If you get so many bucks, you can earn yourself a prize. It could be fun to have a prize box in the room. Those who participate get a treat or something fun. How will you be more intentional in the way you assign activities? By making sure that my lessons contain relevance. Why are we learning this material? Why is it important? By stressing techniques and stories that have worked for me while out on the job. 

The Invisible Student

We want to feel like we belong. We want to be understood. We want to be heard. For too long, many were without a voice. That's unacceptable. My goal is to make each student feel welcome. A few steps I can take in my classroom include:

1. An open welcome on the first day. This will include me asking about pronouns. If there's one you'd like me to use, please let me know.

2. Be transparent and upfront. There will be times a student will share their work in class. It can be difficult doing this. We will treat them kindly. There won't be name calling or upset feelings. Listen to the opinions from everyone. It is an opportunity for growth.

3. Show examples of diversity in multimedia. The majority of production you create needs to have women and men from different ethnicities.

Assessments 

Start with low pressure exams and build your way to the main event. By increasing the frequency you're giving students time to learn the basics and allowing them to make mistakes at a lower point value. I am adding in a quick one sheet to fill out at the end of the class. The questions are: what did you learn? What do you need more work on? This is a great way to build up the student's confidence and make sure they understand the material. It can also ease anxiety when it comes to tests. Again, I teach a smaller class but I'd definitely like to try to use these techniques. 

Reflections

Journaling. Taking the time to write down what worked and what didn't. With that said, it's not enough though to just reflect. 

Best Practices

Distance learning is not going away. It's important for us as a college to embarrass all things DL. There are of course challenges. When you're not face to face with a student, you lose that personal touch. I like that the documentation mentions to text students the first day of class, be yourself, and to add visual appeal. This helps to create an inviting and engaging environment.

Flexibility is key. It's a good reminder that not everyone is tech savvy and or might not have the access to technology. Students may not be taking a hybrid course by choice. We don't know what students are going through. More good tips include allowing more time during tests and making accommodations, not to make too many changes to your course that could add cost, and recording class meetings with students. It goes back to the old adage: if one person has questions, chances are multiple people do as well.

Why Quality Matters is Important

It's a peer based approach to help serve the community. The goal is to have continuous improvement in the education process and improve student learning outcomes. It gives a standard and is another way to help with professional development. I'm planning on getting my Distance Learning certification.

Critical Thinking Up in SMOKE

By thinking critically in the multimedia field, you can help your workflow and productivity. In this module we'll go over the 'why' we do the order of operation. By doing X can lead to Y which leads to Z and ultimately approval of your project. Making good decisions at one step can lead to success at the next. Conversely making poor decisions can lead to trouble and reshoots and or wasted time. Through my time as a Photojournalist I learned that 5 o'clock happens everyday. It doesn't matter if your assignment is ready or not. It's due. Imagine doing that everyday for three shows. It makes for good time management skills.

In multimedia, there's always a problem to solve. Most commercials address a problem and then tell you a solution. Here's a few examples:

Problem: Got a stain on your shirt? Solution: Use Gain!

Problem: Low energy? Solution: Red Bull gives you wings!

Commercials are in a problem and solution format. Something is wrong? Thank goodness Product X can fix it for you.

Through each step in the process of video creation there is a problem to solve. Think of multimedia as a puzzle; however the pieces can go in many places. Depending on your background, age, or even intent of the production any decision you make could be considered correct. After all, everyone has opinions about art. You're not going to please everyone. Mozart on YouTube has users who gave thumbs down to his music. You may have seen a trailer at the movie theater and instantly said, 'Oh no way I'm seeing that.' Or have been to an art gallery and been moved to tears. Or seen a commercial and suddenly discovered you want to go to the 'Home of the Whopper' for lunch. The person next to you could see the exact same pieces of art and have the complete and an opposite reaction.

Get approval at each step of the process. Scripts, storyboards, voiceover announcers, and final renders all need to be approved. This is a good way to cover yourself. It gives a paper trail. This script was approved on this date. BEFORE you send anything to the client for approval, make sure to get opinions from people with different backgrounds and ethnicities. Find someone you trust. Every person has a different real world experience. Another set of eyes or another point of view can prove to be helpful. You may be too close to your project and could miss a detail that stands out to someone else.

Take this video from ESPN. https://kdvr.com/news/nationalworld-news/espn-apologizes-for-fantasy-football-segment-compared-to-slave-auction/. What was meant to be harmless filler content, turned quickly in the opposite direction. In the video, there is a white auctioneer selling off black players to a mostly white male audience. It was compared to a slave auction. When the segment aired it was bad as well. This was in 2017 right after Charlottesville. Many called the video tone deaf. If the network had more diversity, maybe that person could have spoken up to say, this is a bad idea and here's why.

SMOKE

By thinking critically and creating a plan, you can help your workflow and productivity. It will also save you time and heartache. Remember the acronym SMOKE.

• S State your question or problem,
• M Make inquiries,
• O Options for action and/or resolution,
• K Know your option and keep a plan,
• E Evaluate the result of your decisions and explore other points of view.

State your question and identify the problem

Start with the basic questions. First and foremost, what is the problem? What is the purpose of the video? Have a meeting with your client to discuss. When dealing with clients, find out specifically what they want and when they want it. The basic questions every multimedia producer needs to ask is 1. What are you selling/trying to create? 2. What is the viewer benefit or what does the person watching get by seeing your art? These questions give you a base. Is the viewer benefit emotionally based? If yes, this can affect the feel of how you film your piece. Is the subject serious or more lighthearted? By narrowing down each question you bring yourself closer to the creation of a plan. Use critical thinking and commonsense throughout the process.

Critical thinking problem: Create an imaginary business. Come up with 3 possible pitch ideas. Use viewer benefit to decide the best possible one and tell why.

Make inquiries

When you're in a meeting with the client, ask questions. Lots of them. It may sound simple, but so many problems can be rectified by finding out what the clients want BEFORE you start shooting. We are in the communication business. Oftentimes those who work in the field can be the worst at not saying what they want. Take notes. Write down every piece of important information. This will be key when it comes time to write your script.

Please see the PDF of questions to ask during a production meeting.

By asking questions you save time in the long run. In some cases, it can relieve headaches because there's not long email chains of changes needed. Real world experience talking here...With some clients it won't matter. They'll just have changes. Make the changes as requested.

During this stage is a good opportunity to research your ideas. Let's say you have a client that makes pastries. Do an internet search. What did someone else do? What makes your client's pastry shop different? How can you make this creative?

Ask questions, prepare and be ready. That way you have the tools you need to do your job correctly and efficiently. That way there aren't any surprises.

Options for Action

Now that you have your information, you can start the most important phase: the script. The script is equivalent to a blueprint for a builder. It gives written documentation of where you see the production heading. It shows shot selection and pacing. It makes sure that everyone involved is on the same page. Think of it as an outline of what video you need and how to get it. It allows you to evaluate your options. There should be clear documentation saying this is the plan.

In this example, let's use a :30 second commercial. You won't have a lot of time but you can get your message across. Critical thinkers will ask how? Be concise. Don't use 7 words when 4 will do. Be clear.

Create a shot sheet of everything you need. My favorite phrase when dealing with video: Say dog - see dog. If your script is talking about a dog, show the dog. You wouldn't show a cat if the script said dog, right? Make sure your video and audio match. Let's talk about steps to create a shot sheet.

By being organized in your thoughts, you can clearly show what shots you need. It allows you to think ahead. What elements do I need to get this shot? Can we match this line from the script with this shot? Production cannot/should not move forward until a script is approved. Can you create a spot without a script? Yes, of course. From an organizational standpoint, it could lead to problems on set and make it difficult to produce. To help with ease, comfort, and a professional atmosphere having an approved script is central.

Critical thinking problem: Use the :30 second script below to create a shot sheet. Do internet search and match pictures with text. Or use a drawing program to create the images.

Yummy Donuts are hard to resist.

Fresh baked.

Out the oven.

Melt in your mouth.

Pure deliciousness.

Just look at the glaze falling off the side.

The fluffiness of the dough

Baked perfectly at 375 degrees.

Wait, is she putting in the filling?

Oh that looks good y'all.

Okay...I'm going to read the rest of this real fast - I want some right now.

Come to Yummy Donuts located on Parkway next to...oh just type in Yummy Donuts on your GPS and go get you a dozen!

Go get 'em while they're hot.

Know your options and keep a plan

Mike Tyson once said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." The day of the shoot something may go wrong. You have to be prepared for the unexpected because things can change in a moment's notice. Another story, we were tasked to do a livestream event for the Alabama Community College System. We drove down the night before to set up. As we plugged in the livestream box, it started to smoke. Literally it was about to start a fire. Well, thank goodness we have a backup. We plug in the backup. Annnd the backup failed. We were on the phone with tech support trying to figure out both problems. The person on the other end suggested we plug back in the first box. We politely declined. I'm not setting the hotel on fire. We even went to Best Buy to find a backup. No luck. We were unable to go live at that event. As soon as we returned home, we were able to put the final render on YouTube that day. This is an extreme situation. You can be prepared, but it's how you react to when things go wrong that defines you. When in doubt, go back to the plan. When the plan shoots out white smoke from its vents, make another plan. All of this to say, be able to adapt given a situation. The fact is you may not know what a given day may bring. As a Photojournalist, I was once asked to drive to Kentucky for a VO/SOT. In distance of time, that's an 8 hour drive both ways for a minute and a half worth of video.

Think of filming a video as a conversation with someone. Someone starts a topic. While they're talking, you're thinking and listening. You want to add to the conversation and keep it going. While you're filming, think of your next shot. If it is a good shot, how do you add to it? If you have a wide shot of a room with a person standing in the middle, where do you go next? One shot leads to the next and to the next. You have created a sequence. With digital video cameras every time you hit the record and stop button you've made a new file. This is called, editing in the camera.

Conversely, you may not want to add to conversation. "Did I tell you about my foot's bunion operation?" You may not have much to say about someone's topic. If you try a shot and it doesn't work, punt and try another way. It may have failed, but at least you tried! I've gotten some amazing shots just because I thought what if I tried...I've also gotten some real stinkers. I also learned I know if i do this technique, it won't work. Watch other people's work. What have they done? Incorporate what they've done, but make it your own. My best advice: Don't get complacent. Whatever your profession, it's easy to fall into a rhythm. Try something new.

Find a style that works for you.

E Evaluate the result of your decisions and explore other points of view.

You've written your script and got your video. Hopefully you had a plan that worked. As I mentioned, sometimes there can be events that are out of your control - life happens. Now it's time to edit.

Editing is the perfect opportunity to evaluate where you are in the process. You've filmed something. You've written something. Editing is the marrying of these ideas together. It's your chance to fine tune your ideas and final stage of your plan. Hopefully at this point you have all of your information. You know what font and color hexes to use. You have your logo. You have your video and a shot sheet. This is the time to say yes it worked or no it doesn't work and I need additional materials. I personally try not to reshoot. Sometimes it's unavoidable. When in edit, if you're not sure, ask someone. This is another time saver. You won't have to correct it later and saves frustration by the client.

Be organized. Put all of your files in the proper folders. Let's use Yummy Donuts. I would put the commercial video in the Commercials folder - Yummy Donuts - Video. That way if someone else needs to edit, that person can find everything clearly labeled. There's nothing worse than trying to find missing media.

Just so you know, there isn't one right way to edit. In many editing programs there are multiple ways of doing the same thing. I remember doing a YouTube search years ago. I wanted to quickly find missing audio in Premiere Pro. I want to clarify: I don't remember all of the steps from this video. I do remember there were many and they were convoluted. He wanted us to hand write out the timecode, insert documentation in a Notepad document, and use addition and subtraction from multiple video clips to determine the location...It was too much and too confusing. So, I scrolled through the comments and a user simply wrote, "DUDE! Just click on your video and hit the 'F' key." 'F' being for find. Boom. Simple. Let's say you want to get to the number 7. You could do 4+3, 6+1, 5+2, 8-1, 10-3...All of these functions equal 7. Don't take the long way like this YouTuber did (1+1+1+1+1+1+1). I assume the person who posted the video found his missing audio. But there's a much easier and more time efficient way.

Editing is a puzzle and having problem solving skills is a must. You must put the right pieces of video in the right order at the right time. If there's a shortcut to get you to your end goal, take it. You have to be able to think ahead and know what the client wants on a project.

Once you've completed the project, it's time for people to look and critique the final render. Putting yourself out there can be difficult. Some people will have notes that are helpful. Others not so much. Find someone you trust and with different backgrounds. Once the initial approval is complete, send it to the client. I find using YouTube and having it as unlisted works marvelously.

By Completing One Task it leads you to the next.

There's thought that goes into any production. Choices are made. From what music to use to what time we are supposed to be there. By making a good choice it can help you throughout the process.