The Assignment

Hi all,

For your information, here is the assignment sheet for the Bouncing Story that was given out to the Ryerson students. The requirements for the RMIT students may be slightly different, so check with Professor Bruce Berryman on that.

However, the important thing is that all groups make their deadline! Because the group that follows will only have one week to listen to the episode and write/produce the next episode, it is imperative that the episodes are completed and uploaded on time! Please note the schedule of due dates below. Thanks for your understanding on this.

Lori Beckstead
Professor, Ryerson University

BDC 979 Radio Production

Assignment: “The Bouncing Story”

The purpose of the assignment is to allow you to collaborate with overseas students on a dramatic/comedic radio story.

We’re pairing up with the students from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Ryerson will produce the first segment of a radio play, and it will be posted on our blog at http://bouncingstory.blogspot.com and available as a podcast. Then RMIT students will produce the next episode, and post it for Ryerson to hear, and so on.

Each group has only ONE WEEK to listen to the previous segment and write and produce the next segment. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that your produced segment is NOT LATE—this will throw off the entire rest of the schedule so make sure your episode is turned in on time.

Obviously, you do not need to use the same actors throughout the whole play…each character can be played by a different actor each time a segment is produced. Keep it fun and interesting by not planning with the following group what you’ll write and produce.

There are 2 components to the assignment:

1. The episode your group writes and produces. This will be marked by your professor and you will also get feedback from your student colleagues on it. See schedule below for due date.
2. Your evaluation of another group’s episode. Each individual student must provide feedback about a designated episode on the Bouncing Story blog. See schedule for designated episode and due date.

Instructions for accessing the online blog:

In a web browser, go to http://bouncingstory.blogspot.com. Only members of this blog are allowed to make posts. You should receive an “invitation” email from Professor Lori Beckstead to become a member of the blog. If you don’t receive an invitation (double check your junk email folder!) then send a request to lbeckste@ryerson.ca.

If you have any trouble accessing the site, please contact Lori Beckstead at lbeckste@ryerson.ca

Guidelines for Feedback:

You should attempt to write approximately one page worth of feedback, or more if you’d like. As you write your feedback, you should try to comment on the following areas:

1. Writing:
1. Was the episode engaging? Why or why not? (consider plot, character development, setting, use of humour, clarity, etc.)
2. What was good about the script?
3. What could be improved about the script?
4. Did the script successfully move the story ahead without painting the next group into a corner or ignoring/dropping the threads begun by the previous group?
2. Production:
1. Was the production good? Why or why not? (consider recording, editing, mixing, microphone technique, choice and placement of sound effects, choice and placement of music, etc.)
2. Did it “paint a picture” for you?
3. What could be improved about the production?
4. Did you hear any production techniques that are new to you?
3. Actors/voice overs:

Okay, we’re not in an acting course, but feel free to comment on particularly strong performances and/or indicate how the performances could have been improved.

4. Ask questions:

Feel free to post questions to your colleagues about production techniques, what inspired the ideas in the episode, etc.

Please also comment on any other areas that aren’t listed here if you wish.

Restrictions:

• Follow CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) guidelines regarding language, suitable content, etc.
• Follow copyright restrictions regarding use of music (copyright-cleared music only, please)

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Bouncing Story schedule of due dates

Due Date	Episode due from	Feedback due from
Mon. March 6	Episode 1: Ryerson Group 1
Mon. March 13	Episode 2: RMIT Group 1	RMIT Group 3 on episode 1
Mon. March 20	Episode 3: Ryerson Group 2	Ryerson Group 3 on episode 2
Mon. March 27	Episode 4: RMIT Group 2	RMIT Group 1 on episode 3
Mon. April 3	Episode 5: Ryerson Group 3	Ryerson Group 1 on Episode 4
Mon. April 10	Episode 6: RMIT Group 3	RMIT Group 2 on Episode 5
Thursday April 13 (last day of class for Ryerson)		Ryerson Group 2 on Episode 6

What’s it worth?

In addition to invaluable experience and fun, it’s worth 15% of your mark (episode, 10% and your posted feedback, 5%).

Please note: If your episode is late, you get zero. No make-ups or re-dos. Other people are counting on you to get it done on time, not just your professor.

How to hand it in?

Hand it in to the Audio Library no later than 3 pm on the due date as a WAV file on data CD.

Ensure the CD is clearly labeled with the following information:

Bouncing Story

Episode #

Date

Group members