DMA 346
Final Report Format for Client-Based Projects

Each member of the project team is required to submit a separate Final Report typed in this format.  DO NOT COPY any information from another project member’s report as this would constitute plagiarism and will result in failure of the course and possible disciplinary action by the University.  Do not submit reports in plastic binders, covers, or sleeves!!!  Naked paper and a staple will suffice.  Use this document as a template to type your actual report.

1.   Project Summaries - list the hours and name of each client-based project you worked on this semester along with the client’s name, affiliation, phone, and total running time of the finished project.  List any co-producer(s) who worked on the project(s) with you as well as the crew functions you served on each project.

	18hrs - Student Housing Orientation Video  (Client: Jane Doe, University Housing, x3333)  [TRT: 15min]
		Suzie Smith and Bob Han (Co-Producers)
		(Functions You Served):  Director, Camera, Editor, DVD authoring

	 4hrs – Alcohol Awareness Video  (Client: Dr. Helen Smith, Student Affairs, x3334)  [TRT: 6 min] 
		(Functions You Served):  Camera

	 6hrs – Cobra Crane Instructional Video  (Client: Dr. George Vinovich, DMA, x3945)  [TRT: 12min]
		Tom Jones (Co-Producer) 
		(Functions You Served):  Editor, DVD authoring

	28hrs – Total Semester Hours Worked

2.   Project Quality - discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each project as far as: 1) Production Value (technical quality – how professional does it look/sound), 2) Communicative Value (how well does each make its point to the target audience, and 3) Entertainment Value (how well does each hold the attention of the target audience). 

3.   Portfolio Value - what does each project demonstrate about your skills and expertise in digital media?  How will having this project in your portfolio help you to secure a job in the industry?

4.   Hindsight – if you were able to start each project all over again, what things would you do differently?  What mistakes did you make on these projects?  What was the biggest lesson you learned from working on each project?

5.   Checklist for Grade of “A” – answer “YES” or “NO” to each of the following 13 questions:
	
	1. Missed meetings (Did I arrive late or miss any class meetings during the semester?)
     Absences = ??      Tardy = ??	
	2. Late submission of final product (Did our group submit our final product late, i.e., the project was not ready for submission on SD Card, DVD, or Mini-DV tape by the class deadline?)	
	3. Late submission of report (Did I submit my report late or fail to have my report printed in the proper format according to the prescribed directions?)	
	4. Skimpy, incomplete, token-effort Final Report (Did I submit a skimpy, incomplete, or token-effort report that lacked critical analysis of project quality and team member performance?)	
	5. Instructor review (Did I provide adequate time for the instructor to review our footage and rough cuts so that improvements could be made before the final submission deadline?)	
	6. Miking technique (Did our group fail to use proper miking in the VO narration or interviews, i.e., using the camera mic or other device instead of a boom or lav mic properly attached to the subject?)	
	7. Lighting technique (Did our group fail to use proper lighting (i.e., no back light, high contrast, no background light, or silhouette shots with inadequate frontal light?)	
	8. Framing technique (Did our group fail to use proper framing in some shots, i.e., too much headroom, feet cut off, body bisection, no nose room, or straight zooms?)	
	9. Titling technique (Did our group fail to use proper titling such as fonts that were too dark, too thin, too small, no stroke, or inconsistent style?)	
	10. Playback problems (Did our project have playback problems such as strobing, noise, pixelization, stretched or squeezed aspect ratio, or out of sync audio?)	
	11. Camera coverage (Did our group fail to get enough coverage, i.e., not enough varied camera angles [high, low, side, dutch, LS, MS, OS, BS, CU], or have too much of the same shot repeated?)	
	12. Professional image problems (Was I ever disrespectful, uncooperative, unresponsive, or unprofessional to the instructor or my team members during class or any phase of the project?)	
	13. Lack of significant contribution (Did I lack involvement in any phase of the project such as:    a) production (camera, lighting, directing); b) video editing; or c) Blu-ray/DVD menus and authoring)?	

6.   Your Grade - discuss what grade you believe you deserve for what you achieved this semester and why this particular grade for DMA 346 would be appropriate.  Base your assessment on what is actually reflected in the final product, rather than on the amount of time or effort you put forth.  Also, assess your professional image.

7.   Team Members’ Grades - evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each of your project team members by writing a separate paragraph for each team member.  Include the team member’s name and project he or she worked on with you. Discuss what final grade you believe each team member deserves for his or her contribution, achievement, and professional image on the project.  It is confidential, so be honest.

	Joe Blow  (Cobra Crane Video) – if you want someone who really knows how to edit in FCP, Joe is the guy.  His technical skill in FCP and  Pro Tools is very professional; unfortunately his behavior is not.  He showed up late for most of our sessions and was extremely unresponsive when it came to the numerous e-mails, texts, and phone calls we made to him throughout the project.  He was also AWOL throughout most of the post production phase.  He did show up to some of the location shoots to help us out occasionally, but didn’t seem very involved in the project as a whole.  Although I admire his skill with the software, I would not want to work with him again on future projects. He is very unreliable, unorganized, and unprofessional.  I believe that he deserves the grade of C- for this project. 

	Suzie Q  (Promo Video) – without Suzie we never would have been able to complete this project on time.  She handled everything from talent scheduling, casting, and craft services to equipment rental, insurance bonds, and transportation.  In addition, she is a good director who seemed to get great performances out of each of our actors in ADR.  I learned so much from her just watching how she motivated the talent.  Although she’s not that familiar with most of the audio software programs we use, she was present at every editing session giving her opinion on the best takes and how to mix the final soundtrack.  She seemed to keep our whole team motivated and on task.  She is organized, dependable, and an absolute pleasure to work with. I definitely would be willing to work with her again anywhere and anytime on any future projects.  I believe that she deserves the grade of A for this project. 

Checklist for required documentation for each project:

  1.  Have you attached a signed Talent Release Form from all Narrators, Actors, and Extras to this report?

  2.  Have you attached a signed Music Composition Release from all Composers on this project?

  3.  Have you attached a signed Music Performance Release from all the Musicians on this project?

  4.  Have you submitted an SD Card, DVD, or Mini-DV Tape of each project for this course?