This is a set of "useful" utilities created for my video journalism teaching. Some are specific to the modules I teach and their assessment. Others are a little more generic.
NOTE:These were all generated with some input from AI to create the code.
All of these were developed as standalone HTML pages so that they could be added to our VLE (Moodle) with no local dependencies such as graphics or JS libraries. They do require internet access to online/CDN libraries. Some corporate networks and VLE's may be picky about this, so your mileage may vary.
Please feel free to use them as you wish. However, I'd really appreciate it if you let me know if you did. I'd be interested in feedback! Let me know at a.dickinson@mmu.ac.uk
A standalone webpage that allows a student to visually build formatted script from blocks of content. This was developed for a first-year module, Media Making for Journalists, where the assessment required them to build a simple package to a preset template (hence the basic structure). It works out basic timings and forces the student to include shot descriptions, nat sound information and lower-third information on interviews. It also allows for a basic cutaway in an the interview.
- Works as a standalone HMTL file (but requires connection to access scripts)
- Student can drag-and-drop blocks for WS, MS, CU, an UNUSUAL ANGLE, Library footage or Full-screen graphic.
- Click to add shots functionality added to make it a bit more mobile-friendly
- Shot blocks require a shot description and detail of NAT sound before users can export script.
- Shows a live preview of the script as the student makes changes
- Users can copy a version of the script to the clipboard.
- Exports a Word document with a script formatted for assessment submission
A more advanced version of scriptbuilder, this is still a standalone webpage that allows a student to visually build a formatted script from blocks of content. There is no limit to the number of shots.
- Works as a standalone HMTL file (but requires connection to access scripts)
- As well as the standard blocks, there is now an interview block, which includes the ability to add multiple cutaways.
- Most shot blocks have the opportunity to specify overlay graphics if required.
- Shot blocks can be set to FULL NAT which denotes only NAT sound. No script.
- There are now tags you can add into the script directly to fine-tune content:
- Temporary lifts in NAT sound (NAT POP) can be shown in script by adding the tag [NATPOP=X:TEXT] where x is the number of seconds of NAT sound you want, and TEXT is a brief line to point to a specific sound
- Temporary lifts in NAT sound focus on dialogue can be noted with [SOT=X:TEXT] where x is the number of seconds of sound and TEXT is the specific dialogue to include
- Overlay GFX can be defined globally by using the Overlay Graphics check box. But you can be more specific with timing in a script by using the [GFX:TEXT] tag where the text is the text content to show on screen.
See a working version at https://journalism.cards/visualscript/
Updated Now includes an auto-detect feature. Grabby will scuttle through a video clip and grab shots based on scene changes.
A very lightweight shot logger/screengrab utility. Designed to help students get screenshots for their reports and reflections.
- Works as a standalone HMTL file (but requires connection to access scripts)
- Download individual images or a zip file of multiple images.
- Download a Word doc with images added to form the skeleton of a report
A lightweight app to allow students to pratice writing and delivering script to pictures and to time.
- Works as a standalone HMTL file (but requires connection to access scripts)
- The user can download an audio file of their script.
- Note: Use the built-in microphone (requires permission for the browser to use the mic)