Group Project

  
     
 

The Assignment

You should create collaboratively a multimedia production which each group will present to the remainder of the class (as critical audience) at the end of the semester.

You may create any type of multimedia presentation you wish, but its genre (news, information, interactive fiction, narrative multimedia, instructional multimedia, advertising, game, etc.), target audience and purpose must be clear.

Part of this assignment is your ability to choose collectively a project that your group can execute within the time available this semester and in your respective schedules. I note below three options you may follow:-

  • If you have the expertise within your group, you may create your complete multimedia production. This option suits best a clear, coherent, relatively short, self-contained production.
  • However, as some multimedia productions require time commitment and participation far beyond the resources of this class, you may submit a proposal and treatment for the entire production, but submit only a partial script for the segment of the production you choose to execute. This option might work best if you want to develop a complex narrative multimedia game, for example.
  • If your group isn't quite expert enough to create the partial or full multimedia production, you should submit the proposal, treatment and script for the production, and then develop another vibrant, original way to present your project to the class.

As the subject matter and style of the group project are so open, you may wish to develop, as a group, a project that will add to your résumé or contribute to a 'show reel' of your work. Remember, too, that with thoughtful planning, you may be able to merge this assignment with an assignment for a multimedia production class. For example, you might script the project in this class and execute it in another class. This also applies to your individual projects.

  
     
 

Objectives of the assignment

  • to practice working collaboratively to develop a coherent production
  • to execute with confidence the multiple writing tasks (both in communicating with your client (me) and internally within your group) required in a multimedia production
  • to script meaningful interactivity into your production
  • to learn from each other new concepts, new perspectives and new skills
 
 

Dates and Parameters

Proposal (due 20 September)
The proposal constitutes your 'pitch' to me as a potential client. You should convince me through your analysis of your target audience and potential competitors, and your evocation of the originality and dynamism of your project that I should give your endeavors the green light.
Length: one single-spaced page, or two double-spaced pages

Treatment (due 23 October)
The treatment is your detailed description of your project, outlining 'story' trajectory, the development of the 'story,' the types and levels of interactivity, the goals of the production and its payoffs. (See the models in the Writing for Multimedia.)
Length: at least five double-spaced pages

Script (due 27 November)
Not many requirements here. You should use a recognizable script format, though. Remember, however, that scripting takes much longer than the writing of prose or drama, although you often write far fewer words. Start early and exchange texts often.
Length: as long as it takes

Presentation (TBA)
In your hands!

  
     
 

Grading

25% of your individual grade for this project comes from your group members' evaluation of your contribution to the project. It is thus quite possible for the group project to receive one grade and for individual members within the group to receive different grades.