Life of a Busser - ID# 227
Homewood-Flossmoor
Natural Audio News Package
Entry Description
Two bussers explain the underappreciated work they do and their frustrations with the job. All while showcasing the sounds of the job
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/23 2:45 pm - Your story provided a perspective that audiences don’t always think about, but it started very abruptly (and a little negative). I would have loved a softer start to your story, for example bussing is a job I love, but often an overlooked job… instead you just jumped right in, and if I didn’t read the title of the piece, I wouldn’t necessarily know who is talking and why they are talking. In addition, the interviews started coming across as a session for the bussers to just complain about their job, I didn’t feel a sense of sympathy for them but rather a feeling of them needing to toughen up. Right or wrong that is how I felt you want your audience to fall in love with your characters but make them likable - you do that by coaching them (and starting over) when you start sensing the interview taking a direction you didn’t intend. For example, I like what you said…. Could you focus more on…. At first you had some great sounds to pull your audience in (the ice, glasses, lighter etc) but after that they kind of disappeared, use the natural sounds throughout. I know there were a few at the end, but it seems somewhat random. Your footage of the restaraunt was missing one thing and that is it's customers, which is the bulk of what your interviewees were talking about (how they are perceived and the job they do) try and get footage that reflects the customers interacting. Finally your story ended very abruptly, I didn’t really feel a sense of closure. That could be through some kind of wide shot, an interview that ends more naturally, but I didn’t get any of that it just kind of ended.
- 3/25 7:07 am - The audio levels throughout the story were not consistent. At :34 the audio went up during the sound byte and then it went back down. How can you use the natural audio from the b-roll to help tell the story? That’s the key part of this category. There was some good natural audio associated with some of the b-roll, but we never heard it full because the sound byte was playing over it. Include some natural audio sound pops in between the sound bytes. The focus on some of the b-roll was too soft and didn’t rack into focus in a good amount of time.
- 3/4 11:21 am - This was a unique perspective to share about people we all interact with at restaurants but never really think about! I liked hearing about the importance of the work done by a busser. However, while the 2 students were frusted, I would have loved to have heard a part of their interview in which they connect to their audience more. As a diner, how can I better support a busser? Why is it important for me as the viewer to hear these frustrations? This may round out your story to give it more of a beginning, middle, and end, rather than just having these students voice frustrations. Interviews were well lit and framed. The biggest strength of this project was definitely the NAT audio. I loved how you paused to let us hear some of the work the students do. For example, I like how the interviews paused to let us hear the ice machine and work. This helped to reinforce your interviews and put me in the restaurant with you! You had an awesome variety of sounds overall. If possible, I would have loved to have heard some communication between the bussers and patrons. This was a great start overall!
Judge 1
Positives: Great nat pops of what it is like to be a busser. I felt like I was in the restaurant. Great shots and matching up the visuals with the audio.
Improvements: Use a tripod. Many shots were shaky. Also check audio levels to make sure the sound flows.
Judge 2
Positives: I like how you started the story and used the sound of the bussers and how their work is taken for granted to reveal their job. Nice job gathering video of each of the tasks the bussers mention in their interviews.
Improvements: An exterior shot of a building is generally not the most compelling way to start a story. Next time, open your story with something a bit more visually interesting to hook the viewer. Your interviews were framed nicely, but I would've liked to see/hear sound from the bussers as they were working. Leave the mic on them as they go about their various duties, and ask them questions as they're working. You'll gather good sound that's more visually interesting.
Judge 3
Positives: *Good and appropriate use of the natsot of the bussers doing their tasks. The video matched the narrative well and conveyed the essence of the bussers' jobs. *The narrative was clear. It drove home the feeling that the employees feel underappreciated.
Improvements: *While the narrative was clear, it may have benefited from another voice... perhaps someone to explain how vital the bussers are to the establishment? *Try to keep your audio levels as consistent as possible. Overall, nicely shot, lit and edited!
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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