Communications Basics
The process of sharing information, ideas, or feelings with another person.
Communication
The person who receives the message is the ______.
Receiver
What does the A in AV stand for?
Audio
Your friend is talking to you, but you're looking at your phone the entire time. Are you being an effective communicator? Why or why not?
No; active listening requires attention.
True or False: Communication only happens when we speak.
False
The person who creates and sends a message is called the ______.
Sender
The method used to send a message, such as text, email, video, or speech.
Channel
What does the V in AV stand for?
Visual
Your teacher gives you instructions for a video project, but you don't understand them. What should you do?
Ask questions/clarification.
What is feedback, and why is it important?
A response to a message; it lets the sender know whether the message was understood.
The information, idea, or thought being communicated is called the ______.
Message
The process of turning an idea into a message that can be understood by others.
Encode
Name one visual way a filmmaker can communicate an idea without using words.
Facial expressions, color, lighting, camera angles, body language, images, etc.
You're filming an interview and the person keeps giving one-word answers. What could you do to improve the communication?
Ask open-ended questions or follow-up questions.
A student says, "That video is bad." What could they say instead to give constructive feedback?
Example: "I think the audio could be clearer because there is background noise."
Give two examples of non-verbal communication.
Examples: facial expressions, gestures, body language, eye contact
The process of interpreting and understanding a message.
Decode
A filmmaker chooses dark lighting, slow music, and a character sitting alone. What might these choices communicate?
Sadness, loneliness, fear, seriousness, etc.
Your group is creating a video. One person wants a funny video, another wants a serious video, and nobody agrees. What communication skill could help?
Listening, compromise, discussion, respectful communication.
A director tells a camera operator, "Move it over there." What is wrong with this communication? How could the director make the instruction clearer?
The instruction is vague. The director should give specific directions: what to move, where to move it, and why.
Why is communication important in an AV/Media career? Give at least two reasons.
Answers may include teamwork, giving instructions, interviewing, directing, communicating with clients, etc.
Put these in the correct order: Receiver → Message → Sender → Feedback → Channel
Sender → Message → Channel → Receiver → Feedback
You're making a video for your school. How could you use sound, lighting, camera angles, and editing to communicate a specific mood?
Answers will vary. Students should explain how their choices create a mood.
You're recording an important interview, but there's loud construction noise in the background. The person says, "It should be fine." What should you communicate to the person, and what could you do as the AV student?
Explain that the noise could affect audio quality and suggest moving locations, waiting, or recording another take.
FINAL CHALLENGE: You're the director of a student film. Your camera operator misunderstands your instructions, the actor doesn't understand what they should do, and the editor doesn't know what footage to use. What communication problems are happening, and how could you fix them?
Multiple communication breakdowns. Use clear instructions, active listening, questions/clarification, feedback, and specific directions.