Step Team: Editing Assignment

VO/sot

For: Groups of 1-2
Difficulty: Intermediate

Objective
Students will learn how to assemble a VO/SOT (Voice Over / Sound on Tape). This is a stepping stone to learning how to compile an entire news package.

Points to emphasize

  • Write conversationally in a way that sets up the sound bite.

  • Write the voice-over in a way that compliments or “plays to” the selected b-roll.

  • Remember to turn down the natural sound to an appropriate level under the voice-over.

  • Find a quiet place indoors without echo to record the voice over.

Equipment: Computer, editing software, headphones, microphone for recording (use phone or laptop microphone if necessary).

Assignment

Students must select a sound bite (aka SOT) from the raw footage, then use the facts below to write and record a voice-over to introduce it. They must cover their voice over with relevant b-roll that sets the scene and compliments their voice over. Students must end their VO/SOT with “for (insert program name), I’m (insert student name), reporting”. The final video should be between 30 and 50 seconds. Bonus points for students who use a nat sound pop before their voice over starts.

Variation: A fun variation on this assignment is to have students stand at the front of the class and read their voice-over live instead of recording it. One student cues up and plays the project. The other reads the script aloud. This requires coordination and rehearsal.

Step Team Facts & Information

Dr. Felton Interview Notes (Assistant Coach)

About the Team

The team is the Central High School Step Team. Started in 2001. It currently has 16 members. They recently performed at the homecoming game.

Because of Central’s work, two more high school step teams and two middle school step teams have formed in Springfield.

The team currently knows 23 steps.

Six were taught by the coach and 17 were created and taught by the students.

They also have about 15 strolls choreographed to music. (Strolls are step routines set to music)

The team has three captains who create new routines to keep performances fresh for their peers.

The team’s goal is to compete and win regional competitions.

The team hopes to travel to the World of Step Finale competition in New York City this

May. They need to qualify and they need to raise about $750 per student to be able to

travel to the competition.

History and Origins of Step

Step has roots in South African gumboot dancing and West African Zulu dancing in the 1800s.

It was used as a form of communication through beats and rhythms to overcome language barriers and as a coded language for migrant workers.

At Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities used stepping to celebrate African-American heritage, pride, and unity.

From there, step teams formed in schools, providing students with connection and belonging.

Taniquea “Minnie” Interview Notes (White Shirt)

Minnie is a senior. Her title is Stroll Captain. She is responsible for choosing the music

to routines that involve music (strolls). She is responsible for the choreography and for

teaching the choreography to the other members of the team. She joined the team as a

sophomore (when she transferred to Central) with her sister who graduated two years ago. Her teammates call her minnie because she has been the same height since 4th grade.

Dr. Felton recruited her to join. Minnie was hesitant at first but fell in love with step because it helped her bond with her teammates.

For her, STEP is about showing teamwork, strength, and unity through performance.

Practices often focus on teaching new members by breaking into small groups for step-by-step instruction.

Veteran members rotate teaching responsibilities to make the process easier and less overwhelming.

Without STEP, she believes her life would be limited to school, work, and staying to herself — she wouldn’t be outgoing or energetic.

After competing out of town, in St. Louis, she has been motivated to compete out of state and gain recognition. Her dream is to compete on a larger stage.

Edison (Tie Dye Shirt)

Edison is a sophomore. He started the same year as Shamaya and was also on the

Reed Academy step team. Edison is from Baltimore.

Reason for joining: Saw a poster for the Step team, thought it was cool, and joined because he wasn’t involved in other clubs.

Family background: Most of his extended family lives in Baltimore, Maryland, so outside of his parents and brother, the Step Team has become like a family to him.

Step is not officially recognized as a sport under the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). Edison hopes to see Step gain recognition as a sport, like dance teams are.

Shamaya (Long-sleeve black shirt)

She first got into Step in seventh grade at Reed Middle School. Her mother strongly encouraged her to stick with it, and even when Shamiah considered quitting Step in high school to try other things. Over time, she grew to enjoy it and now embraces Step as something she likes and values. After high school, she hopes to attend LSU.

Shamiah says Step has helped her and other mostly introverted team members build confidence and bring out different sides of their personalities when performing. She sees her teammates as supportive, helpful with schoolwork, and fun to be around.

Shamiah hopes the team can grow and compete outside the state, traveling to new places and representing their school in competitions.

Erica (Short-sleeve Black shirt)

Erica is a sophomore at Central High School in Springfield, Missouri, and a member of the Central Step Team. She was drawn to it because it wasn’t like cheerleading or dance—there was no music or pom-poms, just rhythm and movement created by the performers themselves. Dr. Felton tried to recruit Erica in 7th and 8th grade and she finally joined her freshman year (last year).

Erica loves the team’s sense of community. They rely on each other, support new members, and even hold each other accountable academically. Erica says Step has given her friends, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging. She feels it helps introverted students come out of their shells and showcase new sides of themselves.

She enjoys the spotlight, the energy from the audience, and the chance to show what she can do. Erica wants Step to be recognized more formally at Central. She hopes to see it count for a PE credit or even be classified as a sport before she graduates.

She also wants the team to continue to build a strong foundation and spread Step to other schools in the area, as they were the first team in Springfield.

 

Example

A VO/SOT is a voice over (covered with b-roll) that introduces a sound bite. “SOT” and “sound bite” are two terms that may be used interchangeably.