Course Syllabus

BASIC FILM PRODUCTION (CINEMA 24)

download the full syllabus as a pdf here

*note that this is a daily schedule only. SLOs, course policies, assignments, and other information is available via the download link above.

 

DAILY SCHEDULE: Fall 2016

(all reading assignments are to be completed by the following class)

 

Week 1, August 17: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

• Discuss our goals for semester, read syllabus, Class discussion, what makes good cinematic composition. What are the steps in creating a project. Developing a visual concept. Introduction to the textbook.
• Lecture: Design of the Image, Framing & Composition
• Assignment: STILL PHOTO & ESSAY, DUE Week 2: AUG 24
• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapters 1, 2, AND 5

 

Week 2, August 24: FRAMING

• In-Class group shoot to familiarize students with Digital Video cameras. Cinema Department Rules & Regulations. Introduction to Motion Picture Cameras. Film Cameras vs. Digital Cameras. Differences between working in Film & Video.
• Lecture: 180º Rule, 30º Rule, Continuity Editing
• DUE: STILL PHOTO & ESSAY
• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapters 3 and 4
• Online Quiz: Shot by Shot, Chapters 1-5 (quiz due by 1:00pm, August 31)

DEADLINE TO DROP CLASSES WITH 100% REFUND: August 25

 

Week 3, August 31: PRE-PRODUCTION PLANNING

• Pre-Production Planning. Script & Story Structure. Script Breakdown. Overheads. Pre-Production Packets.
• Lecture: Film vs. Video, Film Structure, Video Structure, Codecs, Containers, Sample Rates, Transcoding
• Quiz (in-class): Cinema Department Rules & Regulations
• Assignment: Poetry Film, DUE Week 6: September 21.
• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapter 9
• Poetry Example: opening sequence from Walkabout (dir Nicholas Roeg, 1971, Australia) 00:00-04:06 viewed in class

 

Week 4, September 7: EDITING & PREMIERE ELEMENTS

• Editing & Continuity. Coverage & B-Roll. Screen Direction and the 180º rule. 30º rule. Overlapping Action. Transitions & Montages.
• Battleship Potemkin (1925, dir. Sergei Eisenstein, USSR): Odessa Steps Sequence

• Workshop: Editing in Premiere Elements.
• Lecture: Exposure & Light Meter Tutorial
• Handout: Sekonic Light Meter
• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapter 6, 7, & 8

• Online Quiz:                Shot by Shot, Chapters 6-9 (quiz due by 1:00pm, September 14)

DEADLINE TO DROP CLASSES WITH 50% REFUND: September 8

 

 Week 5, September 14:                   EDITING CONTINUED

• Lecture:                       Editing Strategies & Shooting for the Edit
• Lecture:                      Writing for Narrative (Pre-Production Materials)
• download Action Film assignment as pdf

 

• Assignment:                Action Film: Treatments (Due: Wk 6)
• Assignment:                Action Film: Storyboards, Pre-Production (Due: Wk 7)
• Assignment:                Action Film: Final Film (Due Wk 10)

DEADLINE TO REQUEST Pass/No Pass (P/NP) GRADING OPTION: September 15

 

Week 6, September 21:                    POETRY FILMS DUE

SCREEN IN CLASS: POETRY FILMS (all)

• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapter 10
• Lecture: Lighting Styles & Terminology

• DUE:                           Action Film Treatment

 

Week 7, September 28:                         LIGHTING

• 3-Point Lighting. Qualities of Light. Color & Tone. Realistic & Expressive Lighting. Lighting Styles. Contrast Ratio. Bounce & Reflectors.
• Workshop: Lighting Demo & Safety Procedures

• DUE:                           Action Film Storyboards & Pre-Production Packet
• ONLINE:                     Feedback on Peer’s Action Film (due by noon, Sat October 1)

 

Week 8, October 5:               PITCHING & PRESENTING IDEAS

• PRESENTATION:      Action Film Materials (revised) – ALL STUDENTS
• Lecture:                    Midterm Exam Review
• PRACTICE QUIZ:     Midterm Review

 

Week 9, October 12: MIDTERM EXAM

• DUE:             Midterm Exam (in-class, no books, no notes)

• Workshop: In-Class Lighting Shoot
• Assignment: Final Film Treatment & Storyboards (Due: Wk 12)
• Assignment: Final Film Rushes OR Rough Cut (Due: Wk 16)
• Assignment: Final Film (Due: Wk 18)

 

Week 10, October 19:                       ACTION FILM

• SCREEN IN CLASS: Action Films (all)

• Week 11, October 26: SOUND
• Sound Overview. Microphones. Pick-Up Patterns. Cables. Sound Recording. Single vs. Dual System. Post-Production Sound. ADR. Mixing.

• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapter 11

 

 Week 12, November 2: FINAL FILM TREATMENTS

• Pitch:                          Final Film Treatment & Storyboards

                                                             

Week 13, November 9: FAST FILMS

• Workshop: Fast Film (In-Class group narrative film & shoot)
• Reading: Shot by Shot, Chapter 12

 

Week 14, November 16: FAST FILMS SCREENING

• SCREEN IN CLASS:  Fast Film Edit

 

Week 15, November 23:                   DOCUMENTARY FILM

• Workshop:                  Documentary Film (In-Class group shoot)

 

Week 16, November 30: FINAL FILM ROUGH CUT SCREENING

• SCREEN IN CLASS:                          FINAL FILM ROUGH CUT OR RUSHES
• Lecture:                                              Final Exam Review

 

Week 17 December 7: FINAL FILMS & DOCUMENTARY FILMS

• SCREEN IN CLASS:  Final FIlms
• SCREEN IN CLASS:  Documentary Films

 

Week 18, December 14: FINAL EXAM 2pm-4pm (CLOUD 117)