Time + Location:
Arts 207-01 7625
Saturdays 1:00 – 4:50 pm | IB 212
Course Description:
This class explores cinematic storytelling through digital film making. Through a variety of in class and homework assignments, this course introduces participants to a variety of video making techniques, vocabulary and tools while learning the basics of concept development, video capture and editing with Adobe Premiere. Students will learn the fundamentals of recording and editing, lighting, sound, camera work and other pre and post production methods.
Professor Info:
Sofia Paraskeva | sofia.paraskeva@qc.cuny.edu | copperbluemedia.com
Office Hours by request
Course Requirements:
Students are expected to participate in class: contributing positively to class discussions, arriving on time having thoughtfully completed the reading, technical and creative assignments. Computers and mobile devices must be silenced and not glowing during critique, class discussion and student presentations.
It is your responsibility to turn in work on time, to make up any missed assignments, and to catch up with the class in the event of an absence. Late work is unacceptable; however, this work can be turned in for partial credit. If you know you are going to be absent, contact the professor by email in advance. For the most up-to-date information (including what is due next class) visit the class website: introvideo.copperbluemedia.com.
Drawing skills are not necessary for this class, however, students are required to keep a sketchbook, and bring it to class every week. Each student should sketch, storyboard or write in their sketchbook daily. Students should bring an external storage device with them to class every week.
Course Materials:
Sketchbook, Pens &/or Pencils Find the sketchbook you are most comfortable with, but keep in mind: the larger the page, the less restricted you will be. The same for pens and pencils. If you like your tools, you will use them more often.
External Storage Drive – Thumb/Jump or Hard drive
SD Cards
Digital SLR w/ Video or Video Camera (optional)
Vimeo, Tumblr & FreeSound Accounts
Headphones
Your Mobile Device
Required Reading:
There are no specific textbooks but students will have weekly reading assignments from a variety of sources linked on the class site. Students are encouraged to get their own copies of these texts and read them in their entirety, but it is not a requirement.
Suggested Reading:
In the Blink of An Eye — Walter Murch
The Filmmaker’s Eye — Gustavo Mercado
The Technique of Film and Video Editing — Ken Dancyger
Ways of Seeing — John Berger
The Language of New Media — Lev Manovich
Assignments:
Every week students will be asked to read, watch and share a variety of media experiences as well as share the work they create during in class discussion and critique. Every week will be different. Please pay close attention to the syllabus online as these may change throughout the semester. Please post homework to the blog by 2pm the day of class.
Course Outline (this is likely to change):
Week 1 — Class Overview & Intro to Film Histories
Week 2 — Visual Narrative, the Storyboard and Sequencing
Week 3 — Project 1 Presentations // The Cut: Sound & Vision
Week 4 — Project 1 Due // The Shoot: Cinematography, Lighting and Sound
Week 5 — Video Shorts: Music Videos, Commercials & Social Media
Week 6 — Project 2 Rough Cut // Scriptwriting vs. Documentary Practice
Week 7 — Project 2 Due // Film and Video as Portraiture
Week 8 — Cinema As Design Object
Week 9 — Looking at and Shooting for Special Effects
Week 10 — No Class
Week 11 — No Class
Week 12 — Project 3 Due // Making Things w/ Code
Week 13 — Film Making in the Future (?)
Week 14 – 16 — Final Projects
Week 1 : January 27
Intro to Course, Class & Instructor
Student Past Experiences and Goals
Lecture & Screenings: Intro to the Camera Arts, Persistence of Vision
Review Syllabus
Setup Vimeo, Tumblr & FreeSound Accounts
Assignment:
Read: Hollis Frampton, A Lecture
Do: Assignment 1 – Watch your favorite movie, tv show, music video or social media channel. Take notes of the position of the camera: describe the different light, colors, characters, anything you see in the individual frames. Pick two different image/shot sequences that strike you. Take photos or screen shots of the sequence of three to five shots.
Share: Post these images (in the original order) to the blog with a caption describing why you chose this particular movie and sequence of images. Be prepared to discuss in greater depth your observations and decisions in class.
Week 2 : February 3
Assignment 1 – Blogged Sequences Due and Discussion
Lecture & Screenings: History of Cinema
Visual Narrative, the Storyboard and Sequencing
Eisenstein & the Five Methods of Montage
Intro to Digital Imaging & Photoshop
Assignment:
Read: John Berger, Ways of Seeing Chapter 1
Do: Project 1 – Photo Storyboard. Imagine you are making an in-camera edited film. With a camera of your choosing (your mobile device works) shoot a story in 10-18 still frames. Describe the action in each shot. Upload photo storyboard to the class blog.
Share: Assignment 2 – Series images or a short clip from a sequence you watched this week that you think is particularly well edited. Or maybe something you think was terribly edited.
Week 3 : February 10
Project 1 – Photo Storyboards Presentations & Critique
Lecture & Screenings: The Cut – Sound & Vision
Editing Techniques and Styles: Pace, Rhythm, Emotion
The art of Sound
Intro to Project 2: “Personal Diary”
Assignment:
Read: The Silent Film Returns – on Social Media – Amanda Hess, NY Times
Do: Finish Project 1 Photo Storyboard(s), Print Storyboards and Cover Shot
Begin shooting for Project 2, bring footage to class for editing
Share: Upload Project 1 final on class blog
Week 4 : February 17
Project 1 Due: Photo Storyboard(s) Presentation, Printed Storyboard and Cover Shot
Lecture & Screenings: The Shoot – Cinematography, Lighting and Sound
Group Activity: Project 2 – Shoot Video Portraits
Intro to Premiere – Digital Organization & the Timeline
Assignment:
Read: Walter Murch, selections from In the Blink of An Eye
Do: Create Project 2 storyboard, prepare a shooting schedule, go out and shoot.
Assignment 3 – Re-edit a clip with a new look and new soundtrack.
The goal is to entirely change the reading of the found footage.
Share: Project 2 storyboard and Assignment 3 – The original clip and the re-mix.
Week 5 : February 24
Assignment 3 – Remixing Data Due and Discussion
Project 2 Storyboard Presentations
Lecture & Screenings: Video Shorts – Music Videos, Commercials & Social Media
Focal Length, Exposure, Shutter Stop vs. Frame Rate
Editing in Premiere Pro – Tools, Cuts, Transitions, Sync Sound
Project 2 studio
Assignment:
Read: Principles of Composition + Technical Concepts
Do: Finish Project 2 Rough Cut
Share: Footage or a rough cut of your edits
Week 6 : March 3
Project 2 – “Personal Diary” Rough Cut Screening & Critique
Lecture & Screenings: Cinematography
Documentary vs. Narrative Practices
Adobe Premiere -Dissolves, Editing Sound, Exporting, Compression
Project 2 studio
Assignment:
Watch: Bottle Rocket, 1996, Wes Anderson
Do: Finish Project 2 Final Cut for Critique Next Class
Share: Project 2 “Personal Diary” Final Cut
Week 7 : March 10
Project 2 Due: “Personal Diary” Screening & Critique
Lecture: Film and Video as Portraiture
Screenings: Looking at the Self in Experimental Film + New Media
Narrative Scene Editing
Intro to Project 3 “Self Portrait”
Assignment:
Read: Walter Murch, selection from In the Blink of An Eye (p. 21 – 72)
Watch: A movie in the cinematic style you would like to make your next project
Do: Begin Project 3. Develop three different project ideas to pitch to your classmates.
Share: Assignment 4 – Shots from the movie you watched and a description of why you are drawn to that mode of visual story telling. Post Project 3 pitch ideas.
Week 8 : March 17
Assignment 4 – Screened movie Discussion
Project 3 “Self Portrait” Pitch ideas Presentation
Lecture & Screenings: Cinema as Design Object
Hitchcock + Classic Editing
Adobe Premiere – Going Further with Text & Graphic Elements
Group work studio: Pitch your “Self Portrait” idea in groups. Workshop each other’s ideas.
Assignment:
Watch: Citizen Kane, 1941, Orson Welles
Do: Write a script, create a storyboard, production plan, shooting schedule for Project 3. Start shooting.
Share: Assignment 5 – An image from Citizen Kane and an explanation why you chose this image.
Post Project 3 storyboard.
Week 9 : March 24
Assignment 5 – Citizen Kane Discussion
Project 3 Storyboard Presentations & Critique
Lecture & Screenings: Video Art + New Media
Looking at and Shooting for Special Effects
Adobe Premiere – Special Effects
Project studio
Assignment:
Read: The Language of New Media: Chapter 2 – The Interface, Lev Manovich, 2001
Do: Shoot and Edit your project. Rough cuts are due April 14th.
Share: Project 3 Rough Cut
Week 10 : March 31- NO CLASS
Week 11 : April 7 – NO CLASS
Week 12 : April 14
Project 3 – Self Portrait and Critique
Film Making w/ Code – Intro to p5.js
Assignment:
Read: TBD
Watch: TBD
Do: TBD
Share: TBD
Week 13 : April 21
Final Project Pitch Session & Discussion
Film Making in the Future (?)
Assignment:
Read: TBD
Watch: TBD
Do: Create a storyboard, production plan, schedule and/or shooting script for Final.
Share: TBD
Week 14 : April 28
Final Project Studio
Assignment:
Read: TBD
Watch: TBD
Do: TBD
Share: Favorite images from your sketchbook
Week 15 : May 5
Final Project Studio
Week 16 : May 12
Final Project Rough Cuts Due
Final Project Studio
Week 17 : May 19
FINAL SCREENING & CRITIQUE
Grading:
Attendance:
Two (unexcused) absences result in grade drop and four absences result in a failing grade. Late or early departure from class (15 minutes) is the equivalent of half an absence.
Participation 20%
Regular Assignments 20%
Project One: Stills 10%
Project Two: Group Project 20%
Project Three: Self Portrait, Portrait or Narrative 10%
Final Project 20%