COURSE  DESCRIPTION:  RTVF 3230 is designed to introduce students to the basic techniques of film style production.  This course reviews material from RTVF 2210 and then builds upon this knowledge as students produce several short projects.  These projects involve single-camera location shooting using Mini-Digital Video cameras and non-linear editing equipment.  Visual storytelling concepts and creative post-production editing will be emphasized. While we will be using video equipment, the technicalities, techniques and aesthetics of film production still form the basis for the course, and this approach is supported by the required readings.

 

***Taking a production course is a time-intensive commitment.  You will be required to spend many hours outside of class time working on projects.  Please make note of other professional and personal obligations and plan accordingly.  Late work will greatly affect your grade.

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

(1)  Lynn S. Gross and Larry W. Ward. ELECTRONIC     MOVIEMAKING, 4^th Ed.,

(2)  Jed Dannenbaum, Carroll Hodge, Doe Mayer.  CREATIVE FILMMAKING FROM THE INSIDE OUT (Fireside.  New York, N.Y.  2003)

 

REQUIRED SUPPLIES: At least three 60-minute Mini-DV (Mini Digital Video) videotapes, which are available for purchase at major electronics stores, Target, Wal-Mart, RadioShack, etc.

 

Course Related Websites:  Class Documents and Class Assignments from Creative Filmmaking From The Inside Out: http://www.rtvf.unt.edu/~bflores

 

 

 

 

The RTVF Equipment Room is in the Media and Performing Arts Building.  Hours of operation will be announced in class.  The format to be used in RTVF 3230 is Mini-DV video. The cameras that you will be allowed to use for this class may be checked out from the Equipment Room along with batteries, light kits and professional video tripods. You will use the camera microphone but no additional external mics during this semester.  If you have your own camera and are considering using it for class projects, please discuss this with me in advance.

A Video Editing Lab with several digital nonlinear editing bays that utilize Adobe Premiere editing software is located in the Media and Performing Arts Building Postproduction Lab, Room 180.  You will check out a dedicated 40 Gig storage drawer for each edit session, and this drawer will be checked back in with the lab monitor when you leave for the day.  Your storage drawer will only be used by you and one more student when for the entire semester, and will hold footage and projects (up to about 37 Gigs total).

 

Normally, equipment for this class is NOT checked out overnight.  Under exceptional circumstances, students may request that equipment be kept out for one night.  The instructor will determine whether your situation warrants this.  If it does, the instructor will sign an overnight form stipulating exactly when the equipment is to be checked out and returned.  All requests for overnight check-out should be made at least one class day in advance of the date the equipment will be needed.  There is no overnight editing access.

 

 

Course requirements include one mid-term test, one video editing exercise as well as three on-location video projects, each building in technical and creative complexity.  The emphasis in these productions is your ability to visually tell a story.  All projects for this course must be shot by the student.  You may not use footage shot before this class began or footage shot by someone other than you or your partner. The projects will be evaluated on both technical and creative levels.

 

BASIC PROJECT GUIDELINES: (You will receive a handout for each project specifying additional requirements of each assignment.)

 

Participation on topics relevant to Reading Assignments count as participatory attendance, be prepared to discuss assigned topics.

                       

Video Editing Exercise* will be done individually.  Each student will edit a short piece from footage provided during the edit room demonstration. No sound.

 

*(This project will not be graded, but must be completed on time and with competency, or 5 points will be subtracted from your final course grade for each exercise not fulfilled.)

         

CFIO Journal:  You’re to keep a journal with answers to questions to each CFIO reading assignment.  Your professor will give additional entries to you.  CFIO journal entries are meant to help you with ideas for original and meaningful projects; keeping up with this journal will greatly influence your work in general and your grade.

 

MID-TERM EXAM:  This exam will be based on the reading materials, lectures and films/videotapes viewed in class.  The mid-term will cover all of the lectures and readings given up to that point, and will be multiple choice.

                                                                       

(Worth 15 points out of 100)

 

Project 1 will be a process documentary with no dialogue or voice-over, which you will produce with a partner.  The visual elements are the most important, and you should concentrate on getting a wide variety of visual angles, distances and cutaways. This documentary will involve the creative shooting and skillful editing of a process or action not under your control, emphasizing a visual storytelling style. Think of some kind of a process such as someone putting climbing gear on, getting a tattoo, making a sculpture, painting, etc., that will allow you to get many different shots. You must add music and/or use ambient sound. (3-4 minutes in length)

                                                                                    (Worth 15 points out of 100)

 

 

Project 2 will be a comedy fiction project with no dialogue or voice-over, that you will produce with a partner (someone different than Project #1). You MUST use ambient sound, sound effects from the CD Library and/or music, as appropriate. However, if I am not able to turn the sound off and still understand your story, you have not concentrated on visual storytelling and your grade will be negatively affected. Proposals for Project 2 will be developed in consultation with the instructor and ideas will be presented in class before shooting begins. Projects based on unapproved proposals will not be accepted.  If you decide to change your topic after a proposal has been approved, you must go through the proposal process again before shooting. (3 - 4 minutes in length).                                                                                                             

(Worth 25 points out of 100)

 

Project 3 (Final Project) will be a short narrative or documentary produced individually, once again being told primarily through visual images. However, for this project you MUST incorporate voice-over and/or minimal dialogue for documentary, or scripted dialogue for fiction. This project will involve extensive pre-production work, including location scouting, treatment approval, cast and crew coordination, technically competent shooting and editing.  This final project must also include some type of ambient sound and/or music.  The complexity of your audio editing, along with appropriate visual storytelling will figure into the project grade.  Production paperwork also counts as part of the grade. 

                                                                                   

(Worth 30 points out of 100)

           

FINAL EXAM:  This exam will be based on the reading materials, lectures and films/videotapes viewed in class.  The Final Exam will cover all of the lectures and readings given up to that point, and will consist of open questions, True or False, and Multiple choice.

 

                                                                        (Worth 15 points out of 100)

 

 

*Videotapes, script treatments, etc, will only be accepted in class.  Do not put these items in my departmental mailbox.  For each class day that an assignment is late, you will be penalized 10 points). 

 

*Any report of late equipment return or other violation of departmental procedures relative to the use of equipment or facilities, will affect your final course grade (10 points or more for each incident, depending on the seriousness of the infraction).  In addition, you are financially and legally responsible for any equipment you check out from the Department of Radio, Television and Film.  A copy of the Department of Radio, Television and Film’s policy on the loss of checkout privileges for late equipment return is available in the RTVF Equipment Room.

 

 

* PROFESSIONAL ATTITUD, AND INFORMED PARTICIPATORY ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED

Disruptive or inappropriate behavior will result in dismissal from this course.

For more information go to:  http://www.unt.edu/policy/UNT_Policy/volume1/1_3_19.html

 

* There will be NO unexcused absences OR late attendance allowed during this course other documented medical emergencies.  Unexcused absences and late attendance will affect your final course grade at 3 points taken off per absence OR late attendance.

 

 

I will be holding open office hours on Thursdays from 4:00-6:30 or by appointment.  RTVF Office 225

 

 

If at any time you are having problems with the assignments or with your understanding of materials covered, please make an appointment to see me.  Don’t wait until the end, I will be more than happy to clarify information. 

 

 

If you have not met the published prerequisites for this course you will be dropped from the class.  This action may be taken after the registration period has ended.  In addition, RTVF 3230 is for RTVF majors only; the instructor will drop others. Since this course is in great demand, registered students missing the first class will be dropped, particularly if a qualified student on a waiting list is present.  Again, this action may be taken after the registration dates have ended.

 

 

For those who are interested in continuing to work in film, we offer two 16mm film production courses with 3230 as a prerequisite.  The Intermediate class is offered in the Fall and the Advanced class is offered in the Spring.  A final grade below “B” in 3230 will make it very difficult for you to obtain permission to enroll in these courses.

 

 

The RTVF department cooperates with the Office of Disability Accommodation to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students (Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504, Rehabilitation Act).  If you qualify, and have not registered with ODA, we encourage you to do so.  If you have a disability for which you will require accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, please discuss you needs with the professor within the first week of class.

 

 

 

This course may involve potentially hazardous activities, the nature of which include working with and exposure to electronically powered equipment.  Accordingly, the Department of Radio, Television and Film has slated this course within Category 2 (courses in which students are exposed to some significant hazards but are not likely to suffer bodily harm.)

 

 

 

 

 

		SPRING 2005, Course Schedule
	DATE	CLASS DESCRIPTION	ASSIGNMENTS
	January 18th	Syllabus, Equipment Checkout Cards, Introduction Handout, Contact information exchange.
	Th 20th	Creative Brainstorming Activities Receive: “1 minute discussion” packet	Read Ch1 CFIO and answer the questions at the end of the chapter.  These are the first entry to your CFIO journal.
	Tue 25	Discussion Film and Video Formats, Camera Lenses.                        Film Speeds, F-Stops, Depth of Field            Screening:  Film lenses	Read DM Ch. 3 Read CFIO Ch2 and do one or all of the exercises suggested at the end of the chapter.  Keep your entries in your journal.
	Th 27	Discussion: Approaches to Image Making.  Equipment Demonstration: Cameras and tripods	Read DM Ch. 4
	February 1st	Discussion:  The Documentary Genre Screen:  Glass ••Assign Project #1 with partner (Process Documentary) ••Receive: Handouts from Post book ••Form teams for Project #1.  Each partner must purchase a Mini-DV tape.	CFIO Ch3 Answer the questionnaire at the end of this chapter and keep it in your journal. See Documentary reserved for class at Chilton Library
	Th 3rd	Process Documentary Proposal Due today Discussion:  Editing Technicalities, including control track, time code, Linear, nonlinear, digitizing, compression and storage.                                                                        Sign-up for Editing Demonstrations – Groups A and B	Read DM Ch. 10 and 11
	Tue 8	Group “A” Edit Room and Dub Rack Demonstration Start video editing exercise                  ••Assign video editing exercise.	Read a novel
	Th 10	Group “B” Edit Room and Dub Rack Demonstration Start video editing exercise                  ••Assign video editing exercise.	Continue reading a novel
	Tue 15	Discussion:  Electricity and Safety issues.                             Lighting and Filters, Approaches to Lighting	DM Ch. 5, 6
	Th 17	Lighting continues Special Screening:  Cinematography	Finish reading a novel
	Tue 22	Discussion:  Clearing the Decks, Developing the Treatment And Script                                                                              •• In-class exercise using novel.	Select a passage from the novel you read and have it ready to work with during class.
	Th 24	PROJECT #1 (Process Documentary) DUE TODAY ••Assign Project 2 (Comedy fiction project) This project will be a comedy fiction piece with no narration Or dialogue.  You will produce it with a partner different From the one you worked with on project #1 ••Sign up for Project #2 partner
	March 1st	Comedy Proposals due today Discussion: Overview of Moviemaking and Planning the Movie (What is your role? Student lead Presentation) Traditional processes and contemporary practices Special Screening (Comedy)	DM Ch. 1 and Ch 2
	Th 3rd	Directing	Read CFIO Ch 4 and do one or all of the suggested exercises at the end of the chapter. Read DM Ch 8
	Tue 8th	Discussion:  Microphones and Recorders and Approaches to Sound Recording and structuring. ••Handout study guide for midterm exam       (Special Recording:  Serious Humor)	DM Ch. 7, 8
	Th 10th	MIDTERM
	14- 20	SPRING BREAK
	Tue 22	Discussion:  Editing Approaches, In-class screening of editing examples	DM Ch. 10, 11
	Th 24	COMEDY PROJECT DUE TODAY ••Assign Project #3 – Final Project (Individually produced fiction or documentary with dialogue and/or voice-over narration) •• Sign up for Project #3 Screening dates.
	Tue 29	BE PREPARED TO TALK IN CLASS ABOUT YOUR IDEAS FOR YOUR FINAL PROJECT. (Remember, if you change your idea for a final film you must re-submit a proposal for approval)	Read CFIO Ch 5 and answer/do all questions/exercises at the end of the chapter.  Answer Embedded values questionnaire pages 189-192.
	Th 31	Discussion: Careers in Media and Preparing Resumes        TREATMENTS FOR FINAL PROJECT DUE IN CLASS TODAY (I need a printed copy be sure to put your name and email address at the top, if your proposal has problems I will e-mail you about it.)	Read CFIO Ch 6
	April 5th	Journal Selected writings, and discussion.  (CFIO)
	Th 7	ATTEND RTVF WORKSHOPS TODAY Prof. Flores presenting a paper at the Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the United States conference in Chicago, IL.
	Tue 12	Rough Cuts and Feedback	Read Post-Production Handout. See Reserved Video on Post-production issues at Chilton Media Library
	Th 14	Rough Cuts and Feedback	See Reserved Video on Post-production issues at Chilton Media Library
	Tue 19	Post-production Day
	Th 21	Post-production Day
	Tue 26	FINE CUT SCREENINGS GROUP A All final projects and production books due today	Don’t forget cue and label your tape!
	Th 28	FINE CUT SCREENINGS GROUP B All final projects and production books due today	Don’t forget cue and label your tape!
	April 30th to May 6	PRE-FINAL WEEK
	TBA	FINAL EXAM Don’t forget to pick-up your tape and production book today