Course Introduction
Creative Process
Camera Operation
Vlog Overview

Thursday
1/15 

Composition - shot sizes, angles, lenses, staging
Camera Movement – Pan, zoom, dolly, steady cam, hand-held
Experimental Project Overview
View Video

Reading (due today)
Making Short Films, Chapter 2, A Brief History of Short Films, pages 7-20

Assignment
Shoot Experimental Project (due 9/10)

Week 2
Tuesday
1/20 

Visual Storytelling
Storyboards
Discuss Readings
View Video

Reading (due today)
Making Media, Chapter 2, The Frame, pages 23-63.
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 3, Image Control and Camera Work, pages 70-92.

Thursday
1/22

Experimental Projects Due - Critique
Exercise 1 Overview
Discuss Reading

Reading (due today)
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 6, Composition and Coverage, pages 154-180.
Making Media, Chapter 3, Depth and Movement in the Frame, pages 65-83.

Critique Guidelines

Assignment
Exercise 1 - Using the cinematic palette, write out
a two person scenario (with no dialog) include a
storyboard (to be reviewed in class Tuesday.)
Use 10-15 shots revealing an emotional change in
a character. One location, one moment in time. At
least one shot must have camera movement. No
dialogue, no audio.

Week 3
Tuesday
1/27 

Experimental Projects
Review Exercise 1 storyboards

Reading (due today)
Making Media, Chapter 4, Light, pages 85-113.
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 4, Lighting, pages 94-122.

Assignment
Work with a partner to shoot  one of the scenarios (due Thursday)

Thursday
1/29 

Exercise 1 Due
Celtx - Script formatting
Lighting

Reading (due today)
Making Media, Chapter 5, Sound, pages 115-141.
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 5, Sound Recording, pages 124-152.

Assignment
Write a rough draft of a 3 to 5 page script for Fiction Project. Print enough copies for each character to read Thursday.

Week 4
Tuesday
2/3 

Exercise 1 - Critique
Sony Vegas 8.0 - Editing

Assignment (due Friday)
Post to your blog a 3 to 5 minute short fiction video that relates to the development and vision of your fiction project.

Thursday
2/5 

Assign readers and read your scripts out loud to class- receive feedback

Assignment (due Tuesday)
Revise your scripts, engaging the ideas from class discussion.

Week 5
Tuesday
2/10

Finish reading scripts
Choose the script that will be produced
Create teams
Assign roles for the project
Sound overview

Assignment (due Thursday)
- Plan auditions
- Revise any elements of the script as needed
- Work on production books for fiction film, which must contain the following (failure to provide a production book will result in a failing grade for your project):
-Names of each team member and their role on the film
- Vision or artist statement about the film
- Script
- Character descriptions and their objectives (what does each want) and – casting needs
-Mark discoveries and decisions in the script for your main character
- Scout out a location and draw floor plan of each scene, include blocking notes as well as lighting plot (camera and lighting placements for each shot)
- Come up with a shot list that includes:
- camera angle and shot size
- camera movement
- blocking (movement of performers) that tells the story visually
- a storyboard that illustrates and explains every shot
- (To be added: Schedule of the shoot. Use cast and crew call sheets noting scene to be shot, location, and time.)
- (To be added: Contracts for locations and performers.)

Thursday
2/12 

Production Books Due
Vegas continued
Check out equipment

Assignment
Shoot Fiction Film
Fiction Film - In a team of 3 or 4, shoot a 3 to 5 minute short with multiple scenes (3-5 pages; 30-50 shots)
Decide your cast and schedule your shoots

Week 6
Tuesday
2/17

Editing exercise
Team meetings

Shoot Fiction Film
Note: Be observant with your deadlines. Rough cuts will be screened and critique given before the final cut. Failed deadlines may lower your grade or result in a failing grade.

Thursday
2/19

Shooting must be completed by the beginning of class
Transfer footage to hard drive
Work on rough cut

Bring hard drives and equipment to class

Week 7
Tuesday
2/24

Review more editing concepts
Work on rough cut

Assignment
Rough cut due Thursday

Thursday
2/26

Rough Cut Due - Critique
Work on final cuts

Work on final cuts

Week 8
Tuesday
3/3

Edit Final Cuts
Work on editing final cuts

Assignment
Final cut due Thursday. Late projects are subject to a lower grade or failure. Send me an email containing a self-evaluation discussing your work on the project and a confidential peer evaluation of what your team members did on the project.

Thursday
3/5 

Fiction Films Due -
Critique

Assignment (due Tuesday)
Pre-documentary Exercise Interview a stranger and find out something personal from your subject. Think about how this may relate to a possible nonfiction film.

Watch a documentary film and create a blog post analyzing its filming style and story structure.

Week 9

Spring Break

Brainstorm documentary ideas

Week 10
Tuesday
3/17

Reading Quiz
Documentary Film
Discuss the readings
Discuss interviews
Interview techniques
View Video

Readings (due today)
Bound by Law (PDF)
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 1, Preproduction, Chapter 2, Location, Location, Location, pages 1-67.

Assignment (due Monday)
Prepare Documentary Pitches present documentary ideas (include any research and pre-interviews)

Thursday
3/19

Pitch documentary ideas
Discuss scripts and approaches
View Video

Readings (due today)
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 7, Interview Prep, Chapter 8, Conducting Interviews, pages 181-214.

Assignment (due Tuesday)
Documentary Proposal

Week 11
Tuesday
3/24

Documentary Proposals Due - Critique
Form Groups

Readings (due today)
How to Write a Documentary Script

Assignment
Shoot Documentary

Thursday
3/26 

View Video

Shoot Documentary

Week 12
Tuesday
3/31

View Video

Shoot Documentary

Thursday
4/2

View Video

Readings (due today)
The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, Chapter 9, Post-Production, pages 215-240.

Assignment (due Tuesday)
Documentary Transcripts and Scripts

Week 13
Tuesday
4/7

Documentary Transcripts and Scripts Due
Discuss scripts – receive feedback

Assignment
Edit Documentary

Rough Cut Critique 4/16, Final Cuts due 4/23

Thursday
4/9

Edit Documentary

Assignment
Edit Documentary

Week 14
Tuesday
4/14

Edit Documentary

Assignment
Edit Documentary

Thursday
4/16 

Rough Cuts Due - Critique

Assignment
Work on final cuts

Week 15
Tuesday
4/21 

Edit Documentary
Work on final cuts

Assignment
Work on final cuts

Thursday
4/23 

Documentary Projects and all Final Materials Due

Week 16

Final Exam
Screening
Attendance Mandatory