UCSC/FILM + DIGITAL MEDIA DEPARTMENT
FILM 196A• SENIOR PROJECTS IN FILM/VIDEO

SPRING 2006

MONDAY + WEDNESDAY 3:30-6:00pm/ COMM 113
     
 

Professor: Irene Gustafson
[831] 459 1498 / Comm 125
click here to email
Office Hours: Tuesday 10am-12pm and by appointment

 
 

[syllabus last updated: 01 June 2006]

      
 
 


  In Senior Project Seminar we will work with digital video and/or16mm film, sync or non-sync sound, to further our cinematic and production artistic and technical skills. Attendance and participation in class are essential as we will be working with each other as a production unit, at times covering a great deal of material, such as students' work or technical matters, in a very short period of time. If more than two classes are missed your grade will be affected.
The final project will be limited in length to no more than twelve minutes. This is an absolute limit, not open to negotiation. The project can be any genre and style, with a sound track. At the end of the quarter you will be expected to present your film as a completed video on DV tape or DVD.
 

  COSTS:
There is a lab feel of $22.00 due for this course. Additionally each student will be responsible for the cost of materials to complete required projects. You are also expected to have a suitable hard-drive for editing.
   
  MATERIALS:
You are responsible for providing your own tape stock [mini DV, VHS] and digital media storage [CD, External Hard Drive]. Please use Panasonic tapes.
   
  REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING CREDIT
   
  Your final evaluation and/or grade in the class will be based on the following:   
  • Attendance + Participation 10% [ongoing: attendance + participation in critique]
  • Script Revisions 10% [ongoing week 1-5]
  • Final Script 5% [Wed. 5/3]
  • 16mm film shoot 5% [due Wed. 4/24]
  • Rough Cut 5% [due week 8]
  • Completed Final Project 65% [due Wed. 6/14]
     
  • Attendance is mandatory; punctuality is required. 3 unexcused absences or excessive lateness will result in a NO PASS.
• All assignments must be completed and turned in on time. All assignments must be completed and turned in to receive credit in the class
• Active and thoughtful participation in class discussion and critique is required.
• Careful and conscientious handling of equipment/facilities is expected
   
 

We will be using the blog function on webCT to post in-process versions of your scripts. Each student must weekly post recent versions of pre-production materials by the specified times. And relatedly, students are responsible for posting thoughtful critique in a timely manner.

LOG IN TO WEBCT HERE: http://ic.ucsc.edu/webct
   
  The production studios, editing rooms and the classroom are professional production studios used by us and the other production classes. The editing room are shared production spaces as well. Please help to keep them clean. Food and drinks are NOT allowed in Studios or in the editing rooms at any time! We also expect you to follow the rules for equipment checkout and for taking reasonable care of our equipment.
   
 
SCHEDULE
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1.

...W April 5th
Introductions, Overview, Production Groups, Critique Groups, Expectations
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 1: DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA WORKSHOP

Treatments + scripts must be posted to the class on-line site before FRIDAY 7TH @ 9pm.
Additionally, answer the following question: based on my past production experiences, I feel that my strengths are: xxxxxxxx; my weaknesses are xxxxxxxx

 
   

2.

...M April 10th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 2: DOLLY + TRACK [w/ Maurice Turrieta]; "Building a Set"
Studio B/ Comm 140


...W April 12th
CONTENT WORSHOP: Irene's critique

comments + critique must be posted to the class on-line site before WEDNESDAY 12TH @ 9pm.

 
 

 

 

 

3.

...M April 17th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 3: LIGHTING/GRIP, WORKING "ON SET"
Studio B/ Comm 140

Revised scripts must be posted to the class on-line site before MONDAY 17TH @ 9pm.
Must include: shooting schedule


...W April 19th
CONTENT WORSHOP: critique and revision 1

comments + critique must be posted to the class on-line site before WEDNESDAY 19TH @ 9pm.

 
   

4.

...M April 24th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 4: 16mm FILM SHOOT
Studio B/ Comm 140

Revised scripts must be posted to the class on-line site before MONDAY 24TH @ 9pm.
Must include: shooting schedule, crew positions, budget


...W April 26th
CONTENT WORSHOP: critique and revision 2

comments + critique must be posted to the class on-line site before WEDNESDAY 26TH @ 9pm.

 
   

5.

...M May 1st
CONTENT WORSHOP: critique and revision 3

Finalized scripts must be posted to the class on-line site before MONDAY 1st @ 9pm.


...W May 3rd
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 4: SOUNDTRACK PRO [w/ Zach Davis]
Computer lab/ Comm 11
   

6.

...M May 8th
VISITOR: Brad Coley will screen sections from his film, Undeserved [USA, 120 min., 2004] and answer questions
The film plays @ 7:30pm in the Media Theater

http://www.undeserved.net./

...W May 10th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 5: SOUNDTRACK PRO [w/ Zach Davis]
Computer lab/ Comm 11

 
   

7.

...M May 15th

CONTENT WORSHOP 4: STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: Defining your "context"
...screen and critique 16mm footage

...W May 17th
WORSHOP 5: budgets, releases, treatments, fundraising

 
   

8.

...M May 22nd
ROUGH CUTS DUE: SCREENING + CRITIQUE


...W May 24th
ROUGH CUTS DUE: SCREENING + CRITIQUE
   

9.

...M May 29th
NO CLASS/ HOLIDAY

...W May 31st
INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS

 
   

10.

...M June 5th
INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS


...W June 7th
Class meets to discuss fine cuts and curate screening program
   

 

PROJECTS ARE DUE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 14TH BY NOON.

YOU MUST TURN IN A DVD THAT INCLUDES YOUR PROJECTS AS A QUICKTIME EXPORT OUT OF FCP [DO NOT EXPORT AS 'QUICKTIME CONVERSION'] PROJECTS MUST BE TURNED IN TO THE DEPT. OFFICE BY NOON. LATE PROJECTS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED ON THE MASTER SCREENING DVD

 
   

FINAL SCREENING: FRIDAY JUNE 16TH @ 7PM, MEDIA THEATER
[YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE FINAL SCREENING IS MANDATORY—YOU MUST SCREEN YOUR PROJECT AND ATTEND THE ENTIRE SCREENING]

   

FILM + DIGITAL MEDIA RESOURCES:

SLUGFILM [checkout, reservation, facilities]: http://slugfilm.ucsc.edu/
FILM + DIGITAL MEDIA EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT: fdmcheckout@ucsc.edu

PETER HAZARD, operations manager: click here to email 459.2348
NATHAN COOPER, checkout manager: click here to email 459 4062
MAURICE TURRIETA, checkout technician: click here to email 459 7200
ZACH DAVIS, support technician: click here to email 459.3512
   

OTHER RESOURCES:

Property Use Release form [word doc]


Talent Release Form [word doc]

Sample Budget [excel doc]

Call Sheet [word doc]

ITVS Production/Post Forms [from Jade]

Storyboard template [jpeg]

 

FINAL CUT PRO:
http://www.dvguys.com
http://www.2-pop.com

 

AUDIO:

Frequency handout [word doc]
Audio Filter.1[word doc]
Audio Filter.2 [word doc]


Duke Center for the Study of the Public Domain publication:
[very helpful for sorting through fair use issues]
http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/comics/zoomcomic.html

 

Build your own “steadycam”:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/