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

WINTER 2009

TUESDAY + THURSDAY 4:00-6:00pm/ COMM 113
 
 
 

Professor: Irene Gustafson
[831] 459 1498 / Comm 125
click here to email
Office Hours: Tuesday 3-4pm and by appointment

 
 

[syllabus last updated: 24 February 2009]

      

 
 


  In Senior Project Seminar we will work with HD video to further our cinematic, artistic, collaborative, conceptual 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 DVD.
 

  COSTS:
There is a lab feel of $292.00 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 digital media storage [CD, DVD-R, External Hard Drive]
   
  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% [due Mon. 2/2]
  • Rough Cut 5% [due week 8]
  • Completed Final Project 70% [due-- TBA]
     
  • 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 a class blog 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 BLOG HERE: http://fdm2.ucsc.edu/blogs/winter09/196a/
   
  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.

...T January 6th
Introductions, Overview, Production Groups, Critique Groups, Expectations

 

...TH January 8th

4-5pm: Operation Staff Orientation
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 1: HD CAMERA WORKSHOP

• Treatment + script (ver.1) must be posted to the class on-line site before FRIDAY 9TH @ 9pm.
• Additionally, answer the following question: based on my past production experiences, I feel that my strengths are: xxxxxxxx; my weaknesses are xxxxxxxx
Answer these questions fully and with consideration

 
     
   

2.

...T January 13th
CONTENT WORSHOP: Irene's critique

• comments + critique must be posted to the class on-line site before WEDNESDAY 14TH @ 9pm


...TH January 15th

PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 2: DOLLY + TRACK
Studio B/ Comm 140

 
     
 

 

 

 

3.

• Revised scripts (ver.2) must be posted to the class on-line site before MONDAY 19TH @ 9pm.
Must include: shooting schedule

...T January 20th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 3: LIGHTING/GRIP, WORKING "ON SET"
Studio B/ Comm 140

...TH January 22nd
CONTENT WORSHOP: critique and revision 1

• comments + critique must be posted to the class on-line site before WEDNESDAY 21st @ 9pm

 
     
   

4.

Revised scripts (ver.3) must be posted to the class on-line site before MONDAY 26TH @ 9pm
Must include: shooting schedule, crew positions, budget

...T January 27th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 4: HD STUDIO SHOOT; STEADICAM
Studio B/ Comm 140


...TH January 29TH
CONTENT WORSHOP: critique and revision 2

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

 
     
   

5.

...T February 3rd
CONTENT WORSHOP: student presentations

• Finalized scripts must be posted to the class on-line site before MONDAY 2nd @ 9pm


...TH February 5th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 4: HD STUDIO SHOOT; STEADICAM
Computer lab/ Comm 11
     
   

6.

...T February 10th
WORSHOP 5: budgets, releases, treatments, fundraising

...TH February 12th

 
     
   

7.

...T February 17th

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

...TH February 19th
PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 6: FCP, SOUNDTRACK PRO
Computer lab/ Comm 11

 
     
   

8.

...T February 24th
Visiting Filmmaker (and FDM alum): Cynthia Lester

http://www.mymothersgardenmovie.com/


...TH February 26th
Color Workshp with Chris Guerrero/ Studio A
     
   

9.

...T March 3rd
ROUGH CUTS DUE: SCREENING + CRITIQUE (A-L, subject to change)

...TH March 5h
ROUGH CUTS DUE: SCREENING + CRITIQUE (M-Z, subject to change)

 
     
   

10.

...T March 10th
INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS by appointment


...TH March 12th
Class meets to discuss fine cuts and curate screening program. Completed films are due @ 6pm as self contained quicktime.
   

 

 
   

 

FINAL SCREENING: FRIDAY MARCH 13TH, 2009


[YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE FINAL SCREENING IS MANDATORY—YOU MUST SCREEN YOUR PROJECT AND ATTEND THE ENTIRE SCREENING]


YOU MUST TURN IN A SELF CONTAINED QUICKTIME MOVE FILE ON DVD OR HARD DRIVE TO IRENE BY 6PM THURSDAY MARCH 12TH. LATE PROJECTS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED ON THE MASTER SCREENING PLAYLIST

 
   

 
   

FILM + DIGITAL MEDIA RESOURCES:

SLUGFILM [checkout, reservation, facilities]: http://slugfilm.ucsc.edu/
FILM + DIGITAL MEDIA EQUIPMENT CHECKOUT: fdmcheckout@ucsc.edu 459 4062

LINDA GARFIELD, operations manager: click here to email 459.2348

CHRIS GUERRERO, digital media specialist: click here to email 459.3512

NICK DULIN, equipment checkout specialist: click here to email 459.3512

ANGIE ROSSI-STEELE, lead digital media specialist: click here to email 459 4242

 

FILM AND DIGITAL MEDIA WIKI: http://slugfilm.ucsc.edu/wiki/index.php/Main_Page


   

OTHER RESOURCES:

Porter College Undergraduate Fellowship Award (DUE FEB. 4, 2009)

 

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/