Wed 10:30 – 1:30
MPR
| Ralph Vituccio | |
|---|---|
| rv0a@andrew.cmu.edu | |
| 412.268.9837 / ETC 2109 | |
| Office Hours: 9-5 and by appointment | |
| TA’s | |
| Evan Tahler | etahler@andrew.cmu.edu |
| Matthew Beiler | mbeiler@andrew.cmu.edu |
| Karin Ray | karin.ray@gmail.com |
| Brennan Hickman | rbh@andrew.cmu.edu |
Visual Story is a film/video class designed for non-filmmakers. The main focus for this course will be to synthesize film and production theory as well as production technique via assignments to learn the basic principles and vocabulary of film theory and aesthetics. Many forms of digital filmmaking will be discussed including dramatic, documentary and independent features as well as commercials, music videos and experimental subjects. Whether you intend to be a programmer, artist or producer, understanding these basic fundamental cinematic storytelling ideas will help you develop a more critical eye towards all forms of new media.
Assignments:
#1 –Team Promo
Due class 3; 10 %
Each group will shoot a short, (1 minutes tops), commercial promo
on your team. The objective is to show off your team’s talent in a
creative way.
#2 – Organizing/Shooting a Scene
Due class 5; 15 %
Recreate the American Beauty scene shot for shot. Use the scene screened in class from American Beauty. You are NOT allowed to use the soundtrack. Break it down into the following:
#3 – Music Video
Due class 7; 20 %
Develop, plan and shoot a music video. Must tell a story that is not explicitly in the lyrics. The idea is to follow a storyline through time and space. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOOT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE ETC BUILDING. You must shoot this video at another location.
#4 – The 4 Minute Documentary
Due class10; 25 %
Each group will pull a company name at random. The company name will have a contact person and number. You will be responsible for producing a mini-documentray on the company you have randomly selected. The documentary will be no more 4 minutes long
# 5 - Location, Theme, Object 30%
This project will be a combined BVW, Improv and ETC Fundamental Project. The team will be provided a location, a theme, an object and a dominate color scheme. For example a team may choose the following scenario: “A garden is the location, arrogance is the theme. A necklace is an object that plays a part in the story. Red is a color.”
Class Timeline
Class 1: Introduction / A Brief History of Moving Pictures
Class 2: Visual Workshop: Camera
Class 3: Directors Paperwork
Workshop: Editing 1 (the basics)
Due: Team Promos
Class 4: Editing
Workshop: Editing 2 (Effects and compositing)
Class 5: Sound & Image
Due: American Beauty scene
Guest Lecture: Directing Talent for film and/or games:
Class 6: Lighting as Storytelling
Workshop: Lighting
Class 7: Digital Effects
Due: Music video
Workshop: Motion & Aftereffects
Class 8: The Documentary
Class 9: Player vs. Spectator / Computer Game-Influenced Realities in Film
Class 10: Guest Artist
Due: Documentary projects
Class 11: Presentations for final project
Class 12: The Visual Story Components Review
Class 13: Final Project: “Location, Theme, Object ”
The Visual Story, by Bruce Block
All videos must be copied into the appropriate project drop box in the Visual Story Folder on Randon and placed on the MPR lectern computer . To avoid the many frustrations of compatibility, we will use the following codec. If you don't like this codec, or you think there are better codecs out there - to bad… but you will use this codec to turn in your completed projects. Any other formats will not be accepted.
Quicktime Movie Codec: MPEG-4
Keyframes: Automatic
Data Rate: 5000
Quality: High
Resolution: 640 x 480
De-interlace Source Video
Audio Format: AAC Rate: 44.1 khz Target Bit Rate: 128 kbps
Grading Policies Your final grade will be based on your assignment point total at the end of the semester. Excellent attendance will earn you 5 points. If you are that person who often falls asleep in my class, you will loose ten points toward your final grade. 100 to 90 = A / 89 to 80 = B / 79 to 70 = C / Below 59 = F