ARTDM 149 Syllabus
ARTDM 149: FUNDAMENTALS OF DIGITAL VIDEO
Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:05 – 6:35 PM Room ATC 107
(studio) and 110 (editing suite)
Instructor: David Foulds
Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:45-1:30 ATC 110A
Textbooks and
materials:
1) Required: The Filmmaker’s Eye by Gustavo Mercado ISBN
978-0-240-91217-5
2) Recommended: Compositing Visual Effects in After Effects
by Lee Lanier ISBN 978-1-388-03282 (note: PDFs of required chapters on Canvas)
3) External USB hard drive formatted ExFat – talk to me if
you do not know how to format your drive properly. ExFat allows you to go back
and forth from Macs and PCs if you need to.
4) SD card for capturing and saving digital video footage.
In depth text on digital cinematography (optional, advanced,
but a great book):
1)
Cinematography: Theory and Practice by Blain Brown (3rd edition)
ISBN: 978-1-138-94092-5
If you have a
DSLR camera, I highly recommend bringing it to class so you can learn
using your own equipment. Canon Vixia Camcorders, sound, and lighting equipment
are available for you to checkout from the department. You might also consider,
if you can afford it, subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud. They offer a student
discount.
Course Management
System: We will use DVC’s Canvas
in this course. Be sure you are able to log on and submit assignments through
Canvas. If you have any difficulties, contact me or Canvas technical support.
In this course, you will all go through a series of in-class
exercises and readings to expose you to all aspects of digital video
production. The emphasis of the course will be on shooting quality digital
video to incorporate into your multimedia projects, as well as learning the
fundamentals of cinematography, lighting, and digital effects.. The main goal
is for you to become familiar with digital camera operation, basic lighting,
sound fundamentals, operation of Adobe Premiere editing software, and some
basic visual effects using Adobe After Effects. You will finish this course
with a variety of clips from your laboratory activities and a term project (a
short film or scene with visual effects) to use as a demonstration reel.
A few things you must
do to pass the course:
1) Attendance is required and makes up 200 points of
your overall grade since much of what you will do in this course will take
place during class time. Please be on time as lectures begin promptly at 4:05 PM and labs will begin at 4:45. You
need the information you learn in lecture in order to complete your labs and
term assignment.
DVC policy
is “The instructor may drop students who miss more than the equivalent of two
weeks of a term--length course.” If you do not notify me ahead of
time of more than two absences, you may be dropped from the course.
2) Complete all the laboratory assignments (more below).
3) Complete a final project using basic cinematography,
audio mixing, and visual effects (more below).
Grading: 1000 points
Term Project: 200 points
Attendance: 200 points
Laboratory Assignments: 400 points
Online Midterm: 200 points
The lab in this course will consist of both group and individual assignments. On Tuesdays you will typically work on cinematography assignments as a group and on Thursdays you will work on editing and visual effects assignments individually.
The lab in this course will consist of both group and individual assignments. On Tuesdays you will typically work on cinematography assignments as a group and on Thursdays you will work on editing and visual effects assignments individually.
In the last third of the course, you will use your lab time
to work on your term project (details below). You (often) will use the footage
you shot in your cinematography labs to use for your VFX and editing assignments.
Note, you may have to come in during open lab hours to complete your
assignments if you do not have Adobe Creative Cloud on your own computers. The
lab hours are posted outside the lab.
Cinematography Lab Assignments:
The cinematography lab (in groups) consists of:
1) Shooting footage you need to
complete your VFX lab assignments.
2) Shooting footage you need to
complete your editing lab assignments.
3) Lighting and Blocking Actors
Workshops.
Visual Effects Lab Assignments:
The VFX lab is made up of a serious of tutorials in Adobe
After Effects. The lab tutorials are on our canvas course site. Grading
includes both cinematography and final compositions.
1) Learn and complete Introductory
VFX lab assignments (25 points each).
2) Learn and complete the Green
Screen lab assignments. (25 points each).
3) Choose, learn, and complete 3
Intermediate VFX lab assignments (25 points each).
Editing Lab Assignments:
The editing labs give you the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro
as well as some tutelage in continuity editing.
1) Adobe Premiere Pro Tutorials (25
points each).
Audio Lab Assignments:
Your Audio assignments give you a taste of audio mixing and
fixing in Adobe Audition.
1) Adobe Audition Tutorials (25 points
each).
Term Projects:
You will use the last 4 weeks of the course to work on your
term projects (200 points).
Your term project must include:
·
A short script (this can be just a scene or a
complete short film)
·
Continuity editing using Adobe Premiere
·
3 visual effects elements from our tutorials
·
At least 1 green screen, composited shot
Portfolio Approach to course:
For your final grade, you will add to a portfolio of your
work throughout the term. To do this, you need to create a YouTube channel for
yourself as a filmmaker. Then, you need to submit a link to your channel and
upload ALL of your completed work in the class to the channel and submit a link
to your channel on Canvas so your work can be graded and commented upon. A
tutorial of how to create a YouTube channel is on our course Canvas website.
Proposed Schedule (subject to updates):
|
Week One – January 29
Lecture:
1.
Introduction and overview of the course
2.
Writing with Light and Motion – the language
of cinematography
3.
Is compositing like coding? NO!!!
4.
What are plates in VFX?
Lab:
1.
Meet your colleagues and cameras
2.
Cinematography Lab 1 – shoot plates for
explosion lab in groups of 3 or 4. Prep for VFX work.
Homework:
1.
Buy Textbooks
2.
Reading: Dinur Ch. 2: VFX as a Filmmaking Tool
(PDF online)
|
January 31
Lecture:
1.
Brief History of Visual Effects – from George
Melies to Star Wars to First Man
2.
Overview of Adobe After Effects
Lab:
1.
VFX lab 1 – tutorial 1/8 – Boom goes the
dynamite!
Homework:
1.
Reading: Mercado: Introduction, Finding the
Frame.
2.
Reading: Brown: Optics and Focus (PDF online)
(optional)
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Week Two – February 5
Lecture:
1.
Analysis of Cinematography of film(s).
2.
Camera Operation
a.
F/stops
b.
Shutter Speed
c.
Depth of Field
d.
Color Temperature
e.
Lenses
Lab:
1.
Cinematography Lab 2 – controlling depth of
field with f/stops, lighting, neutral density filters and lens length.
Homework:
1.
Reading: Dinur Ch. 4: Separation (PDF on
Canvas)
|
February 7
Lecture:
1.
Analysis of VFX of film(s).
2.
Masks and Rotoscoping.
a.
The mighty pen (tool)!
b.
Altering Masks
c.
Combining Masks
d.
Rotoscoping
Lab:
1.
VFX lab 2 – tutorial 2/8 comps and precomps and
3/8 introduction to masking
Homework:
1. Reading:
Mercado – Principles of Composition and technical concepts, close up, medium
close up, and medium shots.
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Week Three - February 12
Lecture:
1.
Composition and coverage
a.
Rule of Thirds
b.
Balance
c.
Close ups, Medium Close Ups, and Medium shots.
d.
Shooting Coverage
e.
Shooting for the edit
Lab:
1.
Cinematography Lab 3 – Shoot plates for VFX
4/8 tutorial: The red rose, in groups of 3 or 4. Use medium, MCU, and CU
shots.
Homework:
1.
Reading: Lanier - Ch. 3: Masking, Rotoscoping,
and Basic Keyframing (PDF online)
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February 14
Lecture:
1.
More on Masking and Rotoscoping.
a.
The graph editor
b.
Key frames
c.
Time for a Mocha AE!
2.
Analysis of VFX shots in film(s).
Lab:
1.
VFX lab 3 – tutorial 4/8 – The red rose aka
adjustment layers.
Homework:
1.
Reading: Mercado: Image System, Medium Long
Shot, Long Shot, Extreme Long Shot, OTS Shot, Two Shot, Group Shot.
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Week
Four – February 19
Lecture:
1.
Image System
a.
OTS shot.
b.
Two Shot.
c.
Objective Shot.
d.
MLS, LS, ELS, Establishing Shot
Lab:
1.
Cinematography Lab 4 – Coverage
Homework:
1.
Review Lanier Ch. 3: Masking, Rotoscoping, and
Keyframing (PDF online)
|
February 21
Lecture:
1.
Mattes and Parenting.
a.
Parenting
b.
Precomposing
2.
Close Analysis of Film VFX.
Lab:
1.
VFX lab 4 – VFX 5/8: Mattes, 6/8 Parenting.
Homework:
1. Read: Mercado: Zoom Shot, Pan Shot, Tilt
Shot, Dolly Shot, Tracking Shot, Steadicam Shot, Crane Shot.
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Week Five – February 26
Lecture:
1. Camera moves
a.
Pans
b.
Tilts
c.
Sliders
d.
Dollies
e.
Zooms
f.
Steadicam
g.
Cranes
h.
Going handheld
Lab:
1. Camera Workshop
Homework:
1. Read: Lanier Ch. 4:
Transforming and Motion Tracking (PDF online)
|
February 7
Lecture:
1. Motion Trackers
and Null objects
a.
Anchor points
b.
Transform Properties
c.
Motion Blur
d.
Motion Tracking
e.
Motion Paths
f.
Stabilizing Footage
g.
Corner Pin Tracking
Lab:
1.
VFX lab 5 – 7/8 Null Objects and 8/8 3D Space
(optional)
Homework:
1. Get caught up on
reading and Labs
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Week Six – March 5
Lecture:
1.
Staging Dialogue Sequences
a.
Blocking Frost/Nixon with Ron Howard
b.
Movement
c.
Working with Actors
Lab:
1.
Block a scene workshop
Homework:
1.
Read: Lanier Ch. 2: Generating Alpha and
Keyers with Mattes (PDF on Canvas)
|
March 7
Lecture:
1. Visual Effects
Compositing – The Green Screen
a.
A bit of history – blue and green
b.
Why it works
c.
How it works
i. Alpha
Channels
ii.
Key Cleanup
Lab:
1. Green Screen Lab 1
Homework:
1. Read Brown: Lighting Basics (PDF on Canvas)
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Week Seven – March 12
Lecture:
1.
Green Screen Cinematography
a.
Lighting for Green Screen
b.
Planning your shoot
c.
Matching your plates
Lab:
1.
Shoot Green Screen Plates
Homework:
1.
Get Caught up on labs and reading
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March 14
Lecture:
1.
More on Digital Compositing and VFX
a.
More on Green Screen Cleanup
b.
3D Effects! Yeah Baby.
c.
Particles!
Lab:
1.
Green Screen Lab 2
Homework:
1.
Get caught up on labs and reading.
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Week Eight - March 19
Lecture:
1.
Viewing of Visions of Light
I’ll be at ASC Masterclass!
Lab:
1.
Intermediate VFX Lab 1.
Homework:
1.
Online, open book, open note multiple choice
quiz on readings and concepts so far…
|
March 21
Lecture:
1.
View: ILM- Creating the Impossible
I’ll be at ASC Masterclass!
Lab:
1.
Intermediate VFX Lab 2.
Homework:
1.
Online, open book, open note multiple choice
quiz on readings and concepts so far…
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Week Nine – March 26
Lecture
1.
Film and Video Lighting
a.
Hard vs. Soft
b.
Color Control
c.
Exposure
d.
Classical Lighting (3-5 point)
e.
Practicals
Lab:
1.
Lighting Workshop
Homework:
1.
Read short scripts (PDFs on Canvas)
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March 28
Lecture:
1.
Screenwriting – writing the scene.
a.
Using Celtx
b.
Screenplay format
Lab:
1.
Preparation for your term projects.
Homework:
1.
Enjoy your spring break!
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Week Ten – April 2
SPRING
BREAK
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April 4
SPRING
BREAK
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Week Eleven – April 9
Lecture:
1. Screenwriting
a.
Character Arc
b.
Tension
c.
Scenes
d.
Analysis of short script
Lab:
1.
Screenwriting Lab w/ Celtx
Homework:
1.
Read Murch – Blink of an Eye (excerpts) (PDF
on Canvas)
2.
Work on Script
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April 12
Lecture:
1.
Editing
a.
Analysis of continuity editing
b.
Cutting on movement
c.
6 Rules of editing
Lab:
1.
Editing Lab 1: Premiere Tutorials
Homework:
1.
Work on Script
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Week Twelve – April 16
Lecture:
1.
More on Editing
a.
L and J cuts
b.
Discontinuous Editing (jump cuts)
c.
Dissolves
d.
Fade in/Fade out
e.
Pacing
Lab:
1.
Editing Lab 2: Premiere Tutorials
Homework:
1. Work on Term Project Pre-Production
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April 18
Lecture:
1.
Preproduction
a.
Script breakdown
b.
Casting
c.
Call Sheets
d.
Locations
e.
Props and Costumes
f.
VFX Planning
Lab:
1.
Work on Pre-Pro of Term Project
Homework:
1. Work on Term Project Pre-Production
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Week Thirteen – April 23
Lecture:
1.
The Importance of Audio
a.
Recording Production Sound
b.
Boom Operation
c.
Room Tone
d.
Basics of Foley and ADR
Lab:
1.
Audio Lab 1: Audition Tutorials
Homework:
1.
Work on Term Projects / Complete unfinished
tutorials
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April 25
Lecture:
1.
Post Production Audio Design
a.
Audio Mixing
b.
Adobe Audition
c.
Repairing Audio
Lab:
1.
Audio Lab 2: Audition Tutorials
Homework:
1.
Work on Term Projects / Complete unfinished
tutorials
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Week Fourteen – April 29
Whole Class Time:
1.
Work on Term Projects
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May 2
Whole Class Time:
1.
Work on Term Projects
|
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Week Fifteen – May 7
Whole Class Time:
1.
Work on Term Projects
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May 9
Whole Class Time:
1.
Work on Term Projects
|
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Week Sixteen - May 14
Whole Class Time:
1.
Work on Term Projects
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May 16
Whole Class Time:
1.
Work on Term Projects
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Week Seventeen - May 21
Screening of final projects!
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DISABILITY STATEMENT
Students who require alternative formats for course
materials or adaptive equipment because of a specific disability can request
them through the Disability Support Services office. The High Tech Center in
LC-107 is an adaptive technology computer lab available for students with
disabilities and is open Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm, and Fridays from
9am-1pm. Please contact Carrie Million in LC-112 or at 925-685-1230 ext. 2553
for more information."
For information related to DVC Disabled Student Services go
to:
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