Film-Style Production (On-Set Production - Lights AND Lens) Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p>Amarillo College Campus/ Downtown Location: Room 116</p>

Office Hours

By appointment

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

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Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

FLMC-2310-001 Film-Style Production (On-Set Production - Lights AND Lens)

Prerequisites

Course Description

Writing, directing, and producing film-style productions.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

All text required will be given to the students as needed

Supplies

Students will need a memory card, flash drive, or another form of jump drive. 

Student Performance

  • Students learn how to safely and properly work with pro-style cameras, audio equipment, and lighting gear.

  • Students learn the creative and technical process of editing with professional software, including properly getting media in, working with it, and outputting in the right formats for various venues.

  • Even for those not going into the film/television fields, many types of jobs at times require creating or modifying some sort of audiovisual media – here students get acquainted with the full range of skills needed to do this.

  • Those with prior experience in filmmaking (e.g., from high school or self-taught) will deepen their knowledge base, fill in the gaps, and improve their creative abilities and technical craft. Those without any prior training will obtain the tools they need to take an audiovisual project from start to finish.

  • All students will come out with multiple completed works of their own, as well as works that they created as part of a group.

  • Regardless of major or prior background, students explore their own creative impulses with projects built around their individual concerns, artistic voice, and feelings.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

  • You are strongly encouraged to assist and cooperate on one another's projects. However, all you course work in this class must be your original work and must be shot by yourself. Plagiarism, borrowing a story idea or storyboards from somebody else, and hiring a director or cinematographer for your projects is strictly prohibited. 

 

  • Alway submit your papers, treatments, and projects on time to get full grade consideration and to be screened in class. 

 

  • If you miss class, you are still responsible to submit work that is due. All course work turned in after the due date will be downgraded 1 full letter grade/ after 1 week you will receive 0 credit. Please discuss in advance of your absence if at all possible. 

 

  • Assume that the course material is new to all students. Accordingly, I expect most students to do better at the end of the course than at the beginning.

 

  • To help you improve as a shooter, designer, and overall craft creator, I will make "critical" comments on your work. These comments should not be taken personally; they are indications of areas on which you need to work. It is your responsibility as a student to ask questions when they arise, or if there are areas that you know you may need help with do not hesitate to ask.

 

  • Each student should keep a dedicated notebook for this course. The notes and work you do during this course will allow you to take this knowledge and implicate it in real world situations and jobs. Take this knowledge and use it. 

 

  • Be on time. This field and career path is pressed for time, and time is money. Class starts promplty at the designated time, unless told otherwise by the instructor, and if there are videos to be shown they should be exported and ready to play when class begins. 

 

  • Please contact me if you need help or have any questions. 

Grading Criteria

 

Grading Scale -

100-95%=A   94-90%= A-  89-86% = B+ 

85-83%= B   82-80%= B-   79-76% = C+ 

75-73%= C   72-70%= C –  69-60% = D 

59% and Below = F 

 

Grading Scale Explained-

  1. (Excellent): Mastery of the material ability to express and apply the material in a creative way (I.e. Not simply what’s been covered in class) 

  2. (Good): Presentation of the material is in a clear, organized fashion. 

  3. (Fair): Basic concept and facts correct and covered in adequate depth; inconsistency (Some areas covered well: others done poorly, indication of some confusion over the material); or inability to express your understanding clearly. 

  4. (Poor): Perfunctory coverage of the material; much misunderstanding of the material; incomprehensive use of skills; excessive absences or lateness. 

F. (Failure): Failure to do the assignments as stated; failure to hand in an assignment; Complete or near complete misunderstanding of the material; plagiarism illiteracy, excessive lateness, and/or did not show up for class.

 

Requirements and Assignments- 

20%  Class Participation, In-Class Films, and Quizzes   

10%  Film project #1 – Music Video 

20%  Film project #2 – Action Film 

30%  Film project #3 – Final Film

10%  Production Assignments

10%  Peer critiques

Attendance

Group process and collaboration are essential parts of not only this course but this field as well. Lateness, absence, and the failure of reliability will be detrimental to your grade. There are no excused absences. The exceptions to this policy are for DOCUMENTED medical issues requiring a visit to a clinic, doctor’s office, or hospital for emergency care. This means that regularly scheduled medical appointments are not excused. You must provide the instructor with a note from a caregiver for the absence to be excused. Another is a severe family issue, such as a death or another uncontrollable circumstance that your family may encounter, family comes first, this class comes second. However, for anything undocumented or not discussed prior and you miss class for any reason, or if you miss a portion of a class period, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to get notes from a peer and to turn in assignments. Arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving more than 10 minutes early from class will be considered tardiness. Three accumulated tardies will equal one absence. After your third absence, your final grade will be penalized a full letter grade. If you miss six or more classes, your overall grade for this course will be discussed. 

Calendar

 

Week 1: Introduction of course:

19/ Wed- 

  • Go over syllabus, expectations, and requirements

  • Lecture: Design of the Image, Framing, and Composition

    • Assignment: Still photo and Essay (due/ Jan 26)

  • Allow students time to familiarize themselves with the spaces. 

Week 2: FRAMING

Jan 24/ Mon- 

  • Lecture: Film Cameras vs. Digital Cameras. Difference between working in Film and Video.

  • Lab- In-class groups shoot to familiarize students with Digital Video cameras. Department Rules and Regulations. Introduction to motion picture cameras. 

    • Guest speaker*

Jan 26/ Wed- 

  • Lecture- Film vs. Video continuation

    • Assignment: Still photo and Essay due.

 

Week 3: PRE- PRODUCTION PLANNING

Jan 31/ Mon-

  • Lecture- Pre- Production Planning, Script, and Story Structure. Script Breakdown. Overheads. Pre-Production work 

    • Lab- Storyboard work

      • Assignment: Music Video. Due Week 6. February 21 (groups)(max 3½ min)

Feb 2/ Wed-

  • Lecture- Working on group storyboarding/ Pre- Production Planning

    • Assignment due: Music Video song choice

Week 4: Lighting

Feb 7/ Mon-

  • Lecture- 3-Point Lighting. Qualities of Light. Color & Tone. Realistic & Expressive Lighting. Lighting Styles. Contrast Ratio. Bounce & Reflectors.

    • Guest Speaker*

    • Lab- Lighting practice/ Quick shoots

Feb 9/ Wed-

  • Lecture- Exposure and Light Meter Tutorial 

    • Handout- Sekonic Light Meter

 

Week 5: EDITING AND OTHER ELEMENTS

Feb 14/ Mon-

  • Lecture- Editing & Continuity. Coverage & B-Roll. Screen Direction and the 180º rule. 30º rule. Overlapping Action. Transitions & Montages.

    • Lab- Editing in Adobe Elements

      • Show day- Peer critique of music videos/ First showing

Feb 16/ Wed-

  • Lecture- Continuation of Continuity. Transitions and montages

    • Assignment: Action acting ideas

 

Week 6: PITCHING AND PRESENTING IDEAS

Feb 21/ Mon-

  • Lecture- Action films- Due Week 10, Monday, March 21 (solo)(max 5 min)

    • Action films storyboards and Pre-production creations

      • Assignment due: Music video

      • Lab- Presenting ideas and in-person filming practice for actions. 

Feb 23/ Wed-

  • Lecture- In-class showing of Music Videos

    • Peer critique- Final showing

      • Guests invited*

Week 7: Action Film/ Sound

Feb 28/ Mon-

  • Lecture- Sound Overview. Microphones. Pick-Up Patterns. Cables. Sound Recording. Single vs. Dual System. Post- Production

    • Guest Speaker*

  • Lab: Creation of sound/ overlay on b-roll

March 2/ Wed

  • Lecture- In-class viewing of action films thus far

    • Peer Critique- First showing

Week 8 (I will not be here this week): Work Week

March 7/ Mon: This week you will use this time to work on your Action Films

  • Lecture- Use this time to work together/ review each other's work to ensure smooth runs and clean presentations. 

March 9/ Wed:

  • Lecture- Use this time to work together/ review each other's work to ensure smooth runs and clean presentations. 

Week 9: Fast films

March 21/ Mon:

  • Lecture- in-class group Narratives (Create/StoryBoard, Plan) (groups)

    • Assignment due- Action Film

  • Lab- Film class narrative (group 1) 

    • Peer critique

March 23/ Wed:

  • Lecture- In-class film of narrative (group 2)

    • Peer critique

Week 10: Final Film Treatments

March 28/ Mon:

  • Lecture- Pitch: Final Film Treatments and StoryBoards

    • Review of topics and skills learned.

      • Assignment due: Fast film

      • Screening- Fast film screening

    • Lab- Continuation of storyboarding/ Work time (in/out of class)

March 30/ Wed:

  • Lecture- Presenting storyboards during class. 

    • This will test students' ability to pitch their ideas to a group. 

Week 11: Fast Film- Documentary Film

April 4/ Mon:

  • Lecture: Documentary Film (In-Class group shoot)

    • Group storyboard and pitch

      • Lab: Filming of documentary film.

April 6/ Wed:

  • Lecture: Continuation of filming/Editing for FF Documentary Film

Week 12: Fast Films

April 11/ Mon:

  • Lecture: Viewing of Documentary films

    • Assignment due: FF Documentary Film

    • Lab: Corrections to the Fast films (Narrative/ Documentary) 

April 13/ Wed:

  • Lecture: Guest Speaker*

Week 13: Final Film Rough Cut Screening

April 18/ Mon:

  • Lecture: Final Film Rough Cut or Rushes

    • Peer Critique: Allow for group critique

      • Lab: Corrections from Instructor/ Peer Critiques. (Fixing of storyboard)

April 20/ Wed:

  • Lecture: Continuation of group observations

Week 14: Fast Films- Comedy

April 25/ Mon:

  • Lecture: Comedy Film (In-class group shoot)

  • Group storyboards and pitch due

  • Lab: Filming for Comedy Film

April 27/ Wed:

  • Lecture: Continuation of filming/editing for Comedy Film

Week 15: Fast Films - Comedy Film

May 2/ Mon:

  • Lecture: Presentations of FF Comedy Film

  • Assignment due: FF Comedy Film

  • Lab: No Lab (Unless the students want to work on their final films.)

May 4/ Wed:

  • Lecture: In-Class final showing of Films before finals week

Week 16 (Finals week):

May 9/ Mon:

  • Work Day: Students may use this time to complete their Final Films 

  • Assignment Due: Final Film- (due at 5 p.m.)

May 11/ Wed: Final Day

  • Presentation day: Students will have a showing/presentation of their final films.

  •  

Additional Information

 

Late work and makeup assignments:  

The work in this class reflects real-world demands and tendencies. Regardless of whether you are in attendance at class, unless the student has a valid reason (such as a death in the family, documented personal health conditions, military conscriptions, failure of local infrastructure, etc) late work will not be accepted for full credit. Late work that is received before the start of the following week’s class session will be penalized 1 full letter grade (A will become B, A- will become B-, etc.). If it is received between 1-2 weeks of the original due date, it will be penalized 2 full letter grades (A will become C, A- will become C-, etc.). NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER IT IS MORE THAN 2 WEEKS LATE.  

Any exceptions to this policy must be discussed and approved prior to late work being accepted. 

Disclaimer Statement:

Please note that this syllabus may be amended as the course proceeds. You will be notified of all changes in class, and changes will be posted and given to you. 

Syllabus Created on:

01/12/22 11:10 AM

Last Edited on:

01/18/22 8:47 AM