ComS 185 Senior Practicum in Film/Video
Prerequisite: Coms 128, or permission
Office Hours: Wed 11-12:30
Thurs 12-1:30
Instructor: Jenny Stark
(916)278-6285
Course Description and Objectives:
Assignments in various phases of video production including creative use of
camera, sound and lighting, editing, production design, production planning/management, and directing.
Objectives
The production of a polished film or video that showcases skills learned
throughout the program. This Project can be used as a portfolio piece for
Application to Graduate Programs or for the students’ professional Reel.
Familiarity with the writing of Clear and Professional Film/Video
Proposals.
Familiarity with the group dynamics, time commitment, and communication
associated with collaborative film/video projects. The increased capacity
for problem solving and communication within these groups.
Competence in the creative areas of Film/video production including pre-
production planning, lighting, art direction, audio recording,
cinematography, direction and editing.
Familiarity with film festival circuit, common pitfalls of projects and artistic processes
of other successful artists.
Course can be repeated for credit: Students in the first semester can function as
crewmembers for productions. Students taking the class for the second time are
invited to submit proposals for Film/Video projects.
Prerequisite: Chair/Professor approved substitutions are the only exceptions!
This is not an instructional course. it is a consultation-based class, therefore
you are expected to have skills in video production prior to enrolling.
Equipment: There is simply not enough equipment to go around! There are three
production classes including 185.
However, if we learn to cooperate with other professors, students, and the
equipment room, we can make the situation much easier for everyone.
See Rules at the end of the syllabus.
Grading:
Final Project: 80% Projects will be scored on a detailed rubric which will include all attributes of the video:
Script
Performance
Editing and Pacing
Audio recording and editing
Cinematography
Color
Effects
Log of Work Hours and Peer Evaluations: 20%
Log of work hours and Peer evaluations: Students are required to keep a log of
their work throughout the semester. Write everything that you do for 185 down,
describe briefly, and write down the date and time in Hours that you do any work
for 185. Get the director or instructor to sign the log. Students should have
well over 150 hours logged by the end of the semester including time spent in class.
10 Points 150+
9 Points 140-149
8 Points 130-139
7 Points 120-129
6 Points 110-119
5 Points 80-109
4 Points 40-79
3 Points 30-39
2 Points 20-29
1 Point 10-20
0 Points Under 10 hours
All pre-production, production, and post work should be logged in journal and signed by group leader.
Any research time spent on the project should be logged in journal.
Students may also log up to ten hours of time doing the following:
Attendance of Grant Writing Seminars
Attending job related seminars
Attending a technical conferences
Attending a class or receiving counseling for CV/Resume writing
Searcing for Jobs
Searching for Graduate Schools
Proof of this must be submitted along with the student's journal.
If a director untruthfully signs a production notebook for another student they
will receive a penalty of 25 points off of the total grade.
Peer Evaluations will be graded on a rubric (10 Points each rubric--averaged)
Attendance:
If students do not make their required appointments they will receive 5 points off of their total grade. You must keep up with the scheduling throughout the semester, because we do not meet for class regularly. If a student misses a critique they will also lose 5 points for attendance.
Classroom/Lab Etiquette:
Cell phones should be turned off in classrooms or in the labs. If a cell phone is
mistakenly left on, please turn it off as soon as possible. Under no
circumstances should the student pick up the cell phone and speak
while that student is a classroom or lab. Yes this means that you should not
pick up your cell phone if you have a group member who is late to a meeting.
Phone calls regarding meetings should be made before the meeting takes place.
Students are not permitted to use the Internet during critiques or
group meetings unless it relates to the project. Any work on computers in class should
relate directly to classroom activities. Internet messaging, games,
etc are not permitted during class. Unfortunately this eliminates
the possibility of students looking up subjects that arise in the lecture.
This is only permitted if I invite the class to do so.
There should be no talking during critiques or while I am helping a student in the editing lab.
PROJECT PROPOSAL
A detailed proposal will be submitted for all projects in order to be considered
for production. The proposal will follow the professor's exact specifications,
and will have little or no errors in grammar or spelling. If this is not the case
the students' project will not be considered for production. The Instructor along
with a student jury will choose the projects and will determine how many projects
will be created per semester based on equipment and crew availability.
This proposal will be due the
second week of the semester and chosen projects
will be announced during the following class.
CLASS GUIDELINES
No video shall exceed 15 minutes. No exceptions. Screenplays submitted for the project proposal shall not exceed 15 pages. If you want to create a successful, polished video for a portfolio or to submit to film festivals, an ideal length is 5 to 10 minutes.
It is very likely that you will need two semesters to create a successful narrative project. My suggestion is that you cast and shoot your project the first semester and spend the second semester in post production.
A director, cinematographer or editor under no circumstances should work on other groups' projects. Finishing a video in a single semester is extremely difficult, so that should be your focus. Taking 128 or working on an Independent study is also very difficult when taking this class.
If students are working with actors they must audition at least three actors (or more!) for
every character. The auditions must be videotaped and shown during critiques no later than 10 weeks into the semester. Please do not cast class members or close friends in your film. You will have a difficult time being honest with them and getting the results needed for your project. Make sure that you take your time to cast actors that are an appropriate age for the roles that you have written.
Storyboards are required for narrative production and will be due when the
videotaped auditions are shown.
Detailed project narratives will be required for documentary/industrial/reality
projects and will be due 7 weeks into the semester.
There will be a primary and secondary editor for each project. Students who wish
to edit a project will be required to take a practical exam before acceptance as
editors.
Directors can't be the primary editor for each project. Editors are in control of the final
edit of the project. They can consult with the editors, but the professor will be guiding
the editor towards the final cut.
During production, video will be logged and captured on the students assigned
computer. This will insure that there will be a back up of the video and allow the
directors to see if re-shoots are necessary. It makes a lot of sense to log and
capture while observing the "dailies." It saves time and familiarizes the editor and
the director with the footage.
Rules for Checking Out Equipment:
1. Reserve equipment in advance if you expect to have it for your shoot.
2. Equipment is to be checked out for 24 hours on weekdays and through the
weekend if checked out on Friday
3. You may only reserve equipment designated for ComS185 in advance and not
equipment designated for other classes. If there is equipment designated for
another class that has not been checked out by students, you may (if approved by
Dave Felipe) check that equipment out. This rule doesn't apply to cameras
specifically designated for another class.
4. The equipment room person, under all circumstances, has the last word when it comes to
checking out equipment.
If he says no, he means no. He will not check out equipment to you that you are not
authorized to use.
5. As soon as you sign a checkout slip and leave with the equipment it becomes your
responsibility financially and otherwise.
6. Do not reserve and take out more equipment than you need. You, your fellow
students, and your crewmembers will all be happy if you keep your shoots as
simple as possible.
7. If you are going to be late picking up equipment call the equipment room at 278-6328 and
tell him. If you are more than 10 minutes late (without calling) the equipment can be
checked out to another student.
8. If you return equipment late without calling, your assignment will be dropped a
grade.
9. Any food or drink brought into the video editing lab (3005) will result in the
student losing access to that room.
10. Leaving the editing room (3005) propped open and unattended will also result
in the student losing access to that room.
Equipment List for 185:
• Mole Richardson Lighting Kit 4 Lights 1000 watt each light Huge case—may not fit into
some cars
• Soft Light Kit 1500Watts
• MoleRichardsonsoft light (750 watt) on roll around stand
• 500 wattLowellkit
• 650 watt strand kit
• 300 watt strand
Buss’s stuff (can be checked out to you on a limited basis, but not reserved in advance)
• 2 1k kits
• 3 650 kits
• 1 1500 soft light kit
• 1 750 soft light on roll around stand
• 1 Portable LCD monitor
• 1 ugly portable monitor (needs to be plugged in)
Grip:
• 4 c-stands w arms
• sand bags 3
• multiple extension cords
• 3 flags
• 1 cookie
• 1 finger
• 1 single net
• 1 double net
• 2 silks
• 1 violet scrim
1 spectra meter
(1 restricted for Buss)
Sound:
• 3 Senheiser shotgun mic
• 3 Cardiod Mics
• 2 Lavilier Mics
• 1 fishpole
CLASS SCHEDULE
8/28 Introduction (Student Jury Selection)
8/30 Open meetings for project proposals
9/4 Jury Meets (Proposals Due no later than midnight on Monday)
9/6 Jury Meets (Vote)
9/11 Group Selection (Project Announcements)
9/13 Camera Demo (selection)
9/18-9/20 Director/Cinematographer Meetings (Come at Assigned Time)
9/25-9/27
Entire Class gets together for progress report (all class members must be present)
If this class is missed 5 points will be subtracted from your overall grade
10/2-10/4 Open Meetings (Come if needed)
10/9-10/11 Group Meetings (All group members must be present at your assigned meeting time)
10/16-10/18 Entire Class gets together for progress report and class critique (all class members must be present)
If this class is missed 5 points will be subtracted from your overall grade
10/23-10/25 Open Meetings (come if needed)
10/30-11/1 Open Meetings (come if needed)
11/6-11/8 Group Meetings (come during assigned time)
11/13-11/15 Entire class gets together for progress report and class critique
11/20 Open Meetings (come if needed)
11/27-11/29 Group Meetings
12/4-12/6 Preliminary Final Critique
Final Critique:
Thurs., December 13, 12:45 pm-2:45 pm