THR / FLM 271 “Let’s Make a Movie”
2 Credits; Meets Fridays 3:30 – 4:30pm in Theatre 101 “Green Room”
Instructor: Kade Mendelowitz, Associate Professor – 223 Fine Arts
Office Hours: Thursdays 1:00-2:00.  474-7638, Kade@alaska.edu

Required Reading:

• “Making Short Films” by Clifford Thurlow ISBN: 1845200632
• “Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting” by Syd Field ISBN: 0385339038

Suggested Reading:

•  “Digital Filmmaking 101: An Essential Guide to Producing Low Budget Movies” by Dale Newton ISBN: 1932907238
•  “The Beginning Filmmaker's Business Guide: Financial, Legal, Marketing, and Distribution Basics of Making Movies” by Renee Harmon ISBN: 0802774091

4. Course description:
Students will be involved in the process of producing a short dramatic video including concept and script development, basic camera & shooting techniques, working with actors / directing fundamentals, location scouting and production schedule development.  An introductory course, students do not need previous experience making movies to take this class.
5a Goals:       Students will begin to develop proficiencies in camera work, story development, videography skills, and general concept development.
5b Student Learning Outcomes:
Each student will develop at least one complete music video concept. 
Student will create a storyboard and full “treatment” for producing that video.
Students will work together to develop an original storyline for a video short – and will work as a team to completely shoot the video including writing, casting, location scouting, rehearsing actors and shooting the video.
Students will be introduced to basic editing techniques.
6. Instructional methods:
The class will meet weekly for lecture/ “hands-on” demonstration of various techniques described above.   Students will also meet outside of class to develop the production concept; and will then shoot the video during and outside of class meetings. 
The class will use Blackboard to keep track of the production development, and will create a written outline for producing the class “short”.
7. Course calendar: Tentative schedule 271 “Let’s Make a Movie!”
Week 1:           “It starts with an idea” Listen to a song, develop a concept.
Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Chapter 1 -The Script
Week 2:           “Time for Shots!” Introducing basic camera “set ups”; beginning storyboarding
Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Appendix 1: Glossary of Film Terms
Week 3:           Introduction to the camera (storyboard assignment is due) & “It all begins with a story”
Reading Assignment: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Chapter 1: What is a Screenplay?
Week 4:           Image is half of video; Lighting, “Depth of Field”, Framing
Reading Assignment: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Chapter 6: Endings and Beginnings
Week 5:           “Word up” (discussion; stories are due)
Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Chapter 1: The Script
Week 6:           Audio is the other half of video; Microphones, music, copyrights and sound effects
Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Chapter 2-The Producer
Reading Assignment: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Chapter 8: The Sequence
Week 7:           Script outline is finalized
Reading Assignment: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Chapter 9: The Plot Point
Week 8:           “Acting for the Camera” an introduction to the techniques of performing for the camera
Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Chapter 3-The Director
Week 9:           Finalizing script development – What is a screenplay?
Reading Assignment: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Chapters 11 & 12
Week 10:         “Location, location, location” – scenery for videos; developing a production schedule
Reading Assignment: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting Chapter 10: The Scene
Week 11:         “Directing for Film” – an introduction to technique & leadership.
Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Chapter 4-The Editor
Week 12:         Shoot already!
Week 13:         Learning from “dailies”
Week 14:         An introduction to “Logging”, capturing & editing.
7. Course calendar: Tentative schedule 272 “Let’s Make a Movie: Post-Production”
Note: Although it is not required that students take both 271 & 272; it is strongly encouraged that students take both parts to learn the complete process of producing a movie.  Students must successfully complete 271 prior to enrolling in 272.
Week 1:           Logging, Capturing & Editing; Oh, my! (file management lecture)
Week 2:           Look at the time go! What to look for when selecting takes (lecture, demonstration)
Week 3:           Cut! Truly editing
Week 4:           Fix that sound quickly!
Week 5:           Tricks to fix – adjusting shot clips
Week 6:           With film / video: “sound = time” music can smooth things out a bit.
Week 7:           Looping (lecture / demonstration)
Week 8:           Integrating Text and Graphics
Week 9:           “Trailer Trash”
Week 10:         Trailer concept selection
Week 11:         Where are we?
 Reading Assignment: Making Short Films Chapter 5-Finance and Distribution
Week 12:         Rough cut!
Week 13:         DVD authoring; menus & such
Week 14:         Final cut!
8. Course policies:
Attendance is mandatory.  1 excused absence will not effect your grade; each additional absence will drop your grade 5%. 
2 late arrivals is considered 1 unexcused absence.
Class participation is essential for this course.  Your classmates are counting on you to help make this project work!
9. Evaluation:
Class Participation: 30%
Homework Assignments (papers – screenplays, storyboards, calendars): 20%
Lab work / scene creation: 50%
Disabilities Services: “I will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043)  to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.”