“Let’s Make a Movie”  - University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fall 2007
Theatre 272- 
1 credit- Meets Fridays 1PM – 2PM in Theatre 101 “Green Room”.

Instructor:     
                              Maya Salganek, Assistant Professor
109B Fine Arts. (907) 474-5950
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 1-2 PM
maya@alaska.edu

Required Reading:

• “Editing Digital Video: The Complete Creative and Technical Guide” by Robert M. Goodman and Patrick McGrath.

      ISBN: 0-07-140635-2. McGraw Hilll Publishing.

All additional readings and films are on reserve at the Rasmuson Library for 2 hour check out.

Suggested Reading:

• “Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting” by Syd Field ISBN: 0385339038
•  “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

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.  Digital Editing and DVD authoring.

Goals:
          Students will develop skills in cinema production planning, camera work, directing, and digital video editing.

Student Learning Outcomes:
Each student will be involved in several video productions and fill a variety of roles, including production manager, director, camera operator, production designer, and editor.

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 for assignment and communications.

Course calendar:    Tentative schedule. All readings and assignments are due on the week they are listed.  Below is a reverse timeline by week, followed by the weekly schedule.

14 –DVD Authoring and Exporting
            13 – Final Cut
            12 – Titles
            11 – Audio Mix
            10 – Rough Cut
             9  - Stills, Voice-overs, Reshoots,
             8 -  Raw Cut
            7 – Log and Capture
            6-  Production
            5- Casting/Design/Props
            4 – Production Schedule & Forms
            3- Storyboard
            2- Script
            1 – Concept

Week 1: Film roles – Who’s on First
        Your role in your film

Week 2:  Pre-production: Design & Visualization
DUE in Class - Writing Assignment:

• Your script, 5-10 pages long in script format.

Week 3:  Legaleeze
Reading Assignments:

• Editing DV: Chapter 7

DUE in Class - Writing Assignment:

• Storyboard

Week 4:  On the set – Basic camera set ups  W/MS/CU
DUE in Class – Writing/Production Assignment:  

• Production Schedule – Location Photos – Props list           

Week 5: Working with Actors: Casting Call- Feb 23
Production Assignment:  Make a Movie!

Week 6: Basics of Editing
Due in Class Reading Assignment: Editing Digital Video   Chapters1&2

Week 7  Log and Capture
Reading Assignment Due; Editing DV – Chapter 3 & 4
Production Assignment Due;

• A Dicey Question; Exercise in textbook

Week 8:  Working with timelines – Raw cuts and sequences
Production Assignment:  Video Log Due in class
Reading Assignments:

• Editing DV: Chapter 5 & 6

Week 9:  What’s Missing? Voice-overs – Reshoots – Stills etc.
Reading Assignments:

• Editing DV: Chapter 8                      

DUE in Class – Writing/Production Assignment:  

• Raw Footage Review – Reaction paper                   

Week 10:  Continuity, Pacing, Creating illusion and idea
Production Assignment: Rough Cut

Week 11:   Audio Mixing, borrowing, and stealing
Production Assignment: Audio Mix
 
Week 12:  Titles & Compositing
Reading Assignments:

• Editing DV: Chapter 9                      

Production Assignment:  Titles for the film

Week 13: Final Cut to Export
Reading Assignments:

• Editing DV: Chapter 10                   

Production Assignment:  Final  Cut stage of film!

Week 14: DVD Authoring
Production Assignment:  DVD Due May 5, 2008!!!
Final Exam Friday May 9th 1-3PM

Course policies:
Attendance is mandatory.  1 excused absence will not affect 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!  You are responsible for meeting all assignment deadlines. Late assignments will be penalized 5% for each late day. 
Evaluation:
Class Participation: 20%
Homework Assignments (papers – screenplays, storyboards, calendars): 20%
Camera work/raw footage: 20%
                        Editing Assignments/Techniques: 20%
                        Final DVD – 10%
                        Production team evaluations – 10%

All work will be evaluated using a +/- grading system as follows:

A+ = 4.0          100-97%
A = 4.0            96-93%
A- = 3.7           92-90%
B+ = 3.3          89-87%
B = 3.0            86-83%
B- = 2.7           82-80%
C+ = 2.3          79-77%
C = 2.0            76-73%
C- = 1.7           72-70%
D+ = 1.3          69-67%
D = 1.0            66-63%
D- = 0.7           62-60%
F = 0.0             59-0%

Disability Services:  The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. State that you will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.”