Course Requirements
Video Framing & Message (10%)
Part 1: Shoot and select a visually clean and composed set of images in one long take, which incorporates all of the standard camera positionings of a film shoot (e.g., extreme close-up, close-up, medium shot, long shot) with 45 degree position changes between some of those.
Part 2: Create a 15-second video using two images or video clips, two sounds, and one quote (either text on screen or voice-over narration) to modify their meaning through editing.
Technical analysis of camera and editing choices in a favorite film (10%)
Sonic Self-Portrait (5%) in a short film: total film length of 30 to 60 seconds. Record 3 sounds that represent your identity and edit them together. Select a visual image or a series of images that either go with the sound, or are tangentially related to the sound/ your identity. This does not need to be a masterpiece, just have fun collecting some of your favorite sounds and package it into a very short film
Video Montage (5%): total length of 1 minute (if your chosen song or speech goes longer than that, just fade the sound out at around 1 minute)
Focus on composition and visual sequencing to create a narrative. Build the montage around an existing song (for the purposes of this assignment, it can be copyrighted music), movie dialogue excerpt, interview quote, or speech by someone else. The footage will be found footage or archival footage utilized under “Fair Use” principles (i.e., footage you can legally use for your own creative projects, under certain limitations and parameters which will be covered in class).
Film Pitch for the final “Short Essay Film” (10%)
Short Essay Film Rough Cut (10%)
Part 1: Write an original script and get feedback.
Part 2: Shoot and edit a 3-10 minute rough draft.
Short Essay Film Final (40%)
Finalize the 3-10 minute film, incorporating feedback. Focus on visuals, sound, and effective storytelling.
Attendance & Participation (10%)