Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Personal Cinema (Online)

FILM 1100-30I

Course: FILM 1100-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: ARTD
CRN: 21151

Course Description

Using their personal stories as basis, students write, produce, edit and screen an individual project aimed at developing their individual voice as an artist. No final film should be any less than 3 minutes or exceed 10 minutes.

Required Texts

Each student needs to purchase an external hard drive. Minimum: External
hard drive with Thunderbolt 2/3 and/or USB 3.1 connection, 7200 rpm spin
speed, and at least 1TB storage capacity for editing. Recommended:
500GB-1TB External SSD Drive. Note: This card and hard drive will serve you
throughout the Film program. Buying a better/faster/higher quality drive means it
will serve you better and for longer.

Learning Outcomes

Media Production

  • Effectively utilize a mobile phone, instructor-approved personal camera, or any available device to complete video exercises and a short essay film.
  • Effectively utilize non-linear editing techniques and sound mixing software to complete video exercises and a short essay film.

Communication

  • Demonstrate idea fluency by clearly expressing a unique perspective and ideas through original, personal life-driven concepts and writing exercises.

Critical Thinking

  • Effectively develop original ideas for a short essay film.
  • Effectively troubleshoot stages of the essay film production process.
  • Write, produce, edit, and screen an original short film.
  • Develop an individual artistic voice through visual storytelling.
  • Apply cinematography, editing, sound design, and narrative structure techniques in creative work.
 

Course Requirements

PROJECTS:

Video Message (2 parts) -- 10% of Grade
  • Part 1: Image
  • Objective: Experiment with the camera and apply basic composition principles to create technically clean and aesthetically pleasing video clips.
  • Shoot a series of images, from the category assigned by your instructor
  • Using Premier Pro, capture your best shot and label the media file Lastname_Firstname.mov
  • Part 2: Edit
  • Objective: Combine elements -- pictures, sounds, and quote to modify the original meaning of the parts and create a new text in the whole.

Produce a 15 second long video message using:

  • 2 images (1 each from Video Bank A & B, available on Canvas)
  • 2 sounds from the Audio Bank. (1 background and 1 punctuating sound)
  • 1 quote from the handout.
Photo Story 10% of Grade

Students will take 15-20 photos to tell a story. In a sense, this is like storyboard created with photos.

Objective: Use photos to create a visual story

You will shoot and edit the photo Story. No Voice over is allowed, focus on composition and setting up the shots and creating a video montage.

Short Essay Film Rough cut- (2 parts) 20% of Grade

Students write, produce, edit and screen an individual project aimed at developing their individual voice as an artist. No final film should be any less than 3 minutes or exceed 10 minutes.

Objective: Create an original visual story.

  • Part 1: Script 10%
    You will write an original script and we will workshop and read and discuss in class for feedback.
  • Part 2: Shoot and Edit Rough Draft. 10%
  • Do not use sync-sound or dialogue you may use Voice Over, sound effects and instrumental music. BUT remember, the focus is on visual storytelling.
  • Evaluation will concentrate on: theme, story, visual expression, cinematic execution (focus, exposure, and composition), and the degree to which your sound mix adds to the overall success of the piece.
Short Essay Film Final- 40% of Grade

Students write, produce, edit and screen an individual project aimed at developing their individual voice as an artist. No final film should be any less than 3 minutes or exceed 10 minutes.

You will write an original script with or without voice over and we will workshop and read and discuss in class for feedback.

  • Do not use sync-sound or dialogue. You may, in your sound mix, use sound effects and voice over and instrumental music. BUT remember, the focus is on visual storytelling
  • Evaluation will concentrate on: theme, story, visual expression, cinematic execution (focus, exposure, and composition), and the degree to which your sound mix and Voice over add to the overall success of the piece.
Participation – 15% of Grade

During grading, consideration will also be given to involvement in class discussions, group exercises, and participation in discussions about the student films.

Grading Policy

This course emphasizes the roles of concept and visual storytelling in the creation of films. Projects will be evaluated using the following criteria:

ElementPossible Pts.
Theme/Premise15
Story15
Performance/Interview15
Production Values10
Soundtrack10
Direction10
Cinematography10
Editing10
Overall5
Total Pts.100

Students will be assessed based on their understanding of the technologies and concepts covered in class & how that understanding is reflected in their creative work. Final grade will largely reflect the quality and sincerity of students' effort in this class.

Course Outline

Week 1

  • Lecture: Introduction to Assignments and Class Objectives
  • Syllabus
  • Short Essay Film examples and discussion
  • Basics of short Essay Film
  • Assignment: Due: July 1st | Watch instructor- assigned short Essay Films and discuss
  • Lecture: Structure & Ideas in short Essay Film
  • Developing Story Ideas Script
  • Assignment 3 Story Ideas Due: July 5th
  • Writing Exercise #1
  • Handout: Video Message Assignment and quotes

Week 2

  • Lecture: Short Essay Film Production: Camera, Composition
  • Lecture: Aesthetics and meaning within the shot view group Assignment.
  • Assignment: Due: July 9th | Camera Exercise #1
  • Assignment Due July: 12th | Video Message Part #1

Week 3

  • Lecture: Short Essay Film Production: Editing
  • Lecture: Conceptualization & Montage/ Editing Demo
  • Assignment Due: July19th | Video Message Assignment

Week 4

  • Storyboarding/pre visualization | Photo Story Assignment handout
  • Finalizing Story ideas/ breakdown
  • Assignment Due: July 26th
  • Due: Photo Story July 26th
  • Discussion on Video message.

Week 5

  • Editing Demo Music, Sound effects, recording voice over and Interviews Triming, Sound mix.
  • Due: August 2nd
  • Discussion pn photo story

Week 6

  • Sound Effects/Music
  • Due: August 9th | Roughtcut of film

Week 7

  • Finalizing the edit
  • Due August: 16th | Final Essay film.

Note: Additional articles may be assigned for reading. Also, although unlikely, additional production exercises may be assigned to the groups.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

CLASS POLICY

  • No use of cell phones in class. No disruptive behavior. No chitchatting & raise hand when wishing to address the class.
  • Unexcused late work will not be accepted.
  • An incomplete will not be given in this class except for extreme, verifiable emergencies as approved by the instructor.
  • Instructor reserves the right to alter the course outline at any time during the semester.

Attendance Policy

Attendance – 5% of Grade

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class, students not present at that time will be counted absent. In order to be counted late (half- credit), students must see the instructor at the end of that class period. No credit will be given for past absences. Absences due to illness, jury duty, etc. will be excused upon the receipt of official documentation.

Course Fees

REQUIRED MATERIALS

Each student needs to purchase an external hard drive. Minimum: External hard drive with Thunderbolt 2/3 and/or USB 3.1 connection, 7200 rpm spin speed, and at least 1TB storage capacity for editing. Recommended: 500GB-1TB External SSD Drive. Note: This card and hard drive will serve you throughout the Film program. Buying a better/faster/higher quality drive means it will serve you better and for longer.

Additional Information

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: None.

Warning

Warning: This course deals with the entertainment industry and popular culture. The instructor reserves the right to refer to and to exhibit any materials or discuss any themes that accurately reflect and enhance student’s understanding of the subject, including material meant for mature audiences. All material presented in class is deemed to exhibit scientific, literary, artistic and/or pedagogical value and is therefore appropriate for exhibition to college age students. The instructor does not endorse or subscribe to any opinions depicted in the course materials. If a student is unwilling to read or view certain types of content, please speak with the instructor with regard to the suitability of the class for the student in question.

Workload Expectations

WORKLOAD: Students, especially those who are new to higher education environment, are encouraged to create a time management calendar. During a Monday through Friday schedule, there is a total of 120 hours. After subtracting approximately 40 hours for sleep, 80 hours remain. Average student takes 5 classes each semester, which equates to 15 hours of classroom time per week. 65 hours remain. Three hours per day for meals and socializing equals 15 per week, leaving 50 hours. After the 6-hour minimum of homework time per class is factored in: 6x5=30. 50-30=20. The remaining 20 hours are for work or extracurricular activities. In addition, students have an additional 48 weekend hours, portion of which they can devote to school assignments,

M-F = 120 hours
Sleep = 40 hours (maximum)
Eating and socializing = 15 hours (3 hours per day)
Class time and travel = 15 hours (12.5 class time per week for five classes)
Homework = 30 hours (minimum; 5 classes x 6 hours per class)
Work (or extracurricular activities) = 20 hours
Weekend = 24 hours of additional homework and/or work time

Coming to classroom unprepared is not conducive to a successful university career, and could result in severe penalties to students' grade.

Additional Readings and Exercises

Note: Additional articles may be assigned for reading. Also, although unlikely, additional production exercises may be assigned to the groups.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.