Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Filmmaking Fundamentals (Face-to-Face)

FILM 2100-01

Course: FILM 2100-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Filmmaking, Art, & Design
CRN: 31737

Course Description

Student teams are introduced to professional filmmaking workflow through a combination of camera, lighting, sound, and editing exercises. The course culminates with pre-production, production and post-production of a short narrative or documentary film.

Required Texts

Before You Shoot : A Guide to Low-Budget Film and Video Production

ISBN: 9780918828217

By Garvy, Helen

Published by Shire Press

4

Publication Date: Feb. 25, 2015


Each student needs to purchase an SD memory card for the cameras: at least 32 or 64GB, Class 10 and 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

Learning OutcomeActivity/AssignmentAssessment Method
MEDIA PRODUCTIONMEDIA PRODUCTIONMEDIA PRODUCTION
Effectively utilize Mirrorless Cameras, unidirectional sound devices, 3-point lighting to complete video exercises & a short narrative or documentary film.Completion of multiple video exercises & a short narrative and short documentary film.Graded using rubrics for proper utilization of camera, sound, and lighting equipment at beginner level.
Effectively utilize non-linear editing techniques and sound mixing software to complete video exercises & a short narrative or documentary film.Completion of the editing process for multiple video exercises & a short narrative and short documentary film.Graded using rubrics for proper utilization of video editing and sound mixing software at beginner level.
DIGITAL ORGANIZATIONDIGITAL ORGANIZATIONDIGITAL ORGANIZATION
Manage digital assets in editing project.Completion of the editing process for multiple video exercises & a short narrative and short documentary film using proper workflow and file management methodsGraded using rubrics for proper utilization of non-linear editing workflow and file management methods.
CRITICAL THINKINGCRITICAL THINKINGCRITICAL THINKING
Effectively develop original ideas for a short narrative film or a documentary.Completion of a short narrative and short documentary film.Graded using rubrics for structure, content and style.
Effectively troubleshoot stages of the production process, demonstrating the ability to manage and communicate with involved personnel at all stages of the production process.Completion of multiple video exercises & a short narrative and short documentary film.Graded using rubrics for completion of various preparation stages of film production including proper script formatting, completion of a shooting script, short list, lighting and camera diagrams, storyboards, budget breakdown, call sheets, talent releases, location releases, and any other necessary paperwork specific to the project.

Course Requirements

No final film should be any less than 3 minutes or exceed 10 minutes.

Assessment

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.

Points and Weights
Attendance & Participation150pts (15%)
Exercises200pts (20%)
    Camera Exercise #110pts
    Camera Exercise #210pts
    Camera Exercise #330pts
    Audio Exercise25pts
    Lighting Exercise25pts
    Rough Draft – Short Doc50pts
    Rough Draft – Short Fiction50pts
Shot List/Diagrams/Storyboard/Shooting Script (Each @ 25pts)100pts (10%)
Schedule/Call Sheets/Release Forms (Each @ 50pts)150pts (15%)
Short Doc Project200pts (200%)
Short Fiction Project + Course Self-Assessment200pts (200%)
Letter Grade Scale
A90-100% (900-1000pts)
B80-89% (800-899pts)
C70-79% (700-799pts)
D60-69% (600-699pts)
Fbelow 60% (0-599pts)

Course Outline

Week 1
Lecture: Introduction
  • State of the Industry
Assignment
  1. Watch: DSLR Cinema Movement by Kurt Lancaster: https://vimeo.com/67483657
Lab: Camera Exercise #1
Week 2
Lecture: Camera Basics & Discuss Short Doc
  • Exposure: Shutter + Aperture + ISO - The Triangle
Week 3
Lecture
Exercise #3 with group
Lab
Review Camera Exercise #3
Assignment
  1. Watch: Filmmaking 101 - How to Record High Quality Audio on a Budget https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0rHak6aJl8
Week 4
Lecture: Audio Basics
  • Types of audio
Lab: Audio Exercise
  • Discuss potential Short Doc project
Assignment
Repeat Audio Exercise if instructed to do so by your lab instructor
Week 5
Lecture: Lighting
  • Three point lighting
Lab: Lighting Exercise
Assignment
Shoot a short documentary
Week 6
Lecture: Editing Basics & Post-Production
Assignment
  1. Editing Basics
Lab: Editing with Premiere CC
  • BRING FOOTAGE YOU SHOT FOR YOUR DOC
  • Using Adobe Premiere CC
  • Use Adobe Premiere CC to begin cutting Short Doc footage down to a 5min (maximum running time) Rough Cut
  • Sound design and sound mix in Adobe Premiere CC.
  • Using L-Cuts.
  • Basic tools of color correction in Adobe Premiere CC. How to read scopes.
  • Screen rough cuts that are ready to be screened
Assignment
  1. Edit a Rough Cut of the Short Documentary
Week 7
Lecture: Fiction Film Development & Pre-Production
Lab: Short Exercise Doc - Rough Cut Screenings
Week 8
No Lecture
Finish Shooting/Editing the Short Docs
Week 9
Lecture
Short Doc – Final Cut Screenings
Lab
  1. Finish watching docs & discuss Final Project Ideas
Week 10
Lecture: Directing
Assignment
  1. Meet with group and determine roles
Lab: Directing
Each team: select one scene and bring it to class for a workshop.
Week 11
Lecture: Visualizing the Script
Assignment
  1. Complete a shot list (including types of shots, setups, angle, movement, as well as diagrams of each setup) and storyboards (drawn or shot with still camera using stand-ins) as
Assignment
  1. Complete a shot list (including types of shots, setups, angle, movement, as well as diagrams of each setup) and storyboards (drawn or shot with still camera using stand-ins) as
Week 12
Lecture: Pre-Production & Set Operations
Assignment
  1. Schedule a casting session and cast your film
Lab: Pre-Production Documents + Scheduling & Call Sheets
  • Go over shot list, diagrams, shooting script & storyboards.
Assignment
Shoot the fiction films/Work on Rough Cut
Week 13
Lecture
Watch Dailies
Assignment
Shoot the fiction films/Work on Rough Cut
Week 14
No Lecture
Assignment
Shoot the fiction films/Work on Rough Cut
Lab: Rough Cut Screening
  • Screen Rough Cut of the Fiction Short & followed by critique.
Assignment
Week 15
Lecture
Final Project Screenings
Lab
Finish Project Screenings – if needed
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.
Labs
  1. Homework is due in following week’s class unless otherwise noted.
  2. Reserve and check out your lab equipment AHEAD OF TIME.
    Do not go to the checkout room right before your lab, lines are always long and equipment might no longer be available by Thursday/Friday, so make reservations and pick the equipment up ahead of time.
  3. Test all equipment at checkout, make sure it works before you go out and shoot, always make sure there are spare batteries and that all batteries are charged.
  4. Do not leave your shooting for last minute, too many things can go wrong in filmmaking. Give yourself enough time to complete assignments.
  5. BACK UP all your data to your hard drive IMMEDIATELY. Lost data is no excuse under any circumstance. One of the team members should be put in charge of backing all the files up.
  6. Assignments that are 1-24 hours late will receive an automatic 15% deduction; assignments that are between 24 and 48 hours late will receive an automatic 30% deduction. Assignments will not be accepted if more than 48 hours late. No exceptions. If an assignment extension is granted, these deductions will not apply as long as the student adheres to the new deadline. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance in lectures (and labs) is required. More than two unexcused absences in the lecture component of the class and more than two unexcused absences in the lab component of the class equal one full letter grade decrease.
You are allowed to miss TWO LECTURES with no penalties. If you are going to have a unexcused absence, do not notify us about it.
Do not email the INSTRUCTOR about your sick absence, bring doctor’s note.
If you are missing large amount of time (several weeks or more), please notify the instructor and explain the situation.
If you have team issues, convey that to the Instructor in detail. Upon intervention, if nothing changes, majority of team can fire/expel a team member that may be causing the issues.

LATE ARRIVAL 
Punctuality is a vital component of Filmmaking. Students arriving after the beginning of class will be marked late. Three or more unexcused late arrivals will result in one absence. Six or more late arrivals will result in a second unexcused absence. 

Course Fees

3 Credit(s) | $150 Fee

Prerequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite(s): FILM 1100  - Prerequisite Min. Grade: B
Registration Restriction(s): Filmmaking majors only

Workload
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.

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.