Before the first day of class
Read up on pitching at Wordplayer.com and be prepared to present an idea for a 5-10 minute film: any narrative genre (thriller, horror, comedy, etc.- NO DOCUMENTARY). Any style, any subject.
Week 1 - Fundamentals
Intro to story structure; scene analysis; screenplay format (and why the screenplay format is the way it is); market research; group formation; pitches; intro to Celtx (open source pre-production software)
Homework: Write the script for your group's short
Fundamentals of camera operation, including frame rate, shutter speed, aperture, ISO (esp. for HDSLRs), white balance, tripod movement, rack focus, etc.
Shooting exercises (location/school)
Electricity 101; using available light, 1,2, 3 and 4-point lighting (key, fill, back, and hair); shaping light with reflectors, flags, and gobos; color temperature
Reading: Film Lighting, Malkiewicz
Shooting exercises (location/school)
Acquisition strategies; dual system sound; sample/bit rates; using a shotgun; booming techniques; dealing with wind and other environmental variables; using lav mics, plants, etc.
Reading: Producing Great Audio for Digital Video, Rose
Shooting/recording exercises (location/school)
Week 2 - Production
Shot composition, 180-degree rule, camera movement, storyboarding, pre-viz, casting
Readings: Directing, Rabiger; Setting Up Your Shots, Vineyard
In-class assignment: Direct a short scene from a set script
Screenings: Clips from Alfred Hitchcock, Carol Reed, Stanley Kubrick, David Fincher
Homework: Storyboard the short
On-set division of labor; breaking down the script, preparing a budget/schedule, producing shotlists, prepping for special effects, audio needs, etc.
Screening: Clips from Lost in La Mancha, dir. Fulton and Pepe
Homework: Produce a detailed production board for the short
Web Design Crash Course
WYSIWYG web design with iWeb/Rapidweaver, setting up a filmmaking blog, using the web for publicity/fundraising, case studies
Homework: Begin principal photography
Weeks 3 - Post
Setting up a project in FCP, importing (log/transfer), organizing footage, metadata, adding clips to the timeline (overlay, insert, etc.), 3/4-point edits, trimming footage, adding transitions and effects
Reading: In the Blink of an Eye, Murch
In-class assignment: Create an animatic from project storyboards
Homework: Continue principal photography
Synchronizing dual-system sound, metadata and clip management in FCPX; cleaning up audio; effects processing (parametric EQ, compression, normalizing, envelopes); sound effects design/recording; ADR; foley; mixing and mastering
Reading: Audio Post-production for Digital Video, Rose
In-class exercise: Create dialogue and effects tracks for the animatic
Homework: Complete principal photography
Using Sonicfire to create royalty-free soundtracks for projects, rhythm, melody, tempo, instrumentation, using scoring markers effectively, synchronization, legal issues
Screenings/listening: Waxman, Karas, Hermann, Mancini, Barry, Williams, Rota, Goldsmith, Zimmerman
In-class assignment: Score the animatic
Homework: Cut a 30-second trailer for the short
Week 4 - Effects and Distribution
Groups present raw footage from projects, critiques
In.class projects: using slow-motion, ramping, and motion tracking for graphics compositing
Homework: Begin editing/shooting pickups (as needed)
Using Motion for special effects and post-processing/color grading; alpha channels; compositing
In-class assignment: Develop a 'bumper' and credit roll for the short
Homework: Continue editing/shooting pickups (as needed)
Asset management; motion menus; titles; buttons; linking sections; secondary audio tracks (director commentary, etc.); encoding strategies for DVD
Optimization and encoding for web distribution; codecs; preparing demo-reels; course wrap-up
Homework: final update of group website
Final screening of finished projects