Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DMA 333"
COURSE NAME: "TV Studio Lab"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2020

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Brian Thomson
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: W 12:30-3:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Many contemporary television sitcoms, news programs, variety shows, and events are shot with a multitude of cameras and are often cut and mixed live for instantaneous broadcast. This course prepares students for work as part of a multi-cam production team by giving them hands-on experience developing content for multi-cam production, prepping broadcast-ready assets, coordinating and executing live shoots, and live-streaming content on a variety of online platforms.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course is based around three class projects. We investigate how multi-camera techniques have developed in a dramatic context by developing and producing a short episodic program. We then introduce the tools and techniques of live production by creating a short variety program before jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire of our final project: covering a live event.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

understand how and why multi-camera production took root in the television industry
identify its relative strengths and weaknesses as both an art form and a business practice
develop material suitable for multi-camera production techniques
prepare audio and visual assets for use in live production scenarios
work on a multi-cam production team as a camera operator, audio mixer, vision mixer, or director

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Game show format	This is a GROUP assignment.	10
Game show program	This is a GROUP assignment. Anybody who does not participate in the preparation of the shoot and on the day of the shoot will lose ALL 15 points on their final grade.	15
Variety script	This is a GROUP assignment.	10
Variety program	This is a GROUP assignment. Anybody who does not participate in the preparation of the shoot and on the day of the shoot will lose ALL 15 points on their final grade.	15
Final Program	This is a GROUP assignment. Anybody who does not participate in the preparation of the shoot and on the day of the shoot will lose ALL 40 points on their final grade.	40
Multicam program pitch	This is an INDIVIDUAL assignment.	10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality demonstrates a deep understanding of the medium (e.g., “audio”) and an ability to communicate complex ideas within the parameters of the discipline (e.g., “doc-umentary”) or even in rare cases beyond them. The techniques deployed go well beyond those required for the course, and the execution demonstrates a substantial degree of plan-ning. No technical errors or issues. Work of this quality would not generally be identifiable as “student” work. Students working at this level will generally take a leadership role in group work and actively foster a productive and collaborative working environment. Equipment is returned in a timely fashion and in the same (or better) condition than it was receive
BWork of this quality demonstrates a highly competent mastery of the tools and techniques associated with the medium and/or a unique approach to communicating ideas within the parameters of the discipline. Any technical errors or issues would be minor enough to go unremarked by casual audiences. Students working at this level will often take a leadership role in group work. Equipment is returned in a timely fashion and in the same (or better) condition than it was received
CThis is an acceptable level of performance that demonstrates competence with the tools and techniques discussed during lectures, and contains a minimal number of technical errors or issues. Content falls within the parameters of the discipline. Students working at this level will often play a supporting role in group work. Equipment is generally returned in a timely fashion in the same condition than it was received.
DThis is an acceptable level of performance that demonstrates competence with the tools and techniques discussed during lectures, and contains a minimal number of technical errors or issues. Content falls within the parameters of the discipline. Students working at this level will often play a supporting role in group work. Equipment is generally returned in a timely fashion in the same condition than it was received.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of either the medium or the disci-pline in question. Students working at this level make maintaining a productive working en-vironment difficult and may actively inhibit effective collaboration. Equipment is generally returned late and/or in poor condition

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

1 absence: No worries; happens to everyone

2 absences: Your maximum grade is a B

3 absences: Your maximum grade is a C

4 absences: You have now failed the class

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Week One

In the field: Futbol! (aka, Multicam bootcamp)

Week Two

Intro to Motion (Building a Bug, a Lower Thirds, Scoreboards, and a Timer)

Assignment: Finish editing the game. Add the graphical elements. Add commentary.

Week Three

Follow-up: Watch the finished games.

Intro to the studio, develop/shoot black box tutorials

Assignment: Develop a game show idea in groups; write a synopsis and a breakdown of the resources required; DUE NEXT WEEK

Week Four

Follow-up: Comment on and critique the game show ideas

In the studio: black box tutorials continued

Week Five

In the studio: Using Airserver to connect iPhones and tablets to the switcher

In the lab: Prep the game shows: graphics, set, format, etc.

Week Six

In the studio: shoot the game show

Assignment: Write Last Week Tonight / Samantha Bee style comedy piece

Week Seven

Follow-up: table read and critique

In the studio: greenscreen, virtual sets, and the teleprompter

Week Eight

In the studio: shoot the comedy pieces

Assignment: develop pitches for a final project as individuals

Week Nine

In the lab: listen to pitches, greenlight, and development

Week Ten

In the lab: introducing the field switcher for mobile production

Week Eleven

Foosball! (aka, Mobile live multicam bootcamp)

Week Twelve

In the lab/studio: Workshop on the final project I

Assignment: Develop multicamera program pitches for the final exam

Week Thirteen

In the lab/studio: Workshop on the final project II

Week Fourteen

Wrap-up, screenings, Q&A

Final Exam

Multicam program pitches