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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "COM 390"
COURSE NAME: "Digital Video Portfolio Development"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Brian Thomson
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: M12:30 PM 3:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 230
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Professionals in contemporary video production are increasingly required to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas that were once the preserve of specialists: the cameraman of old is more often than not today's writer/director/camera operator/editor/sound mixer.  This course aims to help students produce a body of work that will enable them to continue their professional development as part of a graduate program or by working in the field.  Students in Digital Video Portfolio Development will emerge from the course with the skills required to work efficiently in the wide range of positions and production environments that together constitute the industry's landscape.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Since this course starts shooting on day one, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you have access to your own camera and editing software. Cameras should be able to shoot 1080p high-definition video with 24Mbit AVCHD at a minimum. You can edit on whatever you like: Adobe, FCP 7/X, Avid, or even the open source Lightworks are all fine with me.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course is divided into four projects, each of which represents a major area in contemporary video production: a corporate training video, a music promo, a commercial, and a short form documentary.  

Each student will be assigned to a production group for logistical purposes, but all members of the group will be required to produce individual projects.  Each student will also be required to develop a portfolio webpage; video content uploaded to this page will form the basis of major assessments.

In addition to production activities and workshops, each class will feature a practical exercise designed to introduce a particular skill to be incorporated into the finished project. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, students will have acquired:
-the ability to shoot under a variety of controlled and uncontrolled conditions
-an understanding of development strategies for scripted and "unscripted" productions
-key pre-production skills, including: working with Audio/Visual scripts, asset management, and licensing
-key production skills, including: Steadicam operation, shooting greenscreen and time-lapse footage, and documentary interviewing
-key post-production skills, including: color keying, correction, and timing/grading; working with variable frame rates, motion graphics, and 3D assets; prepping video assets for cross-platform distribution
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Coporate Training Project 20
Music Video Project 20
Short Form Documentary 20
Commercial Project 20
In-class Assignments 15
Portfolio Website 5

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Digital Video Portfolio Development is a very time-intensive course.  Weekly attendance is mandatory, as is availability for group production work.  It is strongly recommended that students with prior work/travel commitments NOT register for this course. 
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
Developing a Portfolio Website
Skills development: Web design fundamentals, video hosting strategies, encoding h.264 for Vimeo/youTube
Assignment: Design and deploy portfolio page

Week Two
Developing the corporate training video
Skills development: Powerpoint/Keynote in video, screen capture, and narration; A/V scripts in CeltX
Assignment: Script a short corporate training video (~3 minutes)
 
Week Three
Corporate Training production workshop
Skills development: Producing usable greenscreen footage
Assignment: Shoot the training video

Week Four
Corporate Training Video Post-production Workshop
Skills development: Color keying green screen footage
Assignment: Upload finished project to portfolio

Week Five
Developing the music promo
Skills development: Shooting and editing variable frame rate footage
Assignment: A/V script for a music promo (~3-4 minutes)

Week Six
Music promo production workshop
Skills development: Balancing and operating the Steadicam
Assignment: Shoot the music promo

Week Seven
Music promo Post-production Workshop
Skills development: Transforming footage through color timing/grading
Assignment: Upload finished project to portfolio

Week Eight
Introduction to the short form documentary
Skills development: Producing and editing time-lapse footage
Assignment: Short form documentary proposal; ongoing research

Week Nine
Developing the commercial
Skills development: Motion graphics for titles (AfterEffects)
Assignment: A/V script for a commercial (~1 minute)

Week Ten
Commercial production workshop
Skills development: Producing footage with 3D assets
Assignment: Shoot the commercial

Week Eleven
Commercial post-production workshop
Skills development: Compositing 3D footage
Assignment: Upload finished project to portfolio

Week Twelve
Developing the short form documentary
Skills development: Interview strategies
Assignment: Begin shooting short form documentary

Week Thirteen
Short-form documentary production workshop
Skills development: Archival footage and licensing
Assignment: A/V script for short form documentary

Week Fourteen
Short-form documentary post-production workshop
Skills development: Transcription strategies and management of deliverables
Assignment: Upload finished project to portfolio

Week Fifteen
Portfolio assessment
Skills development: Demo reels: making effective use of portfolio assets in professional environments
Assignment (ungraded): Produce and upload a demo reel from footage produced during the assignment