COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: Check ahead each week to see what you need to read or do to prepare
for class or Lab.
Week 1A
Jan 23
Class Introduction: Review syllabus, choose work groups,
discuss first assignment.
Assignments: Read Lecture 2 – “Casting” to be distributed
electronically; Read “The Director’s Skills;” Read Mamet: On Directing
Film.
Read: Master Shots, chapter 1 On Directing Film
Recommended: GFMH: “Casting” 174-181; “UPM” 184-191; “Crew”
210-215
Screenings: Scene Study Clip.
Handouts: AFI Preparatory Screening List.
Assignment: Scene Study #1 Due week 6 & 7(Oct. 3rd 1st 3 groups; Oct. 10th 2nd 3
groups)
Week 1B
Jan. 28
“Scene Analysis”
Keynote Lecture: Analysis technique: Getting Inside: Text, Subtext and
the Expectation Gap”
Screening: Mid-Act Climax from Casablanca
Recommended Reading: Scene Analysis lecture (Durbin); Cinematic
Narrative lecture (Durbin)
Read: Master Shots, chapter 2
Due in class next week: GROUP CONTRACTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 2A
Jan 30
“Storyboarding and Shot Planning”
Storyboarding and shot planning
Screening: 10-minute Film School (El Mariachi & Desperado)
Handouts: TFM Producers Notes; production notebook;
Storyboards
Recommended reading: GFMH “The Accountant” pgs. 192-201;
“The First AD & Scheduling” pgs 216-223
Handout: The Complete Ditty Bag.
Week 2B
Feb 4
“Cinematography: Painting with Light, Part 1”
Basics: Slating protocol, tripods, light meters, Color chip chart,
Camera reports, Continuity.
Keynote Lecture: 3-D Contrast: The 1st Key to Style (contrast and
exposure ratios)
Screening: “Passing Through”
Read: Master Shots, chapter 3
Screening: “Boundaries”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 3A
Feb 6
“Cinematography: Painting with Light, Part 2”
Keynote Lecture: Lighting Styles: Quality of Light; Color Balance
Keynote Lecture: “Tools to Control Light”
Lecture: Cinematic Narrative lecture (Durbin)
Recommended: GFMH: Acting pgs. 238-239;
the Grip pgs. 250-252
Read: Master Shots, chapter 4
______________________________________________________________________________
Week 3B
Feb. 11
Sony F-3 Camera Workshop
Hands-on work with the Sony F-3 Camera & Atomos Samurai.
Handout: F-3 Manual (see blackboard course materials)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 4A
Feb. 13
“Cinematography: Painting with Light, Part 3:
High Def and D.I. Workflow
Keynote Lectures: “D.I. Workflow” and “H.D. Guide”
Camera Demo Panasonic HCM-150
Readings: GFMH: Lighting (pgs. 254-261); Cinematography overview
(Durbin), Lighting for LS’s, Lighting for MS’s and Lighting for CU’s
Screenings: Short – Blue City
Week 4B
Feb. 18
Set Survival – Set protocol, safety, and familiarization with
the tools of production
Screenings: “Set Survival,” + Short – Black Rider / Blue City (choose
one)
Assignment: Scene Study #2 – Due Wk. 10B
April 8th
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 5A
Feb. 20
“Directing – The Pragmatics, Part 1”
Keynote Lecture: Directing I
Handout: Improvisational Exercises
Readings: Eleven Lectures, Lectures #3 & #4
Week 5B
Feb. 25
“Directing Part 2”
Keynote Lecture: Directing II
Lecture: Hiding the Brushstrokes, Subjectivity,
Objectivity and “the Line;” Using Focal Length; Hitchcock’s Eyelines,
Control of Disclosure of Information.
Electronic Handout: Lec 3 – Directing I
Group positions to be submitted via e-mail (include group number)
Screenings: Notorious, The Graduate, Rosemary’s Baby (door jamb)
Read: Master Shots, chapter 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 6A
Feb. 27
“Directing & Mise-en-Scene, Part 3”
Clips from: Blood Simple vs. Touch of Evil, The Graduate, Amadeus
Also Due: Group Contracts for ASSIGNMENT #2,
Week 6B
Mar. 4
Critiques - Scene Study 1 Screenings
Due: Scene Study #1 (first presentations): on DVD, with production
book, personal reports for all group members on DVD, with production
book, group evaluation reports (see evaluation form).
Read: Master Shots, chapter 7, Eleven Lectures, Lecture #5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 7A
Mar. 6
Controlling the Image
Keynote Lecture: Filters & Flashing
NOTE: Pitches for Final Project due in two weeks!
Electronic Handout: The Pitch
Read: Master Shots, chapter 8
Week 7B
Mar. 11
Critiques - Scene Study 1 Screenings
Due: Scene Study #1 (second presentations): on DVD, with
production book, personal reports for all group members on DVD,
with production book, group evaluation reports (see evaluation
form).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 8A
Mar. 13
Editing Part I
Keynote Lecture: “The 5 Graphic Relations in Picture Editing”
Screenings: Excerpts – The Birds; 2001, A
Space Odyssey, October, The Tokyo Story, The Godfather.
Read: Master Shots, chapter 5
Hard copy handouts: Production Form Packet + marking up the script.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 8B
Mar. 18
Ryan Broomberg Lighting/DP Workshop
Read: Master Shots, Chapter 9
Handouts: Eleven Lectures: LEC 7 – “Preparing to Edit, The Rough
Assembly”
NOTE: Pitches for Final Project take place Week 10
_____________________________________________________________________________
WEEK 9A
Mar. 20
Editing Part II
Keynote Lecture: Continuity (Editing pt 2)
Handouts: “Reasons for Cutting,” “Speed Keys for FCP”
Reading: Eleven Lectures: Lec #8 – “Editing from Rough-Cut to Fine
Cut,” “Tips for Continuity Editing”
Clips: Easy Rider, Darling, Blue, History of Violence, et. al.
Discuss: Pitching strategy
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WEEK 9B
Mar. 25 – PETE DRESS!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 10A Mar. 27
Pitches and Voting for Final Project
Assignment: Final Project Groups to be determined by class (Due Thurs.
May 8th – that’s 6 weeks or 50 days!)
Clips: Easy Rider, Darling, Blue, History of Violence, Slaughter Houser 5
Read: Master Shots, chapter 3
Mar 31 – April 6 SRING RECESS
Send via email: Group Contracts for Scene Study #3 + Group Crew Positions
Week 10B
April 8
Editing Part II
Keynote Lecture: Continuity (Editing pt 2)
Handouts: “Reasons for Cutting,” “Speed Keys for FCP”
Reading: Eleven Lectures: Lec #8 – “Editing from Rough-Cut to Fine
Cut,” “Tips for Continuity Editing”
Clips: Easy Rider, Darling, Blue, History of Violence, et. al.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 11A April 10
Sound Editing”
Keynote Lecture: “The Audial Image
Screenings: Shorts, Excerpts - Amadeus, Citizen Kane, Raging Bull;
Psycho; The Magnificent Ambersons; Ran, Barton Fink
Music Scores & Working with Music Composers
ADR and Foley; Mixing your Sound; Speech, Music and sound Effects;
Other ways to consider sound
Week 11B April 15
Scene Study 2 Critiques
We will screen the 2nd three groups’ work
Due: Group Contracts for Scene Study #3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 12A April 17
Scene Study 2 Critiques (continued)
Week 12B
April 22
“The Director’s Team”
The Management of Film Production (student guests)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 13A
April 24
SOUND (Continued)
Viewings, Feedback and Evaluation
Reading: Eleven lectures, Lecture # 10 ”Viewings
Week 13B April 29
Keynote Lecture: “Festivals, Publicity, Marketing”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 14A May 1 Darrell Woodard?
Screenings: Award-winning Short Films
Week 14B
May 6 Darrell Woodard?
Flat Art and Packaging
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 15A May 8
Final Critique - Scene Study 3 Screenings
Critique and discussion of Scene Study #3
Note: Final exam will take place next week Details will be provided in
class.
Due: Scene Study #3: DVD, production book, personal reports for all
group members
Week 15B
May 13 Finals Week no class?
TBA
______________________________________________________________________________
Week 16A May 15 SHOWCASE
EXAM
Based on readings and lectures.
TFM Student Film Showcase in Don Powell Theatre 7:30 p.m.
Awards Ceremony to precede screening