Syllabus

School of Entertainment Arts, Department of Film and Television, Savannah

FILM 708 - Designing Shots Section: 01 CRN: 31823

SCAD Mission:The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizing learningthrough individual attention in a positively oriented university environment.

Course Description:Students learn to master the creation of visually compelling and emotionally powerful images in a studio setting, where theychoreograph the camera with the actor. Effective and eloquent shot listing is developed to correspond with blocking a scenefor performance. Emphasis is placed on the aesthetics of cinematic design.

Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:1. Students will explore artistry in shot design and how it is differentiated from other creative production componentsto help the director and cinematographer master the art of shot listing and develop a personal shooting style.

2. Students will examine how in-depth analysis of camera aesthetics is applicable equally to narrative andexperimental filmmaking, and commercials and music videos.

Student Learning Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills that studentsdevelop as a result of completing this course:

1. Students will identify camera placement, lens choices, depth of field, and camera placement in a scene.

2. Students will, from an analysis of camera usage, identify story beats, point of view and subtext of a scene.

3. Students will identify individual shots and how they contribute to the meaning of the scene.

4. Students will, from an analysis of the shot list and the use of color and light as compositional tools, determinethe directors critical choice.

5. Students will create a location blueprint, a shot list, and camera diagram for the scene.

Schedule of Classes:

Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates:

Spring 2014Jesse Wolfe

Office building, room: Adler 309Phone: 912-525-6419

Office hours: Mon-Thur: 1:30-2:30pEmail: jwolfe@scad.edu

Building/Room: ADLER 312 Meeting Times: Tuesday / Thursday

11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Class1:

Tue,March

25,2014

-Professor Introduction, Class and Syllabus orientation

-DISCUSSION: Shot Design- using the camera effectively for storytelling and aesthetics.

-SCREEN: TBD

Class2:

Thu,March

27,2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Defining the Directors Vision. Theme, Genre and Tone asit relates to the Directors Vision.

Class3:

Tue,April

1,2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use in deliveringthe Directors Vision.

Class4:

Thu,April

3,2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use in deliveringthe Directors Vision (contd)

Class5:

Tue,April

8,2014

-QUIZ #1: Based on all lectures and reading up to date.

-SCREEN: Visions of Light and Discuss

-ASSIGNMENT: PICTURE ANALYSIS- choosing one of the images from the course blogsite,students will decipher the narrative, theme and tone of the image, and explain how the use ofthe 7 Basic Visual Components supports the students claims. This will be done in paper form,to be turned in by Class #7, via the instructions posted on the blogsite.

Class6:

Thu,April10,

2014

-Go over Quiz #1

-TBD

Class7:

Tue,April15,

2014

Turn in Picture Analysis Assignment by beginning of class.

DISCUSSION: Student Picture Analysis Assignment

Class8:

Thu,April17,

2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions- vocabulary, sizing, nose/head room, eyeline, height

Class9:

Tue,April22,

2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The World of Thirds- how the placement of objects in theframe affect the Emotional Tone of the narrative.

Class10:

Thu,April24,

2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions The 180 Degree Rule and how it isapplied, misused and when to regard/disregard.

Class11:

Tue,April29,

2014

-

QUIZ #2: Based on all lectures and reading from Quiz #1 to date.

-SCREEN: TBD

-ASSIGNMENT: Visual Poetry students will choose one of the poems posted on theblogsite and create a single image that delivers the story, theme and tone as they interpret it. They will have to justify their choices on how they chose to use the visual components, andimage composition by filling out a questionnaire and present their images to the class forcritique. These will be due by class #13

Class12:

Thu,May 1,2014

-Go over Quiz #2

-ASSIGNMENT: Fill out questionnaire for the visual Poetry Assignment and turn in viaDropbox prior to Class #13.

Class13:

Tue,May 6,2014

VISUAL POETRY PRESENTATIONS

Class14:

Thu,May 8,2014

VISUAL POETRY PRESENTATIONS- cont'd

Class15:

Tue,May13,

2014

PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Camera Movement- types of movement and what they elicitfrom audience, camera motivation and point of view. Discuss these aspects in relation to storybeats.

-ASSIGNMENT: Film Reinterpretation Students must choose a film that was released priorto 1960 (that has not had any later reduxs). Once their film choices are approved by professor,students will then create a re-invention/re-envisioning of the film. You will interpret thetheme, genre and tone of the reinvention using the exercises we discussed. You will deducethe Mythic Theme that the story will be about. You will then create a palette for the film usingthe 7 Basic Visual Components- discussing how each of the Components will be used todeliver, enhance, or otherwise compliment the theme, genre and tone youre of your DirectorsVision. For the 5 Frames portion of the assignment, you must then take your design, andwith actors, create a vital moment from the films story, in 5 still-framed images.

These will be delivered to the class in a Power Point (or similar program) presentation. In it, abrief synopsis of the story must be displayed, a thematic statement as discussed in class,genre and target demographics listed and explained, and overall Tonal key words. For eachVisual Component, a rationale for the choices of how each will be used must be clearlypresented and visual examples must accompany each Component rationale. These can beanything other than actual photographs from the original film. I also would like an overall ShotComposition strategy...how you intend to use Close ups, sizing, if/where you intend to employthe theory of point of view regarding coverage and any other coverage strategies.

Class16:

Thu,May15,

2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Camera Movement (contd)

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on your Film Reinterpretation Assignments.

Class17:

Tue,May20,

2014

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Transitions how to design and plan for in-camera andediting transitions to effectively delivery of story, theme, and tone of Directors Vision. Subtext:

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on your Film Reinterpretation Assignments.

Class18:

Thu,May22,

2014

-FINAL EXAM: Cumulative- covering all Presentations, discussions and any reading assignedfrom start of course to date.

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to prepare your final Student Presentations

Class19:

Tue,May27,

2014

-STUDENT PRESENTATION: Screenplay Reinterpretation: Each student will have 7 minutesto present their Directors Vision of the screenplay they chose. The presentation must includeimages, video clips and/or other examples of how they plan to use the Visual Components,shot compositions and their aspects, lens choice, camera movement and transitions to deliverthe story, theme and tone of their vision of the screenplay. After each presentation there will beQ&A from professor and class.

Class20:

Thu,May29,

2014

-STUDENT PRESENTATION: Screenplay Reinterpretation: (contd)

Grading Opportunities:

Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown:

Assignment Weight

Student Presentation: Picture Analysis 10%

Student Presentation: Visual Poetry 20%

Student Presentation: Film Reinterpretation 30%

Quizzes (average of quiz scores) 10%

Final Exam 20%

Class Participation 10%

Grading Standards Range

Letter grade: A = excellent 90 100 %

Letter grade: B = good 80 89 %

Letter grade: C = * 70 79 %

Letter grade: D = * 60 69%

Letter grade: F = failing 0 59%

*Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade.

Course Information:

Field Trip(s):SCAD Museum, Trustees Theater, Expo/Convention, Festivals (tbd- per event schedules)

Extra Help Session(s):Students with an average of "C" or less are required to attend extra help sessions.

Extended Learning Opportunities:

Other Course Information:Midterm conferences are mandatory.

Course Materials:

Required Text(s):Specific textbooks will not be required for purchase. The professor will make required materials available to students viathe course blog site.Films recommended to have screened:The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Citizen Kane, Romeo and Juliet (any version), Notorious, North By Northwest, TheLast Emperor, Goddfellas, Raging Bull, Badlands,

Recommended Text(s): The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media by Bruce Block Focal Press 2nd Edition 2007 ISBN-10: 0240807790Mike Figgis: Digital Filmmaking Faber & Faber; first American Edition 2007 ISBN-10: 0571226256

Required Material(s):access to computer/courses blog site, access to film library, access to still camera

University Policies:

Academic Integrity: Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff and otherstudents.In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any workthat is not a product of the student's own efforts is considered dishonest. Students must not engage in academicdishonesty; doing so can have serious consequences.Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:1. Cheating, which includes, but is not limited to, (a) the giving or receiving of any unauthorized assistance in producingassignments or taking quizzes, tests or examinations; (b) dependence on the aid of sources including technology beyondthose authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems or carrying out other assignments;(c) the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the university facultyor staff; or (d) the use of unauthorized assistance in the preparation of works of art.2. Plagiarism, which includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published orunpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. Plagiarism also includes the unacknowledgeduse of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.3. Submission of the same work in two or more classes without prior written approval of the professors of the classesinvolved.4. Submission of any work not actually produced by the student submitting the work without full and clear writtenacknowledgement of the actual author or creator of the work.Attendance and Personal Conduct: Only students who are properly registered for a course may attend and participate in that class. Students are expected toattend and participate in all scheduled classes and examination periods. Absences in excess of four class periods perquarter, or 20 percent of the course, result in the student receiving a failing grade for the course. Tardiness, earlydeparture or other time away from class in excess of 15 minutes per class session is considered absence for the class session.The student's appearance and conduct should be appropriate and should contribute to the academic and professionalatmosphere of SCAD. The university reserves the right at its sole discretion to withdraw the privilege of enrollment fromany student whose conduct is detrimental to the academic environment or to the well-being of other students, faculty orstaff members, or to the university facilities.Enrollment policies: Students are responsible for assuring proper enrollment. See the SCAD catalog for information on add/drop, withdrawals,incompletes, and academic standing. Midterm Conference(s): Each student enrolled in the course will have a midterm conference scheduled outside of class time with the professor.Students are expected to keep this appointment. Academic Support and Tutoring:

Academic Support and Tutoring: Academic support for students at all SCAD locations can be found in MySCAD, under the Student Workspace tab,Department Directory, Academic Resources.Course Evaluations: SCAD offers students the opportunity to evaluate all scheduled courses during each quarter term. Student feedback isessential to continuously improve academic services at SCAD. Evaluations will be available the end of each quarter at thebeginning of Week 8 and must be completed online by the Monday following Week 10. A sample course evaluation foron-ground courses is available here.In order to access course evaluations, the student should take the following steps:

Log on to MySCAD1.Click on the Student Workspace Tab2.Locate the Course Evaluations link under My Courses channel3.This will bring up a page that says current surveys and lists all the courses that are currently available for evaluation.4.

For more information or questions, contact us at evaluations@scad.edu. Student Surveys:The SCAD Student Survey and the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory will both be administered in Week 6 ofspring quarter . SCAD's office of institutional effectiveness is responsible for gathering and delivering survey results todecision-makers on campus. For more information or questions, contact us at surveys@scad.edu. Please refer to the college catalog or the student handbook for all college policies and procedures.