Syllabus

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

FILM 708 - Designing Shots Section: 02 CRN: 22858

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 director¿s 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:

Winter 2014Jesse Wolfe

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

Office hours: M-Th 12:45-1:45pEmail: jwolfe@scad.edu

Building/Room: ADLER 312 Meeting Times: Monday / Wednesday

8:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Class 1:Mon,

January6, 2014

-Professor Introduction, Discussion: Shot Design- using the camera effectively forstorytelling and aesthetics. Defining the Director’s “Vision.” Theme and Tone as it relatesto the Director’s Vision.

Class 2:Wed,

January8, 2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use in delivering theDirector’s Vision.

-ASSIGNMENT: Find a movie from before 1960, who’s story/theme to you. Have ready tosubmit for approval by Friday January 24th

Class 3:Mon,

January13, 2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use in delivering theDirector’s Vision (cont’d)

Class 4:Wed,

January15, 2014

-Screenplay choices due at beginning of class

-DISCUSS FIRST ASSIGNMENT

--SCREEN: “Visions of Light” and Discuss

-ASSIGNMENT: Students will analyze an image chosen from a list on the course blogsite. They will deduce a theme, genre, Tone for the image, and then support their choices byexplaining how the 7 Basic Visual components have been used to deliver, compliment,enhance or otherwise comment on their choices.

Class 5:Mon,

January20, 2014

NO CLASS MEETING- MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

MAKE UP CLASS Friday January 24, 2014

- Go over Quiz from Class #6 (see below)

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: Shot compositions- vocabulary, sizing, nose/head room, eye lineand height. The World of Thirds- how the placement of objects in the frame affect theEmotional Tone of the narrative.

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on your image analysis. This analysis will be presentedin front of the class next week.

Class 6:Wed,

January22, 2014

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

-SCREEN: Vittorio Storarro: Writing With Light or TBD

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on your image analysis. This analysis will be presentedin front of the class next week.

Class 7:Mon,

January27, 2014

-Student Assignment Presentation: Single Image Analysis

Class 8:Wed,

January29, 2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: Shot compositions – The 180 Degree Rule and how it is applied,misused and when to regard/disregard. Coverage

Class 9:Mon,

February3, 2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION Camera Movement- types of movement and what they elicit fromaudience, camera motivation and point of view. Discuss these aspects in relation to storybeats.

-Discuss Film Reinvention Assignment

Class 10:Wed,

February5, 2014

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

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on your 7 Basic Visual Components Power Pointpresentation that addresses how each of the Components will be used to deliver the theme,genre tone you’re your Director’s Vision of your screenplay

Class 11:Mon,

February10, 2014

-Student Assignment Presentations- Screenplay Reinvention Assignment

Class 12:Wed,

February12, 2014

-Student Assignment Presentations- Screenplay Reinvention Assignment (cont’d)

Class 13:Mon,

February17, 2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: Camera Speed and Shot Length

-Discuss Next Assignment: Visual Poetry/Visual Image

-ASSIGNMENT From the blogsite, you will select one of the three short poems posted. Youmust then go to the SCAD museum, find a location and create three images that whenjuxtaposed deliver the theme, story and Tone of the poem as you see it. Be prepared topresent in class.

Class 14:Wed,

February19, 2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: Transitions – how to design and plan for in-camera and editingtransitions to effectively delivery of story, theme, and tone of Director’s Vision. Subtext.

-Discuss Final assignment: Scene Creation

Class 15:Mon,

February24, 2014

-Student Presentations: Visual Poetry/Museum Assignments

-ASSIGNMENT: Study for Quiz #3

Class 16:Wed,

February26, 2014

- QUIZ #3: Based on all lectures and reading from Quiz #2 to date.

-ASSIGNMENT: Film Reinvention 5 Frame Scene Creation: From the film you reinventedearlier in the quarter, you will now take the thematic, genre, and tonal choices you’vedecided upon and create a pivotal scene from the movie in 5 Still Frames. You must cast,design, block, and shoot the 5 still frames that deliver the chosen moment effectively. Beprepared to present in class, by adding the 5 Frames to the end of the Film ReinventionPower Point you created, so that we may quickly recap your synopsis, thematic, genre,tonal and component choices prior to viewing and evaluating your 5 frames.

Class 17:Mon,

March 3,2014

-LECTURE/DISCUSSION: TBD

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to assemble/prepare your 5 Frame Scene Creation Presentations

Class 18:Wed,

March 5,2014

-FINAL EXAM REVIEW- a recap of what the course has discuss and covered.

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to assemble/prepare your 5 Frame Scene Creation Presentations

Class 19:Mon,

March 10,2014

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

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to prepare your final Student Presentations

- STUDENT PRESENTATION: 5 Frame Scene Creation

Present your 5 Frame Scene along with recap of Film Reinvention Power Point in front ofclass. After each presentation there will be 5 minutes of Q&A from professor and class.

Class 20:Wed,

March 12,2014

- STUDENT PRESENTATION: 5 Frame Scene Creation (cont’d)

Present your 5 Frame Scene along with recap of Film Reinvention Power Point in front ofclass. After each presentation there will be 5 minutes of Q&A from professor and class.

Grading Opportunities:

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

Assignment Weight

Quizzes (average score of three quizzes) 10%

Student Assignment/Presentation: Single Image Analysis 10%

Student Assignment/Presentation: Film Reinvention 20%

Student Assignment/Presentation: Visual Poetry Assignment 20%

Student Assignment/Presentation: 5 Frame Scene Creation 20%

Final Exam 20%

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

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.

Recommended Text(s):Visions Of Light

Vittorio Storaro: Writing With Light: Volume 1: the Light

The Visual Story: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media by Bruce Block Focal Press 2nd Edition ©2007 ISBN-10: 0240807790

Required Material(s):access to computer/course’s blog site. Flash drive for Power Point projects, access to film library

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 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.