Syllabus

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

FILM 412 - Shot Design Section: 01 CRN: 10341

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 communicate more effectively and aesthetically through shot design by deconstructing and evaluatingscenes from films. Students have the opportunity to critically explore the planning, composition and execution of a scene inorder to better understand the artistic role of the director. Emphasis is placed on how decisions regarding camera, color, lightand location affect the storytelling of a scene. Prerequisite(s): FILM 320.

Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:

1. Students will learn about effective storytelling tools by viewing scenes that utilize effective shot design to enhanceand interpret the screenplay. These scenes will de deconstructed for their aesthetic components.

2. Students will learn how the director choices (e.g. camera movement and placement vs. blocking, lighting design)are critical to communicating the concept of a scene and its contribution to the entire film.

3. Students will gain exposure to established screenplays and explore the process in which they, as the director, mustdetermine the pivotal beats or turns of a scene and how to effectively create a series of shots that communicates tothe audience the precise meaning of a scene.

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 the importance of proper camera placement, lens choice, and camera movement of ascene.

2. Students will evaluate the point of view of a scene, its subtext, and the meaning and value of specific storybeats.

3. Students will explain why they choose to place the camera in a scene and how lens choice and lighting affectcamera movement and actor movement to communicate the meaning of the scenes that are staged.

Schedule of Classes:

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

Fall 2013Jesse Wolfe

Office building, room: ADLER HALL/ROOM 309Phone: (912) 525-6419

Office hours: Monday-Thursday 1:45-2:45pEmail: jwolfe@scad.edu

Building/Room: HAMILT 132 Meeting Times: Monday / Wednesday

8:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Class 1:Mon,

September16, 2013

-Professor Introduction,

-Discussion: Shot Design- using the camera effectively for storytelling and aesthetics. Defining the Director’s “Vision.” Theme and Tone as it relates to the Director’s Vision.

Class 2:Wed,

September18, 2013

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

-SCREEN: Vittorio Storaro: Writing With Light

-ASSIGNMENT: Find a screenplay that speaks to you. Have ready to submit forapproval by Class 4

Class 3:Mon,

September23, 2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use indelivering the Director’s Vision.

Class 4:Wed,

September25, 2013

Screenplay choices due at beginning of class

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: The 7 Basic Visual Components and their use indelivering the Director’s Vision. (continued)

-ASSIGNMENT: Each student must bring in a still photo from 3 of your favorite films,each showing an effective use of a specific Visual Component. Be ready to present themon screen and discuss in Class 6 and 7.

Class 5:Mon,

September30, 2013

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

-SCREEN: “Visions of Light” and Discuss

-ASSIGNMENT: Using 7 Basic Visual Components, create a Powerpoint presentationthat addresses how each of the Components will be used to deliver the theme, toneyou’re your Director’s Vision of your screenplay

Class 6:Wed,

October 2,2013

Student presentations- Visual Components

Class 7:Mon,

October 7,2013

Student presentations- Visual Components (cont’d)

Class 8:Wed,

October 9,2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions- vocabulary, sizing, nose/headroom, eye line, height

-EXERCISE: TBD

Class 9:Mon,

October 14,2013

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

-EXERCISE: TBD

Class 10:Wed,

October 16,2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Shot compositions- Coverage

-EXERCISE: TBD

Class 11:Mon,

October 21,2013

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

-SCREEN: TBD/ DISCUSSION TO FOLLOW

Class 12:Wed,

October 23,2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Camera Movement- types of movement and what theyelicit from audience, camera motivation and point of view. Discuss these aspects inrelation to story beats.

-ASSIGNMENT: Students will bring in clips from 3 films, each showing a different andeffective use of camera movement. Be prepared to present clips on screen and discusswith class.

Class 13:Mon,

October 28,2013

-ASSIGNMENT: Attend Film Festival

-Continue to create your Camera Movement clip presentatrions

Class 14:Wed,

October 30,2013

-ASSIGNMENT: Attend Film Festival

-Continue to create your Camera Movement clip presentatrions

Class 15:Mon,

November4, 2013

-STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: Camera Movement

-ASSIGNMENT: Begin to assemble your final Student Presentations

Class 16:Wed,

November6, 2013

-STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: Camera Movement (cont'd)

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to assemble your final Student Presentations

Class 17:Mon,

November11, 2013

-PROFESSOR PRESENTATION: Transitions – how to design and plan for in-cameraand editing transitions to effectively delivery of story, theme, and tone of Director’sVision. Subtext:

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to assemble/prepare your final Student Presentations

Class 18:Wed,

November13, 2013

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

-ASSIGNMENT: Continue to prepare your final Student Presentations

Class 19:Mon,

November18, 2013

- STUDENT PRESENTATION: Screenplay Vision- each student will have 10 minutes topresent their Director’s Vision of the screenplay they chose. The presentation mustinclude images, and video clips as examples of how they plan to use the VisualComponents, shot compositions and their aspects, lens choice, camera movement andtransitions to deliver the story, theme and tone of their vision of the screenplay. Aftereach presentation there will be 5 minutes of Q&A from professor and class.

Class 20:Wed,

November20, 2013

- STUDENT PRESENTATION (cont’d): Screenplay Vision- each student will have 10minutes to show their Director’s Vision of the screenplay they chose. The presentationmust include images, and video clips as examples of how they plan to use the VisualComponents, shot compositions and their aspects, lens choice, camera movement andtransitions to deliver the story, theme and tone of their vision of the screenplay. Aftereach 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

Screenplay Choice 10%

Quizzes (average score of two quizzes) 10%

Student Presentation: Visual Components 10%

Student Presentation Camera Movement 10%

Exam 20%

Student Presentation: Final Presentation 30%

Class attendance/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 FILM AND VIDEO FESTIVAL Productions

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 work

that 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.